Wednesday 26 August - Bridge of Earn, Forgandenny & Culteuchar Hill, 11 miles
A moderate walk from Bridge of Earn via Forgandenny and Culteuchar Hill, led by Tom Reid. The route took us on minor roads, paths, tracks and fields. It was a steady climb from Forgandenny to the hill fort on Culteuchar Hill which provided panorama views to the North and East down the river towards Dundee.
Photos by Tom Reid & Marjory Watson
Saturday 22 August - Blairadam Forest, 6.5 miles
Nine walkers met by the playing field in Keltyhill Avenue in Kelty and crossed the footbridge over the M90 to enter Blairadam Forest. Pete Trant led the group through Keltyhill Wood to join the path from the car park towards the Glen Trail beside the Kelty Burn. Passing by the remains of one of the piers of the 'Hundred Foot Bridge' that used to carry the railway across the glen to the Blairenbathie Colliery, we stoppedfor a coffee break.
We continued along the Glen Trail before joining the Blairenbathie Mine Trail across Pieries Burn bridge and heading into the recently cleared areas of Loutenstane Wood and Arlick Wood. We then headed east into Coronation Plantation with views south as far as Edinburgh and intermittent views towards Benarty Hill and Loch Leven.
At the edge of the plantation we followed the foresty track into Blairhill Wood. After another cleared area, the walk leader mistook a path opening downhill for the intended, and previously recced, path. After a while we realised the mistake but we decided to continue on the new path as it was heading in the right direction but it did eventually result in more difficult than planned conditions for a while. However, we all emerged safely onto the main track between The Rirum and the bing from the old mine and we stopped for lunch under trees. We concluded the walk through the main car park and along the approach road before turning back into Keltyhill Wood to recross the M90 footbridge.
Wednesday 19 August - Birnam Hill, 8.5 miles
Cathy Creedican led a group of 20 walkers from Birnam Institue on a circuit to the top of Birnam Hill and back. The route had to be modified on the day due to forestry work but the walk was completed successfully before rain set in.
Photos by Tom Reid & Marjory Watson
Saturday 15 August - St. Fillans to Earthquake House, Comrie, 6 miles
Fraser Mitchell lead a group of 11, meeting at Earthquake House, The Ross, Comrie and taking half of the cars across to St Fillans to walk back. Fraser explained to the group that until 1817 St Fillans had been called Port of Lochearn but the name was changed by Lord Gwydyr as it was believed that St Fillan had lived in the area.
The walk started on the dismantled railway route and the group were able to see an old station building (allegedly one of the best preserved in Scotland) and Fraser explained that the line had actually been taken out of use in 1951 in advance of Beeching due to its financial unviability.
The walk continued along the railway route to Dalchonzie, passing a field full of red deer happily grazing and largely ignoring the walking group! At the end of the path the walk continued along a quiet road past Dalchonzie House and power station to the Aberuchill estate where the walk continued up the Eathquake path back to The Ross.
We stopped to see the Earthquake House and saw recordings of recent worldwide earthquakes. Taking the remaining cars, the group returned to St Fillans where 8 people went for coffee and cake (although the choice was limited due to them having been very busy) at the cute St Fillans general store.
Report by Fraser, photos by Pete Trant
Wednesday 12 August - Blairgowrie to Alyth via Rattray and Glendams, 7.8 miles
The Glorious Twelfth! A fine, warm but sometimes cloudy day saw twelve Ramblers join leader Ian Stokes for this enjoyable walk between Blairgowrie and Alyth.
We left Wellmeadow and walked through Davie Park before climbing through the east end of Rattray and then onto a minor road above the town. We eventually turned off this and headed up to Hatton Farm. We paused to look at Cargills Monument. We had intended to stop here for our morning break but the local bovine population thought otherwise.
After our break, slightly further up the hill, we joined the Drimmie road for a short distance before turning off through a field towards Glendams, but not before admiring a small stone circle just off the road. Glendams is a pleasant area of small lochans and we all enjoyed passing through.
For a short distance the way gets rather thin and overgrown but we soon arrived at the edge of Drimmie Wood, before we stopped for lunch at the unnamed easternmost loch where we enjoyed watching damselflies as we ate.
From here it is a lengthy but easy descent down to the Den of Alyth, where we initially followed the southern bank before crossing over to the north, thus avoiding the stretch of path still closed from last winter’s landslip. We had a short stretch of road before crossing the packhorse bridge and arriving in The Square in Alyth.
All agreed it had been a good day and several of us finished with tea and cakes at the Alyth Hotel.
Report by Ian Stokes, photos by Marjory Watson
Saturday 8 August - Luncarty to Inveralmond, 7.5 miles
12 walkers met in Luncarty, having come by bus from Perth or Inveralmond. John Andrews led us past the Memorial Hall and out of the village down Fairview to Denmarkfield. After pausing to take in the information board about the rewilding project there, we joined the River Tay Way path by the King's Stone and followed it towards Perth, passing under the Destiny Bridge.
Shortly after, we left the riverside path to cross under the railway and have our coffee stop at the picnic tables on the old A9 by the souterrain parking area. After our break we crossed over above the current A9 and followed the newly opened link road towards Bertha Park. We skirted around the (current) northern and western edges of the Bertha Park estate, while contemplating the ongoing building work and the eventual extent of the planned housing. We then headed through a mixture of farmland and woodland towards Almondbank.
We crossed the River Almond by the Black Bridge footbridge and had lunch sitting by the bend in the river just upstream of Low's Work. After lunch we left the river to follow the Perth Lade past the Huntingtower Hotel, Ruthvenfield and under the B9993.
At the Inveralmond Skywalk footbridge the party split up, with those who had parked at Inveralmond returning directly there, while the rest continued over the footbridge to follow the Lade a little further to reach a bus stop to return to Perth or to retrieve their cars parked near the Holiday Inn.
Report & photos by Pete Trant
Saturday 1 August - Amulree to Craig Hulich, 7 miles
Fraser Mitchell lead a group of 16 from Amulree. At the start of the walk Fraser shared some details regarding General Wade's Roads and informed the group of a presentation available online by Colin Liddell that may be of interest: https://vimeo.com/1066174501.
The walk initially crossed the Amulree bridge over the River Braan and then followed part of a General Wade military road, stopping to see the now ruined bridge over the the Glen Fender burn.
After crossing rough pasture and a ladder stile, the walk joined a well made track which took us up Glen Fender climbing steadily around and up Craig Hulich. Most of the group had lunch at the summit having left the track to walk up through the heather although a small party lunched on the track (although all but one made it to the top).
The walk then went down the hill back into Amulree to complete the circular walk. 7 of the walkers went to Birnam Oak Cafe in Birnam for a well earned drink and tasty cake.
A warm welcome to the new walker Nigel Andrews.
Report by Fraser Mitchell, photos by Marjory Watson & Fraser