Perth Paths to Explore
Perth Paths
Perth has an amazing selection of paths, tracks and trails for
you to explore! Here are just some of them;
Kinnoull Hill Woodland Park
Kinnoull Hill Woodland Park is 307ha of mixed broadleaf and
coniferous woodland to the east of Perth. Kinnoull Hill at
222m, stands well above the city of Perth and has commanding views
from the summit both over Perth, over the Tay toward the Lomond
Hills and east toward Dundee.
The woodland park is in fact, made up of five 'hills'; Barnhill,
Corsiehill, Kinnoull Hill, Deuchny Hill and Binn Hill. The Park is
managed by the Kinnoull Hill Woodland Park Management Committee, a
partnership between the landowners (Forestry
Commission Scotland, Perth and Kinross Council, Gannochy Trust
and St Mary's Monastery) and the local Kinnoull Hill
Woodland Park Users Group.
Wildwood Safari at Kinnoull!
A new leaflet (PDF, 1MB) has been published
helping to promote the woodland sculptures that await discovery at
Kinnoull Hill Woodland Park! Sculptures, created using a chainsaw
by chainsaw artist Pete Bowsher, can now be found in 10 locations
across Kinnoull Hill. How many can you find?
Finding the sculptures at Kinnoull using the paths and map in shown
in this leaflet is a great activity for young and old alike and
adds a little extra to your visit to the Woodland Park. If you
enjoy finding your way around the Park looking for the sculptures
and are looking for a new challenge, have you tried orienteering?
There are three permanent courses at Kinnoull and more information
is available from Tayside Orienteers. Alternatively, you might
like to have a go at Geocahing. This new 'sport' is sweeping not
only Scotland, but the world, where hidden caches are found using
clues, a GPS reciever and coordinates found on the Geocaching
website.
Kinnoull Hill Woodland Park - Flying the Green Flag!
On July 23rd 2009, Kinnoull Hill Woodland Park was awarded the
Green Flag. The
Green Flag Award recognises excellence in management and
demonstrates the high quality recreational space that Kinnoull Hill
is. In July 2010, Kinnoull Hill received its second Green Flag
which is now flown proudly above the Shed near the Jubilee Car
Park.
The site was re-assessed in the late spring, and we are delighted
to say that the Woodland Park passed with flying colours! The
judges were particularly impressed with the key role that the
community plays in supporting and helping with the management of
the site and the inclusive way in which the community influences
the management of the site. They were also impressed by the
partnerships that had been formed in the management of the Woodland
Park, the strength of the conservation work that is undertaken on
the site and the high quality facilities that are managed at the
Woodland Park.
Paths at Kinnoull Hill
There are in excess of 45km of path and track at Kinnoull Hill
Woodland Park. Many of these paths are informal, and can be steep
and muddy in places. However, as part of the
Big Tree Country Heritage and Access Project, some 5km of these
have been upgraded substantially. There are now two main paths; a
Kinnoull Circuit that takes in both Kinnoull and Deuchny woods, and
an All abilities loop providing a 1km route which is accessible to
wheelchairs. There are also two link paths, one heading straight
from Corsiehill Road Lay-bys to the summit and another heading into
the woodland from the Barnhill area.
Getting There
There are two parking areas, at the Jubilee Car Park and
Corsiehill Lay-bys/Quarry Car 
Park.
Other facilities can be found in Perth. The Park can be accessed by
public transport from Perth, it is on Stagecoach bus route number
11, or by foot. The Geddes Way, provides a signed route onto
Kinnoull Hill from the town centre. An alternative route crosses
from the South Inch, over the pedestrian bridge at the railway
bridge over the Tay, and onto Barnhill.
Further Information
A leaflet (PDF, 5MB) is available. The
leaflet is also available from Perth and Kinross Council and
Tourist Information in Perth. This new leaflet is part of a suite
of new leaflets for other Perthshire Big Tree Country sites.
Kinnoull Hill is managed according to a
Management Plan, produced by Perth and Kinross Council.
St Magdalene's Hill
St Magdalene's Hill is sometimes known by a variety of other
names, Callar Fountain or The Pitch and Putt, being the most common
of these. In the last three years, the paths and tracks at St
Magdalene's Hill have been significantly upgraded and they now
offer well surfaced paths to explore the woodlands. The woodland
offers a mix of open deciduous woodland with open view to Perth and
large areas of new plantings, as well as denser conifer plantation
woodland toward the Friaton Quarry. This mix of woodland is home to
many species of animals and birds.
The paths at St Magdalene's lead onto other paths via an overpass
over the M90, and offer the opportunity to explore areas beyond
Perth and onto Mailer Hill. A return path will lead you under the
M90 and into Buckie Braes. Alternatively, you can follow paths
through the Community Woodland to the west of St Magdalene?s and on
toward Buckie Braes.
Parking is available at the Glendevon Road car park, and regular
bus services via Stagecoach bus route numbers 5 and 6 run to
the hill. You can easily walk through Craigie to St Magdalene's
from the town centre, following one of the 'Soutar Walks'.
Buckie Braes
Buckie Braes is a wooded gorge that runs adjacent to the Craigie
Golf Course. Offering a short circular walk or access to longer
routes beyond the M90 via the underpass, the paths in Buckie Braes
have recently been resurfaced. Paths are steep and there are steps
in places.
Soutar Walks
William Soutar was a famous Scots poet who lived the latter part
of his life and died in the Craigie area of Perth. Much of his
poetry reflects his time in Perth and some of his most famous works
were written while he lived here. In celebration of the works of
Soutar, two walks have been designed to give an insight into
aspects of Soutars life.
More information on the life and work of Soutar can be found on the
William Soutar
website.
Information leaflets (PDF, 6.8MB) are
available.
