Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Central Asia yurt night stars
Uzbekistan • 15 days, 14 nights
Central Asia Road Trip: Backroads & Bazaars
from
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Pinal Airpark
Note the chrysanthemum crests.
Hachiman Bridge
Clarendon War Memorial.
Clarendon War Memorial
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
Cacio e pepe lasagna combines two classics.
C'è pasta... E pasta!
Spaghetto taratatà is named for the sound of rattling sabers.
Giano Restaurant
The gnocchi here get blanketed in a sugo with braised oxtail.
Cesare al Pellegrino
Romans insist you should feel the cracked peppercorns and cheese grains on your tongue.
Flavio al Velavevodetto
Tripe is fried to a crisp.
L’Osteria della Trippa
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Haleakalā National Park’s summit region, shrouded in the pre-dawn fog.
Beware the Legends Behind These National Park Souvenirs
24 days ago
For Aguilar-Carrasco, nature is a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of all life.
How Can National Parks Be Made Accessible to All? AO Wants to Know.
25 days ago
Podcast: Finding ‘The Great Gatsby’ in Louisville
26 days ago
Here’s which treats you can safely lug home without risking a fine.
Dear Atlas: What International Food Can I Legally Bring Into the U.S.?
27 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United Kingdom Scotland Perth and Kinross Meikleour Beech Hedges

Meikleour Beech Hedges

The Guinness Record holder for largest hedge in the world is a verdant Scottish bulwark.

Perth and Kinross, Scotland

Added By
jondhunter
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Meikleour Beech Hedges   Mike Dodman on Wikipedia
Meikleour Beech Hedges   Mike Dodman on Wikipedia
Meikleour Beech Hedges   Maigheach-gheal on Geograph.org
Meikleour Beech Hedges   John Phillips on Geograph.org
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

The words “world’s largest” have a way of piquing the interest of just about anybody, but the world’s largest hedge might seem to be the exception to that rule. However don't let the mundane name fool you, it is one hell of a leafy sight, standing 120 feet tall at its highest point. Just think of the stepladder you’d need to keep that in trim.

The massive hedge runs along 580 feet of the A93 Perth to Blairgowrie road, on the left if you’re going north. It is believed to have been planted in the autumn of 1745 by Jean Mercer of Meikleour, and her husband Robert Murray Nairne (who was later killed at the Battle of Culloden).

Even with it's historical origins, the Meikleour Beech Hedge has carried the crown of “world’s largest” since 1966. As with any world record, it’s a serious business and the hedge is cut and remeasured every ten years. It is looked after by the Meikleour Trust and maintenance takes four men approximately six weeks to complete.

Anyone looking to visit the hedge could be forgiven for missing it, as to the untrained eye it looks not unlike a tall, well-kept row of trees. The pavement underneath is narrow so from the bottom a person can’t quite see the top, like a proper skyscraper. And being beech, the hedge turns a lovely color in the autumn. Scotland isn’t renowned for its big things, but they can take some pride in this, even if it is only a hedge.

Related Tags

Natural Wonders World's Largest Plants Nature

Know Before You Go

The Meikleour Beech Hedge is on the A93 Perth-Blairgowrie road, 12 miles north of Perth. It is marked on most roadmaps but is not signposted. There is an information board at the north end just before the turn-off to Meikleour, and a lay-by at the south. This Google map shows the village of Meikleour, the hedge is on the main road (marked "Deeside") just south of the turn-off.

Atlas Obscura Adventures

Flavors of Scotland: Beyond the Haggis

Smoked seafood, single malt whisky, and warm hospitality.

Book Now

Community Contributors

Added By

jondhunter

Edited By

Mike Portanova, EricGrundhauser, Collector of Experiences

  • Mike Portanova
  • EricGrundhauser
  • Collector of Experiences

Published

July 30, 2015

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meikleour_Beech_Hedges
  • http://www.visitscotland.com/en-us/info/towns-villages/meikleour-beech-hedge-p249401
Meikleour Beech Hedges
Cargill
Perth and Kinross, Scotland, PH2 6DY
United Kingdom
56.5335, -3.3643
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Beatrix Potter Garden

Birnam, Scotland

miles away

Birnam Oak and Sycamore

Birnam, Scotland

miles away

North Inch

Perth, Scotland

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Perth and Kinross

Perth and Kinross

Scotland

Places 3

Nearby Places

Beatrix Potter Garden

Birnam, Scotland

miles away

Birnam Oak and Sycamore

Birnam, Scotland

miles away

North Inch

Perth, Scotland

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Perth and Kinross

Perth and Kinross

Scotland

Places 3

Related Stories and Lists

The Many Ways to Shape a Tree

List

By Sarah Laskow

Related Places

  • Dubai Miracle Garden

    Dubai, United Arab Emirates

    Dubai Miracle Garden

    Billed as the "largest natural flower garden in the world" this Middle Eastern show field has little competition at 45 million flowers.

  • The world’s largest dark sky preserve.

    Improvement District No. 24, Alberta

    Wood Buffalo National Park

    The world's largest dark sky preserve is a Canadian park established to preserve the country's last wood bison.

  • Pando, the Trembling Giant

    Richfield, Utah

    Pando, the Trembling Giant

    One of the world's oldest and most massive living organisms is a grove of quaking aspens.

  • Cape Flattery

    Neah Bay, Washington

    Cape Flattery

    At the most northwestern point of the contiguous United States lies a trail leading through an ancient forest to stunning cliff-side vistas and massive oceanside caves.

  • The Enchanted Forest

    Whitethorn, California

    Enchanted Forest

    A grove of "candelabra redwoods" deep in California's Lost Coast.

  • Gryteskogen Troll Trees

    Lund NO, Sweden

    Gryteskogen Troll Trees

    This collection of Dwarf beech trees were once believed to be enchanted trolls in disguise.

  • The ghost forest in the fog.

    Neskowin, Oregon

    Neskowin Ghost Forest

    The eerie remnants of an ancient forest were hidden under the sand for centuries.

  • Trail at Craggy.

    Black Mountain, North Carolina

    Craggy Gardens Rhododendron Tunnels

    Gnarled canopies of pink and purple wildflowers arch over the trail to the summit.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.