The Autumnal River Tay
| Aberfeldy and Strathtay |
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Aberfeldy | Appin of Dull | Strathtay | Corbetts | Cycle Routes | Practicalities |
OS Landranger Sheet 52 |
The Autumnal River Tay
Farragon Hill
Schiehallion from Faragon Hill
St David's Well, Weem
My Nuts are Upside Down - at Cluny Gardens
The Black Watch Monument, Aberfeldy
Strathtay and the Appin of Dull |
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The Appin (possibly something to do with an abbacy) is an area of farmland and you will see that the flatlands north of the Tay around Dull are indeed fertile and productive. A Strath is a wide open valley. Think of a Strath as a wide U-shaped valley as opposed to the narrow V-shaped glen. The resulting open aspect makes the locality attractive rather than imposing, welcoming more than foreboding. It's a wonderful area characterised by the River Tay, Farragon Hill to the north and Drummond Hill at the western end |
Aberfeldy |
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Aberfeldy, pleasantly situated amid fine scenery, is a very convenient centre for exploring the western Perthshire Highlands. Robert Burns visited Aberfeldy in 1787, heading north from Crieff via Amulree and Glen Quaich. He was inspired. So inspired that he put pen to paper and wrote his famous poem Birks of Aberfeldy. Will you be inspired? The town itself is younger than Wade's Bridge (1733), built by the famous engineer for military purposes. The River Tay has historically been a quite formidable barrier between communities. If someone builds you a substantial crossing, then you might as well make use of it. That's what happened and Aberfeldy came to be. Today it's a pleasant wee town with a range of facilities that will help you enjoy your time here |
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Attraction |
Location |
Parking |
Parking Charges |
Admission |
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The Birks o' Aberfeldy |
Crieff Road |
Car Park |
Free |
N/A |
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Robbie Burns loved it here and so will you. Allow two hours to walk all the way round. The paths are quite steep and well-maintained. But it's worth the effort - especially in the autumn when the colours are quite mesmerising. There are three Falls of Moness tumbling down through the gorge. Start either at the car park in Crieff Road, or opposite the Breadalbane Arms in the town centre and walk up through the Little Birks |
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Breadalbane Campus |
Crieff Road |
Car park |
Free |
Various |
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School, swimming pool, sports centre, library and free wi-fi |
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Black Watch Monument |
Taybridge Drive |
Car Park, |
Free |
N/A |
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Aberfeldy was where the Black Watch was originally enrolled and this is its memorial to that famous regiment |
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Tay Bridge |
River Tay |
Car Park, |
Free |
N/A |
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General Wade built his military roads in order to faciltate the suppression of the wild Highland clans. The bridge was part of that infrastructure, and pre-dates the town of Aberfeldy by some years. It is an unusual, five-arched bridge, dating from 1733. An information board provides more detail |
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Golf, Tennis, Bowls Club, Victoria Park |
Taybridge Terrace |
Car Park |
Free |
N/A |
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Golf, if that is your want, tennis and lawn bowls. In the park, alongside the usual swings and roundabouts, is a John Fowler (Leeds) steam road roller. Not sure why, but there it is |
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The Birks Cinema |
1 Dunkeld Street |
Car Park |
Free |
See current price list |
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The cinema is run as a charity and is the social centre of town. Open morning 'til evening seven days a week. It's not just films. They do tea and coffee, cakes, paninis and soup, alcoholic beverages, soft drinks and, of course, popcorn. Free wifi too... I think they make more profit on the sale of a coffee than they do on the sale of a ticket. Give them your support |
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Aberfeldy Distillery |
A827 towards Pitlochry and Perth |
Car Park |
Free |
See current price list |
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John Dewar & Co. famously home to White Label Blended but now also producing some very fine single malts. The Aberfeldy 12 year old Single Malt is rather good but the 21 year old is far superior: 'well-mannered, delicate and surprisingly complex'. The visitor centre houses a rather classy museum and there's a coffee shop for drivers and that mystifying breed of people who declare themselves to not like whisky. I don't understand... |
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Aberfeldy in Black and White
Tay Bridge, Aberfeldy
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Attraction |
