A walk of two halves, the first involving a steep ascent with good views over Pitlochry and following forest tracks, and the second on open moorland with wide sweeping views of the countryside and distant hills.
Summary
Good paths, tracks and minor roads, waymarked with a steep ascent. The route crosses the busy A9 so care must be taken.
Terrain
NN941580
Grid ref
11.5km/7 miles
Distance
Grade
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Buses and trains to Pilochry.
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Pronunciation
and meaning
1. The walk starts at the Tourist Information Centre on Atholl Road in the centre of Pitlochry. There is a car park next door. Walk along the main road towards the centre of town until you reach Ferry Road. Turn down here and follow Ferry Road under the railway and then keep following the road as it curves to the left, passing a restaurant and some B&Bs on the right. Soon you pass the sports field and turn down a path, on the left, signed for the Festival Theatre and the Fish Ladder. Follow this path and cross the Port-na-Craig suspension bridge. Port-na-Craig means ferry by the rock, referring to the large rock sticking out in the river.
2. After the bridge turn left up the road for a small distance and then cross the larger road and continue uphill on a smaller road following the signs for the Clunie walk which are marked by brown marker posts. The road climbs uphill and ends at a gate leading to the A9. Take care crossing this very busy road. On the other side follow the small road uphill passing farm buildings and continuing straight on ignoring a driveway to the right. The climb here is steep but the views back over Pitlochry improve all the time. Eventually a signed path leads off to the left as you enter Fonab woods. Follow this path straight uphill passing through a gate and into the forestry plantation.
3. When the path emerges onto a forestry track, cross over and follow the grassy path uphill on the other side. This path reaches a crossroads and you turn right here following the sign. The track straight ahead leads to Strathtay. Follow the forestry track, keeping an eye out for red squirrels and deer, until it passes a mast on the right and reaches a fence and the open moorland. Go through the gate and follow the narrow path through the heather.
4. There are good views over the rugged immediate landscape and to the distant hills beyond Killecrankie and Blair Atholl. The path skirts around the hills and eventually heads to the right on the line of an ancient Pictish road. Keep following the path as it turns downhill and passes through a gate into the forest.
5. Follow the straightforward path through the forestry until you reach a T junction. Turn right here and head slightly uphill. Where the grassy path forks at a bend, keep to the right and keep right again at another fork. The route now climbs uphill and follows the line of forestry with good open views at a couple of places.
6. Where the grassy track meets another track turn right uphill and pass through a gate. There are views down to Loch Faskally and Pitlochry to the left. Eventually the track reaches a wide junction with another forestry track. Turn left downhill here and follow the main track as it curves down the hill, ignoring any smaller tracks. Soon the track passes through the gate at the entrance to Fonab Woods and after a very short while you are back on the outward route. Retrace your steps downhill past the farm and over the A9 and the suspension bridge back to the centre of Pitlochry.
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