Dunkeld Walks

Dunkeld Path Network

This Dunkeld walks brochure is excellent, only costs £1 from the Dunkeld, Pitlochry and Aberfeldy VICs (Visit Scotland Information Centres). It is produced by Perthshire BIG Tree Country in support of Perth and Kinross Rangers Service. There are nine Dunkeld Walks featured in this brochure as follow:-

• Loch of the Lowes path - 2.5 hrs - 7.5 km (4.75 miles) This is a lovely Dunkeld Walk as it starts in the centre of Dunkeld to Loch of the Lowes and it ever popular bird hides to view Ospreys (summer visitors) and many other birds also red squirrels and Pine Martin.
• Atholl Woods Path - 3.5hrs - 11 km (7 mls) you can start in the centre of Dunkeld or park your car in Cally Car Park.
• Birnam Hill Path - 2.5 hrs - 7 km (4.5 mls) is classed as a strenuous hill walk giving breath taking views over Dunkeld and beyond as a reward for your efforts. You can start this walk from Birnam.
• Fiddler's 9km (5.5 mls) and Bishops Path 2.5 km (1,5 mls) - 2.75 hrs and 0.75 hrs respectively - Both paths start in the centre of Dunkeld and walk past Dunkeld Cathedral along the banks of the River Tay towards Dunkeld House Hotel (once the home of the Dukes and Earls of Atholl).
• Inchewan Path - 2.5 hrs - 8 km (5 mls) - a varied walk starting from Birnam.
• Loch Ordie Path - 6 hrs- 19 km (12 mls) - This Dunkeld Walk is where you may well see some wild life. It starts from Cally Car Park above Dunkeld, with a gentle climb through woodland plantations before coming out on to magnificent highland moors and landscape. Make sure you take your binoculars as you can see a number of different birds including Black Grouse, Merlin, Short Eared Owls, Hen Harriers and Osprey if you are lucky.
• BraanPath - 2 hrs - 6 km (3.75 mls) - This Dunkeld Walk has been popular since  Victorian times. It starts from the Hermitage car park and follows the River Braan, it includes the magnificent Ossian's Hall, a Victorian built viewing platform over looking falls (where you will often see salmon leaping to go up stream, a the right time of the year).
• Inver Path - 2.5hrs - 8 km (5mls) - This Dunkeld walk from the Hermitage car park and takes you past the MUST see Ossians Hall a Victorian built viewing platform over looking falls before taking you gently up hill to Pinecone Point, another excellent view point this time up the Tay Glen towards Pitlochry.
• Birnam Riverside Path - 1.75 hrs - 5.5km (3.5 mls) - This popular Dunkeld Walk takes you along the banks of the River Tay under the ancient Birnam Oak, said to be the sole survivor of Birnam Wood mentioned in Shakespeare's 'Macbeth'.

'Countryside Trails of Dunkeld'

Atholl Estates, a large land owner around Dunkeld, produce their own 'Countryside Trails of Dunkeld' which covers the routes on their estate around Dunkeld. Atholl Estates must be one of the most progressive land owners in Scotland welcoming responsible access to their land by producing good walks leaflets. This leaflet which can be purchased from the Dunkeld, Pitlochry and Aberfeldy VICs covers the following Dunkeld Walk routes:-

• Cally to Loch Ordie Circuit - 11 mls - this takes you past Mill Dam, Loch Rotmell and Loch Dowally with magnifent views up the Tay Glen towards Logierait and Garndtully.
• Raor to Guay Circuit - 10 mls - This Dunkeld walk takes you through woods, beside lochs, fields and open moorland.
• Atholl Woods Walk - 6.5 mls or 5 mls - This walk takes you through conifer plantations, past Mill Dam and Polney Loch.

There are a range of really excellent Dunkeld Walks, highly recommended. We hope this encourages you to pay a visit and walk some of these great Dunkeld paths.