St Serf's Church and Dupplin Cross give a stay in Dunning an early medieval focus; Dunning Roman camp opens up a much earlier period. Dunning Golf Club adds a separate activity to these themes. When planning, it is worth distinguishing between the different periods and visiting conditions.
Pictish remains at St Serf's Church
Dupplin Cross is a Pictish stone carving from the early 9th century. Its design reveals the close ties between the kingdoms of the Picts, the Scots and Northumbria. If you are interested in Pictish art, the cross also offers a way into the political history of its time.
Fragments of Pictish carved stones found in the churchyard and grounds of St Serf's Church have been dated to the 9th or 10th century AD. This date range is broader than the dating of Dupplin Cross to the early 9th century; the evidence therefore does not all represent the same point in time. The site of St Serf's Church was very likely an ecclesiastical centre in the early medieval and Pictish periods.
The dating of the carved stone fragments and the site's classification as an ecclesiastical centre describe different aspects: one concerns the age of the finds, the other the site's presumed significance. This distinction helps place each piece of evidence in its own historical context.
Roman camp: scale and visible remains
At Dunning Roman camp, 420 metres northwest of Haughend, an earthwork consisting of a ditch and rampart is visible on the ground in Kincladie Wood. The remainder can only be seen in oblique aerial photographs. Visibility and access may vary depending on field conditions.
The enclosure measures about 700 metres from east to west and 675 metres along the cross axis, and covers approximately 46.5 hectares. The two axis measurements are similar; together with the area figure, they convey the scale of the site. The camp was probably used during one or more campaigns in the 1st or 2nd century AD. Compared with the Pictish evidence from the 9th or 10th century, its presumed use dates from considerably earlier.
The measurements indicate the site's spatial extent, while visibility describes which parts can be seen on the ground. For a visit, these are two separate points of reference, particularly if field conditions affect visibility.
Practical information for Dunning
Admission to St Serf's Church and Dupplin Cross is free. Parking for both is available in the village of Dunning, about 25 metres away. The monument at St Serf's Church and Dupplin Cross is 20 metres from the entrance to the grounds, along a level, paved path. The distances refer to different points: the car park in the village and the monument measured from the entrance to the grounds.
Dunning Golf Club is located in Rollo Park in Dunning, PH2 0RH. Visitors are asked to call the starter to secure a tee time. As this instruction is operational and may change, check it before playing.
Discover more destinations: Fowlis Wester, Aberfeldy, Luncarty, Glencarse, Scone, Aberargie, Dull, Ochtertyre
For the wider travel overview: Perth And Kinross.
