Height : 1,858 feet ( if Climbing Deuchary Hill)
Walk distance : 15 miles
OS Map : Dunkeld
Walk time : 5.5hours
Difficulty rating : 2.5
A gem of a walk in the Wonderful Atholl Estates in Perthshire, this lengthy route takes you up into the lower hills of Dunkeld and through some beautiful woodland passing some great little Lochs on the way. My dog (Mungo) was old and fit enough now to come for a long walk, so this seemed like the perfect big walk to test him out on.
You start the walk in the Cally car park just past dunkeld. Be careful though, what the signs don't tell you is the kilometre of road to the car park is about as close to a dirt road without actually being one as you can get. Once at the car park look for the signs for the Atholl Woods Path & Mill Dam then head left at the cross roads towards Upper Hatton. The path takes you through some lovely wooded areas and you'll soon come across the first of the small Lochs off to the left (Cally Loch).
You'll come to two sections where the path splits, take the fork to the right on each occasion towards The Glack and Upper Hatton. You'll see a path that leads to Birkenburn which should be avoided.
Continue on the path until you approach and go through a metal gate, by now you'll have had your first views of Deuchary Hill which you have the option to climb a little later in the walk. Eventually you cross a little stone bridge and you'll reach a signpost, turn right and take the Upper Path to Loch Ordie.
Soon you pass the Mill Dam and with the path climbing you get great views out over towards the River Tay and out towards the Tummel Valley
Continue on the rising path over another small stone bridge which cross the Leddown Burn and turn right (there's a large bourlder with a red arrow painted on it here). The path, previously a land rover track, narrows somewhat at this section and is boggy in places.
This is Deuchary hill and the path gives a great view of the stoney summit. I didn't climb as I had Mungo with me and it looked a little to rocky for him so we carried on the narrow path around the foot of the hill. The path was somewhat overgrown here and I was very conscious of ticks as bracken and long grass are what you walk through, fortunately neither of us picked any up.
We followed the path until we reached a rather old and rickety looking gate, where we stopped for a wee cup of tea. This section of the walk has left the woods and is now open grouse moor. What I didn't realise at the time was the hill opposite where we stopped (Knock Of Findowie) has the remains of an old hut circle and field system. Not exactly rock and roll but I love things like this and I wished I'd read the map more thoroughly so I could have gone and had a look, next time maybe.
Back on the path and you soon come the the Childrens Loch on the right, near there and again only noticed afterwards is the Sancta Crux Well, an apparent healing well with a font for baptisms . . . . must read map more thoroughly ! Soon a tarmac road appears, you follow this off to the left. Eventually the road curves right at a bridge and a track heads of to the left, you go left.
Climb the stile and after a short walk you come to little Loch Ordie, a wonderful wee Loch. The path skirts rounds the south side of the Loch and soon comes to the Lochordie Lodge.
Before you reach it take the path that heads up and around the back of the lodge, the path leads of to the left and soon rejoins the main track. I passed loads of old dears out swimming in the Loch which was a bit of an unusual sight !
Once you're past the lodge you cross the bridge over the Dowally Burn.
Take the path to the left for Dunkeld and start heading gently downhill again eventually coming to a farm buidling with some chickens and things running around, make sure your dogs on a lead here although mine was more scared of the chickens than they were off him.
Once you're free of the dog eating chickens head left to Dowally Loch and Rotmell Loch. Smaller than Loch Ordie they are just as picturesque and even have water lillies on them
I had a wee break here and was joined by a little companion, in all my time i've unbelievably never seen a grasshopper, plenty of crickets, but never a grasshopper. So it was a nice surprise to have one hop right up beside me and pose for a picture.
This section is quite long but worthwhile, I passed a fair amount of people but I loved the tranquility of the area. Soon a T junction is reached, turn right here and head up the gentle slope to the Atholl Woods Path.
Go through the gate, there are some handy yellow way markers here to aid navigation. Keep to the right when the path splits then head left when it splits again then head left again after you climb a stile. This section gives great views of the River Tay and some of the surrounding hills, in fact you're not far from the Kenmore Hills, another walk excellent walk.
The final part of the journey is downhill and easy going. Turn of the main track to the left to Polney Loch and eventually you head down to a road which was previously part of Wades Military road. After about half a mile of road walking head left at the gate and you'll come to Polney Loch, another beatufill little Loch with lots of wildlife, including a huge dead deer Mungo seemed quite interested in. You're nearly back at the car park, just following the track past the sawmill and you'll get there.
I loved this walk, although it's fairly long it's in an incredible area. There are shorter routes through the woods but if you have the time and energy I'd recommend this, it's a good idea to have a good read of the map though as there are so many areas of interest you'll be kicking yourself if you miss them. Fantastic walk.
