I have probably been to the summit of Moncreiffe Hill some 20 times and have walked on its slopes without going all the way to the highest point on countless more occasions. Time for a formal report then, and this seemed like the ideal opportunity.
It was mid-term so I had the Thursday and Friday off work. Debbie had only that very week returned part-time to work after maternity leave, and with Thursday and Friday being two of her three days, yours truly was spending his mid-term with his daughter. Not that I am complaining one iota - I had long since dismissed the notion of getting my parents to do the needful while I headed for the bigger hills further afield. But with the weather looking half decent, and JC's report still fresh in my mind, I decided that a wee jaunt up "Monkey Hill" would be a fine way to spend some quality time with my wee girl...... and besides, Lucy Dog had her legs crossed.
I opted for the ascent from the Perth side so drove over the Queen's Bridge and along through the harbour before turning onto the Rhynd road and into the Tay carpark. We were off at 10.45 from the busy carpark, Lucy scampering around like she was still a pup or something and Ailsa sitting proudly in the baby carrier on my back getting the best view of the three of us.
- Information panel at the Tay carpark
- Kinnoull Hill and Binn Hill across the Tay
It was a pleasant day with a distinct hint of spring in the air and my quick pace (I had only a fairly brief window of opportunity in which to get the walk done and get back home for lunchtime before all hell broke loose) and the weight of Ailsa on my back quickly had me warming up a bit too much for comfort.
Despite the busy carpark, there appeared (fortunately) to be few people around to hear my renditions of "Going on a bear hunt" and "The wheels on the bus" as we zig-zagged our way up the path towards the "portal" - an old pictish fort site now marked out with fenceposts and sporting the obligatory information panel.
- Inside the "portal"
- Perth and Friarton Bridge
The views soon open up looking upriver through Perth towards the higher hills of the Pitlochry and Braemar areas as well as downriver through the Carse of Gowrie towards Dundee.
- East along the Carse with Norman's Law in Fife in the distance
Moncreiffe Hill, like Kinnoull Hill directly across the Tay, is well known for it's array of woodland sculpture and "modern art" and we are soon passing well kent characters such as the deer (a relatively new addition), the dragonfly and the slug.
- Lucy, be careful my deer, there might be bears in there!
- Hang a left here
- Mrs Dragonfly
- Mr Slug
A left at the next (unsigned) junction brings a change in the character of the woodland as we emerge into the lovely area of larch and pine trees just below the summit.
- Kinnoull and Binn Hills again
- A change in the nature of the woodland
Keeping left at every turn we reach another information panel about the historical importance of Moncreiffe Hill as a site of ancient Pictish settlements and fortifications and then make the short but sharp pull up the grassy summit cone to the little cairn.
- Just below the summit cone
From the summit it is well seen why those Picts set up home up here - you could see anybody approaching from anywhere with plenty of time to get the "welcome reception" organised.
- Perth, the Tay and Kinnoull Hill from the top
- Carse of Gowrie and the Firth of Tay with Dundee and Fife beyond
Having lived in Perth for nearly 9 years, Moncreiffe Hill has always been a special place during that time, but having also spent 3 months last summer living in Bridge of Earn on the other side of the hill, it has now assumed extra significance. You can stand at the summit and see Perth one way (although our actual house is hidden from view behind the shoulder of Kinnoull Hill) and Bridge of Earn (and our temporary home of last summer) the other way. Living out in Bridge of Earn and frequently walking Moncreiffe Hill from that side also made me appreciate that it is more Bridge of Earn's hill than Perth's.
- Ailsa and her hometown
- What are we doing up here AGAIN daddy????
- What mid-term is all about!
- Bridge of Earn from the summit
Before returning to the car, we quickly nipped down from the summit and over to the path which runs along the edge of the cliffs overlooking the River Earn and the M90 and up to the trig point.
- Towards Abernethy and Fife
- Through the trees on the edge of the crags - the white of the trig pillar can just be made out through the trees just to the left of the centre of the picture
- Perth and the white span of the old Perth Bridge just visible through the trees
- More Pictish information
- Strathearn from the trig
- Bridge of Earn and the M90 to Edinburgh
From here, I beat a hasty retreat back down the way I had ascended and just about got back for Ailsa's lunch before the complaining started in earnest.
It looks an enjoyable wee walk and I get the impression Ailsa enjoyed it too! You know, in no time at all, she will be in wee boots and making her way up there with you all by her own power! 
] I see Ailsa's already chuckling at the thought of mid term holidays - cheers
