Time for right royal improvements along the Coronation Road

Historic route is linked with the crowning of kings at Scone

A section of one of Scotland’s most historic routes, which skirts Perth, is to be upgraded so walkers can once more follow in the footsteps of kings.

The Coronation Road linked Falkland to Scone Palace, where kings were crowned on the Stone of Destiny.

One theory for the route’s creation is that the Earl of Fife had the hereditary responsibility of crowning the king, so would have had to make the journey along with his retinue.

It would also have provided a link between to the two royal palaces for the king of the day.

The section of the Coronation Road to be upgraded is at Northlees, which lies between Kinnoull Hill and Kinfauns and looks down towards the River Tay.

Perth and Kinross Countryside Trust (PKCT) has received £35,000 from Suez Communities Trust (formerly Sita Trust) for path improvement works.

The cash will allow for improvements at Northlees to the link with Deuchny Wood. Work will include fencing, drainage with culverts, path surfacing and ditch clearance.

Morag Watson, PKCT manager, said: “The views from the path at Northlees of the rolling countryside and across the Tay towards the Lomond Hills in Fife are stunning.

“We hope everyone will be able to enjoy them more readily following the clearance of over 800sqm of gorse, installation of drainage to help dry up the wet and boggy ground and laying of accessible path surface along its length.”

Bid Strachan, PKCT communities officer, added: “Works on this section of the historic Coronation Road will begin next Monday and will run for about three weeks.

“Thereafter, the route will remain closed for up to four weeks to allow the new path to settle.

“We would like to thank everyone for their cooperation and patience with us while this work is under way and for a short while afterwards.

“Thanks must also go to the landowners who are working with us to improve the path.

“There have been problems with sheep worrying in the past but we are all working together to make sure dog owners can use the path without their dogs being a danger to the sheep.”

The views from the path at Northlees of the rolling countryside and across the Tay towards the Lomond Hills in Fife are stunning

Picture: Kris Miller. Robert the Bruce reenactor Brian McCutcheon at Scone Castle, linked to Falkland by the Coronation Road, which is to be improved.