Location |
Parking |
Parking Charges |
Admission |
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Castle Menzies |
Weem |
Car Park |
Free |
Admission charges apply |
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A fine baronial mansion dating to 1571 and home to the Menzies family. You didn't expect that now, did you? And don't you dare pronounce the Z! Ming-ies is the name. Why? Well there used to be a Middle English and Scots letter called a yogh or yoch. It looks like this Ȝ and this ȝ, rather similar to a number 3, and is pronounced variously, most commonly as a 'y' and as 'ng'. But it doesn't fit the Roman alphabet so the letter 'Z' is used to represent it. This is not as unusual as you might think. There are lots of sounds in English that are represented by double vowels because the letter that was once used has been cast aside, for example the th sound in father. The th is a means of representing the Old English, Icelandic, etc. letter 'eth', Ð and ð. You will also have noticed that the th in father is different to the th in thick, þick. Þistle - a spikey plant beloved of Scotland. That one's called a 'thorn'. Really! Ðere are lots of ðese þings. It's all very confusing but we take it all for granted because ðat's what we've grown up wið and so never questioned. Look up yogh in Wikipedia and see where it takes you. In the meantime try getting your tonsils around a few of these: Branziert: Calziebohalzie: Culzean: Dalziel... |
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Weem Rock & St David's Well |
Weem |
Car park |
Free |
N/A |
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The car park is to the right as you enter the castle grounds. The paths are well maintained but are quite steep in places. When you get to the 'well' you will discover that that is a rather hyperbolic description. It's more of a damp patch on the ground, and nobody likes a damp patch. But there are good views of Aberfeldy and the Appin. If you are feeling energetic, you could press on and do Faragon Hill. That's over rough ground, so be prepared |
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Highland Safari |
Dull |
Car Park |
Free |
Charges apply |
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Head off onto safari. It doesn't quite live up to Kruger or the Massai Mara but they've got some serious kit for tackling rough tracks and you'll get to see remote areas that you may not otherwise see. A man in a kilt will guide you - what more could you want! Or just go and see the red deer and barn owls on site and have a cup of tea |
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Walk |
Dull to Camserney |
At either end. Be considerate |
N/A |
N/A |
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Dull, twinned with Boring, Oregan, and Bland, New South Wales, is not so bad. There is a signposted footpath from the village to Camserney. It's a bit muddy in places but it's not too challenging and offers fine views of the Appin. It will take you past a curling pond - a shallow, rectangular pond that will readily freeze in winter for a bit of hibernal entertainment. Look out too for the ancient stone cross in Dull |
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Comrie Castle |
Comrie Bridge |
None |
N/A |
N/A |
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Not open to the public and on private land. Built by the Menzies family. The original structure was burned down in 1487 and rebuilt about 70 years later. In the meantime the family had relocated to Weem. It was inhabited until the 18th century, since when it has fallen into disrepair |
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Steel Bridge |
Keltneyburn |
None |
N/A |
N/A |
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From Comrie Bridge continue on the B846 westwards to Coshieville and take the left turn signposted Fortingall and Fearnan. In a short distance you will cross the Keltney Burn by means of a steel bridge. This was erected by Sir William Arrol & Co of Dalmarnock, Glasgow in 1896. It doesn't quite have the grandeur of the Forth Bridge, also one of his, but is nevertheless unusual in an area dominated by stone arches. For more information about William Arrol, click here. |
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Castle, Nature Reserve |
Keltneyburn |
None |
N/A |
N/A |
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Garth Castle dates to the 14th century and was built by the Wolf of Badenoch. Before you get images of a four-legged lupine wielding a trowel without the use of opposable thumbs, said Wolf was the pseudonym of Alexander Stewart, son of King Robert II of Scotland. The castle is privately owned and not open to the public. At the bottom of the track is a monument to David Stewart, a True Highlander, and further up is a nature reserve and the Falls of Keltney |
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Karelia |
Kenmore Road |
Car Park |
Free |
N/A |
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An eclectic mix of products here - sewing machines and woodburning stoves, fabrics and threads, coffee and ice cream |
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Walks |
