This waymarked forest walk climbs to the hilltop site of an ancient fort - anglicised to Castle Dow on maps - where a line of cairns enjoy splendid views over this part of Perthshire.
Forestry tracks, narrow woodland path; waymarked.
None to start.
Grandtully Forest car park.
The walk begins from the Grandtully Forestry & Land Scotland car park, which is a short drive up a forest track (note the pictured sign) off the B898 between Grandtully and Balnaguard. Leave the car at the parking area where an info board gives details about the walk (which it also calls the Grandtully Trail). The route follows the track uphill through the trees, passing through a gate.
The trees in this area are mostly native and deciduous, a delight in autumn. After a little under 1km the track swings sharply left and continues to climb. There are views back towards the distinct domed summit of Farragon Hill, a Corbett.
Eventually, after another 1km, the track swings back right and levels off for a time. After it curves left again, look out for a red marker post indicating a path off to the right - it could easily be missed. Take this path, which soon comes alongside and climbs by a drystone wall.
Eventually the path passes through a gap in the wall to reach the summit cairns over to the right. The present line of cairns was built in the 19th century, and they were constructed - like the wall - from the remains of an old hillfort, little of which remains today. The views, though, are superb, taking in a wide swathe of Strath Tay.
There are slightly more fort remains left on the other side of the drystone wall. Return to the start by retracting your steps.
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