A circular walk created in 2005 to celebrate the bi-centenary of the moving of Scone from its original position near Scone Palace. The walk includes a challenging climb to visit a folly and the Lynedoch Obelisk with good views as well as a gentle descent over the golf course and a meander back through Scone itself.
Summary
Paths including on golf course, minor road, one very steep section and one muddy section
Terrain
Scone - riverside car park near Scone Old Church
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of start point, satnav coords and directions]
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1. Start from the car park next to Scone Old Church at the southern end of the village. Follow the signs from the main road for the David Douglas memorial. The church originally stood in the grounds of Scone Palace and was moved, stone by stone, to its new position when the new village of Scone was built further away from the Palace. The church contains an extremely old pew and the graveyard is also worth a visit. At the north end is the impressive memorial to David Douglas, a gardener at Scone Palace who went on to become a great botanist and plant hunter, responsible for bringing the Douglas Fir and Sitka Spruce as well as many other plants back to Europe. Plant hunting took him to dangerous places and he died aged only 35 having fallen into a hunting trap and been gored by a wild bull in Hawaii.
2. From the church walk along the road keeping right until the Scone Arms is reached. Here cross the main road on the crossing and turn left up the road. After the Honey Pot nursery turn right into Den Road. Follow this road past houses and a children's play area on the right until the woods of the Den of Scone are reached. Eventually a wooden bridge is reached, turn right to cross it and continue on the main path through a lovely area of mature trees. Cross a smaller bridge and keep right as the path climbs uphill.
3. Eventually the path emerges onto a minor road at a metal gate, turn left and continue uphill. At the next corner the entrance gates to Bonhard House are reached. Turn right along a path just before the gates following the sign for McDuff's Monument, built as a folly before 1783 by the family who lived in Bonhard House. The path passes through another gate and a section of woodland before reaching another minor road and turning left. Follow the road, passing the fine house at Balcraig, with its eagle gateposts, before turning right on a signed path heading uphill. The path climbs steeply uphill through trees, passing a covered reservoir, before emerging onto moorland.
4. The McDuff Monument is just beyond. Here there are great views over Scone and Perth. Continue on the signed path and head towards the Lynedoch Obelisk visible on the next hill. Follow the clear path as it crosses the moorland which is a good place to spot deer and birds of prey. After passing through a gate near a big tree climb up to the obelisk which is also a good viewpoint. The Obelisk was erected in 1853 in memory of Lord Lynedoch who fought with Wellington to free Portugal and Spain in the battle of Barossa in 1811.
5. From the summit of Murrayshall Hill follow the narrow path down a gully, passing a bench and heading towards the golf course. Cross behind the tee and follow the clear path to the left and downhill through the trees. When this path swings right, follow a narrower path through the woods carrying straight on. This reaches another golf course path, turn left and follow it, keeping right, until a road is reached. Here turn left and soon turn right down another path, before the large new houses are reached. Bear right to join the main golf course path that then heads downhill next to the fairway. When the driveway to Murrayshall is reached turn left. The house to the right is now a hotel but was originally owned by the Norie-Millers who founded General Accident.
6. When the driveway to the hotel reaches the road turn right and follow the minor road until a clear bend where you turn left onto a signed track. This passes through farmland and the ruins of the Mill of Bonhard before reaching a road near Balgarvie. Turn left onto the road and turn right after the house to follow the road down towards Scone. Cross the first road and follow a walkway to the main road. Cross this and take the road opposite until Lovers Lane is reached. Turn left and follow Lovers Lane to the bottom where you turn right and then turn left just before the park. Follow this road all the way through the mixed housing of New Scone until a right turn at the bottom brings you back to the church and the start of the walk.
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