WALKING IN PERTHSHIRE...

This part of Scotland has infinite variety, from woodland walks by rushing burns and waterfalls to the grand wide open spaces seen from the top of a conquered Munro.

For those serious hill walking people amongst you I am told in Scotland it is all in the name, in this circumstance being The Munro. This is a Scottish mountain (or hill as I like to refer to them) over 3000 feet. Sir Hugh Munro in his 1891 survey listed 236 of these summits. I gather at the time of writing that there has recently been another addition. A drop down from these giddy heights Mr John Corbett in the 1920 identified a varying number of Corbetts (between 2,500 and 3000 feet) from 219 to 221. Another 500 feet less brings us to the Grahams (more intimately known as Elsies). The 224 of these 'peaks' were named after Fiona Torbet (not Corbett) Nee Graham in the early '90s. In case this is too much we can swiftly move through the two remaining Scottish hill qualifiers by name only of Donalds and Murdos. For Munro Bashers, and Corbett Collectors there are over seventy within an hour of the hotel.

For those who are not name droppers we have a huge variety of excellent low or high level, longer, shorter or mere strolls from the hotel or nearby, alternatively there is always the choice of just heading of into the heather.

Riverside Walk. 2km easy walk from the Drummond Hotel. Cross the footbridge over the river and turn left, joining the road to the dam, where there is a salmon ladder. Ten metres along the road beyond the dam, the path leads down to the riverside, emerging past the entrance to the Golf Club car park. Cross Dundurn Bridge and go back via Station Road, turning left through the wooden gate just before the embankment.

South Lochside Walk. 1.5 km return walk from the Drummond Hotel. Over the footbridge the path going right passes the war memorial and leads to the road. Follow the road past the old curling pond to the seat above the Sailing school. 50m back below the road on the Lochside is another seat. Walking on to the Loch Earn Caravan Park doubles the distance.

Dunfillan Hill. 5.5km return walk with a fairly rough climb of 100m. Follow the Riverside walk as far as Dundurn bridge, but there, turn sharp right to cross the golf course (watch out for the 1st and 9th) Keep left to Dundurn Burial Ground, which is worth entering on the south side. The Stewarts of Ardvorlich are buried in the old chapel. No obvious footpath up the hill, but easier to approach it from the North West, as marked on the map.

Ghoinean Dam. 5.6km return walk, easy but sometimes damp under foot. As for Dunfillan Hill go across the Golf course, but then turn up right past Wester Dundurn Farm. A rough road continues in and out of the deer fence to the dam, where spoil from Dalchonzie tunnel can be seen.

The Scree Walk. .2.6km circular walk, fairly rough and sometimes damp, climbing to 140m. Go up the lane east of the Drummond Hotel and fork right to the top of Station Road. There, turn left through the embankment, past a small road and through the small wooden gate on the left. Walk up parallel to the railway track and find the gate through the deer proof fence, and along the "Goat's Path" with its magnificent views. Eventually join the Peat Road and down to the Four Seasons Hotel.

The Surge Shaft. 5.2km from the Four Seasons Hotel, easy on the feet but steep, climbing 290m. A great after breakfast walk, try and not turn around until the top! Start up the peat road, but turn right at the top of St Fillans Park and so to the big spoil heap at the end of the tunnel from Lednock. This is a great place for views. The zig zag road up leads to the top of the surge shaft, into which local tunnels take water from burns in Glen Tarken and elsewhere.

After Dinner Walk, highly recommended loch side walk to the west of the hotel, turning right just past Auchindoune, coming back along a forestry track. Under a mile. 15/20 minutes.

Walks to Glen Tarken and Morell. From the Four Seasons Hotel, west along the main road or on its grass verge, which makes pleasant walking. About 60m up is the old railway track, dry but with rough ballast requiring strong footwear. Above again is the old road to Morell, climbing 130m with several seats on the way. The connecting routes at the west end of Glentarken wood are best tackled downhill. The descent from Morell to the railway track is particularly steep and slippery, much of it through bracken. The distance to Morell and back is about 4km. Looking back from the hillside down the Glen, one first sees Torleum (15km away) and then the Ochil Hills beyond.

Circular Route. 10km. Take the peat road up through GlenTarken Wood, and continue up into the open fell, walking west towards the head of GlenTarken. Descend past the intake, over a ford, and past a sheepfold. Turn left and cross the burn towards two cottages, one ruined, past and into the now felled woodland.

Another Fine Lunch. Do the Glen Tarken Walk, taking the west road as far as possible, and head north east along the edge of Ceann Creagach joining the forestry track, then down the Allt Meallnan Damh Burn to the Ardeonaig Hotel. Beware of too much fine food, and over rehydration because the return hill is a lot longer up than it appears on the way doon. Alternatively start in Comrie, walking through Glen Lednock, along the reservoir and down the Finglen Burn to Ardeonaig, returning through Glen Tarken to the Four Seasons. A similar lunch walk could be started at Glen Ogle, Ardeonaig and back south to the Hotel.

Comrie Walks. A variety of easy localised walk centred on the village of Comrie. To include the Maam Road Walk; 6 miles, 3-3.5 hours; Glen Ledknock Circular Walk, 4 miles, 2-2.5 hours; Laggan Wood Walk, 2 miles, 1-1.5 hours; Earthquake Walk, 4 miles, 2-2.5 hours; Ruchill Walk, 4 miles, 2-2.5 hours; and Borton braes Walk, 6 miles, 3 - 3.5 hours.