Peeler Gate (Kenmore Road) |
Forestry Commission Car Park |
Free |
N/A |
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Walks and cycle trails on the eastern end of Drummond Hill. You can go up to the mast from where we get our TV pictures. Not very exciting. There is also an ancient fort with its earthworks |
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Walk |
Kenmore to Aberfeldy |
Car Park |
P&D |
N/A |
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8 mile, riverside walk to Aberfeldy. Start at Kenmore Bridge on the north side pf the River Tay. You'll pass Maxwell's Tower and the Star Battery before emerging onto the road at Peeler Gate. Turn right and walk along the road to and across Comrie Bridge. Turn right again and go down to the river bank. This is the River Lyon but shortly you will arrive at the confluence with the Tay. Follow the footpath all the way to Wade's Bridge at Aberfeldy, passing various fishing beats and huts on the way |
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Walk |
Aberfeldy to Kenmore |
Car Park |
Free |
N/A |
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6 to 8 mile walk to Kenmore. Head up The Birks to the top falls and then proceed onto the road without crossing the footbridge. Here you have two options. There is the lower walk, to your right, that will take you above Bolfracks and will bring you out at Tombuie Cottage on the Kenmore-Amulree road, or the upper walk, to the left, that will bring you out at a wee lochan higher up the same road. This upper walk is much more open and airy. In either case, turn right and walk down the hill into Kenmore. Hope that your better half is there to give you a lift back. Or return via the riverside walk, above. For things to do in Kenmore, please see the Loch Tay page |
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Bolfracks Gardens |
A827 |
Car Park |
N/A |
Admission charges apply |
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The gardens, dating back to the 18th century but mostly from the 1970s, are open between April and October. Bolfracks House is a big white gothic-style dwelling built in the 17th century and enlarged by the Earl of Breadalbane in the 19th century. The house is not open to the public. |
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Stone Circle |
Croftmoraig |
Roadside |
N/A |
N/A |
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A complete stone circle, on private land |
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An Extraordinary Ceiling
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Attraction |
Location |
Parking |
Parking Charges |
Admission |
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Cluny Gardens |
Strathtay |
Car Park |
Free |
Admission charges apply |
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Between Weem and Strathtay on the north side of the River Tay. Signposted. The gardens were created in the 1950s and are home to a fine collection of Himalyan species. A great place to see red squirrels |
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Historical Note - Strathtay School: High above Strathtay was the Daniel Stewart Free School, the eponymous founder having been born on the adjacent croft of Wester Toberandonich. From this humble background he made a fortune in India and Edinburgh and used his dosh to open the aforemention educational facility, but only for pupils surnamed Stewart or Macfarlane - ah! the importance of being Earnest. Insufficient appropriately named youths were found so others were admitted. It opened in 1819 but has long closed. The building is still there, possibly in use as a holiday let, along with its coat of arms above the door, motto 'Never Unprepared' |
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St Mary's Church |
Pitcairn, Grandtully |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
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A more un-churchlike building would be hard to imagine. Only the surrounding headstones give any clue as to its identity. Completely unassuming, and looking more like a barn, it has a quite extraordinary painted barrel-vault ceiling. Well signposted from the road |
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Grantully Castle |
Grandtully |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
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In private ownership and not open to the public. Built by some Stewarts in the 16th century |
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Grandtully |
A827 |
Car park in Lageonan Rd |
Free |
Various |
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Grandtully (pronounced Grantly) is home to various attractions. Here the River Tay turns to white-water and is perfect for kayaking slalom. There is also a chocolaterie and hotel and a curious iron bridge that crosses the Tay. It has a weight limit of 3 tonnes and a speed limit of 10mph so not exactly heavy duty. Nevertheless, until the modern bridges of the 1970s came along, it would have been the only fixed (non railway) crossing of the Tay between Aberfeldy and Dunkeld |
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