Walk Reports - July to September 2021

Wednesday 29 September - Views from 3 Hills, 6 miles

10 walkers met at Balkello Community Woodland car park on a lovely sunny morning.  John Andrews led us up out of the woods to climb Auchterhouse Hill.  There were ever-widening views to enjoy on the way until the final tree-clad summit came into view. After coffee at the top we descended a little before climbing again to the top of Balkello Hill where there was a fine view from the Syd Scroggie cairn. We descended past quarries of Dundee flagstone before climbing again to the top of the third and highest hill of the day, Craigowl.  We had lunch here and took in the panoramic views before reluctantly descending across Balluderon Hill and back to the start.

Photos by Pete Trant & John Andrews

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Saturday 25 September - Birnam Hill & Inver, 8.2 miles

Photos by Tom Reid

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Wednesday 15 September - Between Drummond & the Earn, 7.5 miles

John Andrews led us from the impressive basalt dyke of Bennybeg to the banks of the Earn, which we followed downstream to the Visitor Centre.  We crossed the main road and had a coffee break in the woods there.  We continued on to Drummond Wood, passing along an impressive avenue of sweet chestnut trees.After a lunch stop at Torlum Cottages we entered the grounds of Drummond Castle.  Having passed close behind the castle, we ended the walk by the eastern end of Pool of Drummond to return to Bennybeg.

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Saturday 11 September - St. Monans-Anstruther circular, 9.1 miles

12 walkers met at the Auld Kirk, St. Monans.  Ian Stokes led us out of St. Monans to Abercrombie and then to the Balcaskie estate.  From there we continued to Easter Grangemuir before returning to the coast at Wester Anstruther.  We completed the walk along the Fife Coastal Path through Pittenweem and then back to St Monans.  We were caught in a very sharp squally shower at the end of the walk, making the return to the cars very wet.

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Wednesday 1 September - Appin of Dull, 9 miles

Another glorious sunny day greeted 9 walkers who set out across the Wade bridge in Aberfeldy, led by Sarah Martin. We began with a steady 700' climb through the woods above Weem before levelling out and stopping for a coffee break at Rawer.  We emerged from the trees at Shenavail to a lovely view towards the Lawers range, Loch Tay and Ben More.  Passing through more woodland, we descended to Camserney and Dull, where we were treated to a history lesson about the Abbey of Dull from a local resident.  We then headed to the banks of the Tay where we had lunch.  The walk concluded by following the bank of the Tay back to Aberfeldy.

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Saturday 28 August - Corrour to Rannoch Station, 11 miles

The 13 walkers who made the long journey to Rannoch station were rewarded with a hot sunny day for the train ride to Corrour halt and the walk back.  Rannoch Station was heavily infested with midges but a visit to the tearoom was some consolation. After our short train journey Paula Bowman led us off towards Loch Ossian with its wooded islets and surrounding mountains. We then started climbing above the loch to Peter's Stone - where Peter was obliged to pose - and where we had lunch. We continued across the moorland, with views across towards the Glencoe hills before taking a welcome stop to cool hot feet in the Allt Eigheach. We reached the road back to the station at Loch Eigheach and finished the walk at almost exactly the expected end time of 5.00pm.

Photo of Peter by Marjory Watson

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Saturday 21 August - Glen Ogle, 9 miles

7 walkers braved a showery day to set out from Lochearnhead, led by Mike Brown.  After a steep climb on to the disused railway path the going was easy and we passed several waterfalls and the impressive viaduct before reaching the car park at the top of Glen Ogle, where we had lunch. Because Mike had experienced several difficulties recceing the route back along the Military Road we returned along the railway track before descending by the zig zag cycle path to Lochearnhead.

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Wednesday 18 August - Methven - Almondbank circular, 8 miles

20 walkers - probably the largest group of Perth Ramblers to meet since March 2020 - met in Methven on a lovely warm, sunny morning.  Colin Fraser led us beside the A85 and past Methven Castle then into Methven Woods towards the bridge at Dalcrue, where we stopped for coffee. We crossed the bridge and re-entered the woods climbing above the river before dropping back down to the weir, where the Cromwellpark lade divides off from the river. We followed the river past Cromwellpark and into Almondbank, where we crossed over and had lunch on the bank.  We finished the walk by passing Methven Loch and climbing back into the woods before retracing our steps past Methven Castle.

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Saturday 14 August - Ben Cleuch, Andrew Gannel Hill & King's Seat, 8 miles

Six walkers met up at Tillicoultry to complete a circular walk of the Ochils with Trevor Abell
as the leader. We made good time up Mill Glen with its dramatic views of the burn and the
abandoned quarry. After a scramble up a rocky section we were on to the main path that
led straight up the slope to the Law at 638m. Here we stopped for a coffee break. The weather was blowy with spots of rain, but fortunately the rain never really came and we were able to keep dry for the whole walk.  We then continued on the main path to Ben Cleuch, the highest point in the Ochils at 721m.

A mostly downhill walk took us to the neighbouring hill – Andrew Gannel at 676m. We then dropped down to the valley of the Gannel Burn for lunch before climbing again to take in the summit of Kings Seat at 648 m. We followed an excellent track on the western slopes above the Gannel Burn to bring us directly back to the starting point at the top of Mill Street. Total time taken 5 hrs. Most of the group retired to Dollar for coffee and cake at the excellent Café des Fleurs.

Report by Trevor Abell, photos by Trevor Abell & Marjory Watson

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Wednesday 11 August - Guildtown circular, 7 miles

A group of 9 walkers set off for a leisurely walk from Guildtown to Wolfhill, and then onto the quiet hamlet of St Martin's, visiting the churchyard and stopping off for lunch at the bridge. 

Report by Sarah Martin, photo by Marjory Watson

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Wednesday 4 August - Cloan Glen, 7 miles

We set out from Auchterarder on a lovely sunny day to climb through the shaded Cloan Glen.  Our coffee stop was by the tranquil pool part way up the glen. We continued to the top of the glen and emerged in to open countryside, turning back towards Auchterarder on a higher path with great views to the north. We then descended back to Auchterarder with a broad panorama over Auchterarder and towards Glen Turret to enjoy in front of us.

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Saturday 24 July - Tentsmuir & Morton Lochs, 8 miles

Pete & Anne Trant led 9 other members from Tayport along the seashore towards Tentsmuir Point on a fine pleasant day.  After a coffee stop we headed into the forest, as the day turned increasingly warm and sunny.  We had lunch near Morton Lochs and, after being treated to the sight of red squirrels, ended the walk by crossing the golf course.

Photos by Tom Reid & Pete Trant

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Wednesday 21 July - Redgorton to Bankfoot, 8.5 miles

9 walkers started walking from the bus stop on the A9 near to Redgorton, moast of us having caught the bus from Bankfoot.  John Andrews led us around Luncarty and then across one of the new bridges over the A9 to the W. side of the road.  After passing Gellybanks we crossed back over another new bridge at Newmills Farm.   After lunch in a shady spot at Westwood we continued past the edge of Five Mile Wood before crossing a third new bridge over the A9 to end the walk in Bankfoot.

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Saturday 17 July - Griffin Forest, Lochs Scoly, Kinnard & Grandtully, 11.5 miles

Photos by Tom Reid

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Saturday 3 July - Choinneachainn and Auchnafree hills, 11.5 miles

Photos by Tom Reid

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Reports and photos by Pete Trant unless otherwise acknowledged