A good mixed walk alongside an old mill stream and then onto open country to the large tower at the top of Kinpurney Hill in the Sidlaws, which has excellent views. Fairly steep climb with return by the same route.
Waymarked paths, can be muddy at times, steep section through open grazing land to summit.
Bus to Newtyle.
Car park on Glamis Road, east edge of Newtyle.
There is a small car park just beyond the public toilets on Glamis Road on the east side of Newtyle. From here walk along Glamis Road away from the village until Denend Farm is reached with its distinctive metal sign. Turn right and keep to the left of the barn to follow waymarked steps to a gate and the path beyond.
The path follows the Edderty Burn upstream, this section can be muddy at times. Pass the old millpond and cross a small bridge to continue uphill through the wooden Edderty Den. Go through a set of double gates which allow access to the water for livestock in the field and continue past a bench.
After a series of tumbling waterfalls and a flight of steps, the path emerges from the woods and goes through a gate. Bear left here to cross a stream on stepping stones and then follow the way markers as the route turns right to head uphill through an area of gorse and then out onto more open ground.
There are good views back over the immediate farmland and towards the Angus Glens. Keep climbing following the purple arrow waymarkers over ground grazed by sheep and cattle. Pass to the right of a bench and eventually the lone tree near the summit comes into view and the top of the tower.
The tower was built in 1774 by James Mackenzie, a keen astronomer, and used as an observatory. The tower was restored in the 1970's and stands next to the site of an unfinished iron-age fort, remains of the vitrified walls and the large ditch can be seen in the area of the viewfinder and trig point. The viewfinder is useful for picking out the distant hills on a clear day.
The return is by the same outward route, enjoying the grand views across Strathmore to the Angus Glens along the way.
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