Cateran country walks make Trust’s top 10 list
With the nights drawing in and the cold setting in, it is easy to forget how great east Perthshire is for exploring the outdoors... writes Rachel Clark.
And to mark the start of the winter months, Perth and Kinross Countryside Trust has listed a top ten of winter walks from around Perthshire - two of which are based in Cateran country - in a bid to get everyone out for a refreshing walk in the cool winter air.
Topping the list is stage two of the Cateran Trail from Kirkmichael to the Spittal of Glenshee via Enochdhu.
Described as a hike with a view, this stage of the Cateran Trail includes a walk upland following a moorland route to the trail’s highest point of 650 metres between Strathardle and Glenshee.
The vantage point offers spectacular views of the glens and rugged peaks.
Those on the trail can visit the upper lunch hut to warm up and sign the guest book. The walk is around eight and a half miles long, and will take around five and a half hours to explore on foot.
Also in the top 10 is the Kirkmichael Path Network, 10 miles of waymarked paths in and around Kirkmichael which offer a variety of walks from short strolls around the village to long-distance adventures through Kindrogan Forest.
The walks encompass varied landscapes of birch and pine woodland, heather moorland and open countryside.
Other Perthshire walks highlighted by the countryside trust include the Birks of Aberfeldy, where walkers are able to visit the statue of Robert Burns in the place where he sat and found inspiration for his poems.
Cluny House Gardens, also in Aberfeldy, is recommended as a great place to see red squirrels and festive conifers, while Kinnoull Hill Woodland Park in Perth is recommended for its breathtaking views of the Tay valley.
On the outskirts of Perth, Scone Palace Gardens are open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays and offer free entry during the winter months.
Walks over Kinloch Rannoch in Highland Perthshire, along Johnny Mathew’s Path in Auchterarder and up the Knock in Crieff also make the top ten, as does the Dunkeld House Tree Trail which winds through the scenic grounds of Dunkeld House on the banks of the Tay.