Glen Tilt circuit, Blair Atholl
PITLOCHRY AND BLAIR ATHOLL
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1. Park at the well-signed car park near the Old Bridge of Tilt. The walk is waymarked with yellow arrows and begins by leaving the car park on the path near the information board through the trees. After a while the path heads slightly downhill and then crosses the road on an old stone footbridge. The path contours around the steep valley side, a wooden hand rail guards the steepest section, and then joins a track where it turns right. Soon there is a short waymarked diversion to the right to view the Falls of Fender which can be seen vaguely through the trees, some of the water is diverted to a small hydro scheme. The route regains the track and turns right along it. When conifers are reached on the right hand side, take the path slightly uphill to the left through silver birch trees.
2. After a while the path crosses a stone bridge and climbs uphill to reach another track where you turn right. There are good views up the glen from between the trees and soon you reach the entrance to the shooting range where there is a viewpoint with wooden seats just beyond the metal cabin. The route crosses the shooting range and for a number of weekends a year access is banned because of long range shooting. These dates can be found from the Atholl Estate's Ranger Service. Continue over the cattle grid and stone bridge and follow the track as it heads downhill across the Range.
3. Keep following the main track, ignoring two tracks to the left. At the bottom keep on the left, the other track leads to Gilbert's bridge and can be used as a short cut return option. Cross a stone bridge and continue until you reach a metal gate. Go through the diamond-shaped pedestrian gate to the left and head uphill on the forestry track. Follow this until a waymarked junction points to a path heading downhill to the right towards the river. This path passes the remains of a settlement and crosses the flat field alongside the River Tilt. At the far end of the field climb to regain the track at a metal gate. Follow the track which becomes grassy and at a junction take the lower path through sparse trees near the river.
4. Cross the Allt Mhairc on a beautiful stone bridge where you can see the bowl shapes and pools carved by the water beneath. Immediately after the bridge and gate there is a detour up to the left to the remains of a settlement. This is worth it for the views and the atmosphere amongst the ruins. Return to the main path from the far side of the settlement and follow it as it continues up the glen. Cross a stream on stepping stones and soon afterwards it is necessary to detour uphill away from the river bank as a short section of the path has been washed away. Once on top of the grassy bank you can rejoin the path and follow it through widely spaced trees until it reaches Gow Bridge.
5. Cross the lovely arched stone bridge and turn right along the track to begin the walk down the other side of the glen. Soon you pass the pretty building of Marble Lodge and follow the track until a grassy, waymarked, track is taken to the left. This cuts off a corner and rejoins the main track. Continue until another track to the left is waymarked. Follow this uphill, passing through a gate, and then above the buildings at Auchgobhal, and through a field until another gate at a stream is crossed. Keep on the track, passing through woodland and then behind the farm buildings at Croftmore. In the woods ignore a turning downhill to the right and stay on the main track.
6. Eventually the track emerges into open farmland with good views to Blair Atholl Castle to the right. Keep following the track, passing through a gate, and then over a stile until the road is reached. Turn downhill to the right here and keep following the road until you turn right onto another minor road at Fenderbridge. Follow the road through Old Bridge of Tilt where you turn right following the sign for Glen Tilt and follow the road over the river and under the footbridge until you turn left into the car park and the start of the walk.
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Blair Atholl and Pitlochry: North Perthshire Hotels and Inns
Perthshire B&B (Bed and Breakfasts)
Self catering cottages in Blair Atholl and Pitlochry: North Perthshire
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