My Dunning: Tim Edey reveals favourite spots in Perthshire village

Award-winning folk musician Tim Edey hails from Kent, but he’s made his family home in the Perthshire village of Dunning.

When he’s not touring solo or in folk duos, Tim tells us what he gets up to in and around the village.

What first springs to mind when you think of Dunning?

The wild music scene! And Dunning hotel and pub parties in the old days when I first came to the village to visit my now long-term partner Isobel.

It was in 2007 and back then the village was wild – a lot wilder than now, if I’m honest!

A view down the street in Dunning, with hills in the background. — Tim Edey lives in Dunning, Perthshire. Image: Steve MacDougall/DC Thomson.

I remember Ross Ainslie, the legendary local piper, playing in the square dressed only in traditional kilt!

How long have you lived there?

I lived here with Isobel for around three years when our first daughter was born in 2012 and then we were in Kent and Donegal for a good few years until we returned to Dunning in 2019.

Is Dunning much different to the other places you’ve lived?

So I am originally from Broadstairs in Kent, way down south in England.

I lived both there and in Ireland for many years before and also have spent my life on the road really as a professional musician since leaving school aged 15. I’d definitely stress to anyone get your education first!

Ben Vorlich, Loch Lomond. Image: Shutterstock.

Perthshire is a beautiful place. It’s very similar to Ireland in scenery but very different culturally. You have of course your own culture and traditions here in Scotland, which I always enjoy and try to learn about.

I really enjoy the peace of the Ochil hills here and the views across to the west and the Trossachs. From Dunning you can see Ben Vorlich.

Favourite restaurant to visit around Dunning?

So my own favourite is the Kirkstyle Inn run by a friend Jamie.

Like me, he’s a “blow in” to the village and has done such an amazing job keeping culture and food and music alive here.

Interior of The Kirkstyle Inn in Dunning. — Tim Edey rates The Kirkstyle Inn in Dunning. Image: Steve Brown/DC Thomson.

The food is superb and is a must if you’re nearby. The Dunning Hotel also does a mean curry night and great food too, so we are very lucky in the village.

Best place for coffee nearby?

I love walking or cycling from Dunning to the Broadslap Farm for coffee (they also do stunning food and cakes).

Cakes on offer at Broadslap Farm. Image: Mhairi Edwards/DC Thomson.

It’s a great view and vibe there, and the flat whites are very good.

Which local spots do you visit for inspiration?

The Path of Condie up the hill from Dunning is almost Highland like in appearance.

That’s my place of sanctuary locally, Isobel and I often walk the great woodland there.

The Path of Condie near Dunning. — The Path of Condie near Dunning is a favourite haunt for Tim Edey. Image: Supplied.

It’s also home to my favourite recording studio and in my opinion Scotland’s best studio, Tpot, run by chart-topping engineer/producer and my friend Robin Wynn Evans.

How are you finding the live music scene around these parts?

So Perthshire has a vibrant scene for me, being a mainly traditional/folk player.

We have some amazing local people in Strathearn running great gigs. Chris Grace in Comrie runs the most brilliant shows for folk and Celtic music in Comrie.

Perth Concert Hall is of course always amazing, and my dear friends and hero Dougie MacLean and his wife Jenny run the brilliant Shades of Amber in Dunkeld and beyond.

How’s 2025 going so far?

Myself and Michael McGoldrick are touring lots in the UK, Ireland, Spain and Norway, and I play solo throughout the summer all over, with lots of driving down the A9 and M6!