This beautiful short walk is extremely popular. Popularised in a song by Robert Burns, the fine walk up the steep gorge of the Moness burn reveals several waterfalls.
Summary
Excellent waymarked path; a good amount of up and downhill. The walk passes above steep drops but there are handrails for much of the route.
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1. The walk begins from the upper level of the Birks car park; if on foot from Aberfeldy you can follow a path from the main square. Leaflets giving details of some of the plants and birds you might see on the walk are available by the information board. Begin along the obvious trail, bearing left to cross the large bridge over the foaming Moness burn.
2. This lower part of the Birks is in fact mostly a beech wood. The walk continues along the path beside the attractive burn with several small waterfalls. A little further on the valley narrows and the beginnings of a gorge are reached. From here on most of the path has a handrail.
3. Cross a bridge over a feeder stream with attractive waterfalls on the left. Just beyond is a natural shelf in the rocks known as Burns' Seat. It was here that Robert Burns is said to have taken a rest when he visited in 1787. His visit inspired his poem 'The Birks of Aberfeldy' - and the little glen has been a popular place to visit ever since.
4. Continue on the path which climbs up several flights of stone steps and zigzags left and right, the effort being repayed by several waterfalls. Once at a higher level a wooden walkway continues the route up the gorge. At the end of this the path forks - first you can detour straight ahead to reach a viewpoint for the Middle Falls where the Moness burn flows through a ravine. Afterwards return and continue up the path.
5. You are now high above the river with views of the crags on the opposite side of the ravine. There is a break in the trees that gives a fine view of the impressive Upper Moness Falls, the highest on the walk. Continue on the path which heads for and crosses the footbridge directly above the falls, giving a giddy view down to the river far below. Once over the bridge turn right to begin the walk back down the other side of the gorge.
6. The return walk is higher above the ravine and there are fewer open views of the waterfalls. However the woodland here is mostly the birches - or birks - that have given the glen its name and the scenery is very beautiful. At one point there is a wonderful view down the glen to the verdant Strath Tay, with distant Ben Vrackie visible beyond. Continue down the path to return to the start.
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