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All the United Kingdom Scotland Birnam Birnam Oak and Sycamore
AO Edited

Birnam Oak and Sycamore

Macbeth's infamous "Great Birnam Wood."

Birnam, Scotland

Added By
Duncan Chappell
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Birnam Oak   W. L. Tarbert/Public Domain
It’s not me, I’m a sycamore   katielou106 / Atlas Obscura User
Not me either. Keep going.   katielou106 / Atlas Obscura User
The hollow in the actual oak!   katielou106 / Atlas Obscura User
  TheWickerWoman / Atlas Obscura User
Birnam Oak   Scotland Forestry Commission
  rbenn250 / Atlas Obscura User
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About

These iconic trees lie in a wooded valley by the River Tay in the Scottish village of Birnam. They are thought to be the sole surviving trees from the ancient Birnam Wood that once covered the banks of the river and which was immortalized in Shakespeare's Macbeth.

 In his tragic play of murder and revenge, the three witches prophesize that Macbeth "shall never vanquish’d be until Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill shall come against him." The prophecy comes true when Macbeth's enemies camouflage themselves with parts of the trees of the wood and then march on his forces. Shakespeare is believed to have traveled to Birnam in 1599 whilst part of a troupe of touring actors.

The oak is now hollow up to a height of 10 meters, with several of its branches supported by crutches. Both trees appear on the list of Scottish Heritage Trees.

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Trees Shakespeare Plants
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Added By

duncanchappell

Edited By

Rachel, Martin, TheWickerWoman, rbenn250...

  • Rachel
  • Martin
  • TheWickerWoman
  • rbenn250
  • katielou106
  • Michelle Cassidy

Published

October 28, 2012

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  • http://www.visitscotland.com/info/towns-villages/the-birnam-oak-p255851
Birnam Oak and Sycamore
Oak Rd, Dunkeld , United Kingdom
Birnam, Scotland, PH8 0BL
United Kingdom
56.55978, -3.579287
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Nearby Places

Beatrix Potter Garden

Birnam, Scotland

miles away

Ossian's Hall of Mirrors

Perth and Kinross, Scotland

miles away

Meikleour Beech Hedges

Perth and Kinross, Scotland

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Birnam

Birnam

Scotland

Places 2

Nearby Places

Beatrix Potter Garden

Birnam, Scotland

miles away

Ossian's Hall of Mirrors

Perth and Kinross, Scotland

miles away

Meikleour Beech Hedges

Perth and Kinross, Scotland

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Birnam

Birnam

Scotland

Places 2

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