Crieff Walk. There are eight way marked routes around Crieff from half a mile to the viewpoint up to several miles on a mixed woodland, river and hill walk.

Ben Vorlich. Our local Munro, 9 miles; 4 to 7 hours depending if you include Stuc a Chroin. (@ my pace about two hours). Either walk or drive along the south road to the entrance to Ardvorlich Estate. (There is a large lay by for parking) Follow the signs into the estate just before the bridge. The main walk is marked, but please be aware it is easy to stray from this!! The views from the top (or even half way up) are amazing.

Stuc a Chroin can be added in to make this more of a circular walk, and even come down into Glen Ample to the west returning along the single track south road along Loch Earn.

Other Munros;
Ben Lawers. 5 miles five miles walk up taking 3.5 hours the 3981 ft summit leaving from the Lawers nature reserve car park, and there are a number of other options around the Ben.
Ben Chonzie; 8 miles. 4 hours; Beinn Ghlas, 9 miles. 5.5 hours. Meall nan Tarmachan, 8 miles. 4.5 hours. Meall Corranich 9 miles 5.5 hours.
Circular Loch Earn Walk. 14 miles of mostly road. Along the single track south Loch Earn road, lunching in Lochearnhead. Walk back to Glen Beich and along the disused railway track until Glen Tarken. Here to bypass the fallen bridge you can turn left up the hill taking the right hand track and down the forestry path/track. Alternatively turn right and walk along the main road.
Circular Glen Ogle Trail., starting in Lochearnhead this twelve km walk takes some three to four hours, and is a well marked path, half of which is along the disused railway track/cycle path.

Circular Walk through Glen Kendrum (four hours @ my pace). Start in Lochearnhead heading north along the disused railway track past the disused station by Glendhu, over the bridge head through Glen Kendrum until you get back to the railway with a number of choices of routes back to Lochearnhead.

Circular Walk through Kirkton Glen (somewhere around six hours @ my pace). Same as above start, but carry on west after Glendhu and you will come across the path from Ledcharrie to Balquhidder. Follow this through and you come out near the church where Rob Roy is buried. Follow the cycle path back to Lochearnhead.

Top of Glen Ogle can be an alternative starting point for any of the last three walks.
Also you can take a couple of different walks through the woodlands to the north of the pass. Walk to Lochan Breaclich, and cut through heading south east over the top of Glen Beich, and into Glen Tarken and back to the Four Seasons. Or there are four circular walks from here, mostly on forestry tracks.

Circular Walk from Lochearnhead through Strathyre via Balquhidder, Glen Buckie, over the saddle of Beinh an t-Sidhein, down to Strathyre, either returning along the cycle path or along the forestry tracks to the north east of Strathyre coming down and joining the cycle path near Balquhidder Station.

A Jolly Good Lunch. Walk from Lochearnhead or top of Glen Ogle along the disused railway until you get to Luib Burn, head up the burn and slightly south west until you get into Monachyle Glen, follow this down and have a fine lunch at Monachyle Mhor Hotel. Beware of too much of a fine lunch, firstly because it might spoil your dinner with us and the gentle return walk is of some distance. Walk back along the single track Glen road joining the cycle path back to where you are parked.

Callander has several of good walks. Go north either along the cycle path back to Loch Earn, with a number of variations. Or return to Lochearnhead can include going north along the Keltie Water from Bracklin Falls and either heading up and over Stuc a Chroin and Ben Vorlich or along Glen Vorlich a touch further east. For St Fillans keep going to the head of Glen Artney, then along Strath a Ghinne joining with Gleann Ghoireanto, or down Glen Atrney into Comrie.

Ben Ledi, 5 miles, 2.5 hours, though not a Munro this is a popular five miles plus walk noted for great scenery.

Times and Distances are approximate, from varied publications. Some times are my own, please note I have long legs, and rarely stop!!

A number of the walks are one way, and with prior notice we can (or arrange) a drop off to walk back to the hotel.

Please order packed lunches the day before

Walking on the Scottish Hills can be dangerous for those without experience.

These brief hints may be helpful
PLAN your route in advance. Take local advice;
Tell us where you are going.
WEATHER can change and mists arise without warning. Allow ample time to return before dark.
AVOID precipices, steep grass, unstable boulders, gullies and watercourses. Adders have bee seen occasionally.
Packed Lunches, please order the night before.

Before and after, please remember, Food Glorious Food at The Four Seasons Hotel.

HAVE a WONDERFUL WALK,
and I sincerely hope that you enjoy our fantastic part of the world

and

REMEMBER

Take nothing but photographs and leave nothing but footsteps

Guided Walks
Fran Loots from Breathing Spaces Outdoors can provide with prior booking guided day walks for a minimum of two people. Breathing Spaces Outdoors is an innovative outdoor experience, encouraging the 'inside out ethos,' based in Comrie and also offers training and consultancy services. Their belief is that by taking time out in the wonderful natural environment it is more than possible to re energise and focus therefore being able to return to your lives being able to see not only the woods but also the trees

If you are interested in a walking holiday in Scotland, please check out our short breaks section for the best deals.