Cathedral Tree

This venerable tree in the grounds of Duff House may possibly be a survivor from the original planting by James Duff, the 2nd Earl of Fife who developed the grounds in the 18th century. By 1787 James was able to boast that he had 'every kind of forest tree from thirty years old' growing on the estate.

This particular specimen with its heavily fluted trunk reminded me of a fluted column in a cathedral.