Dundurn - St Fillans Hill, St Fillans

Summary

Dundurn is a small but steep isolated rocky knoll, the site of a Pictish fort as well as the cell of Saint Fillan. It offers fine views and provides an interesting place to explore from the village to which Fillan gave his name.

Hear pronunciation Press to hear pronunciation

Grade

Bog Factor

Rating

Terrain

Easy lanes lead to the foot of Dundurn but the final field is extremely boggy. The ascent itself has only a very faint path and is steep and rugged.

Getting there

Start

Parking area opposite village shop, St Fillans.

Public Transport

Bus to St Fillans (not Sun).

Start Grid Ref

NN695240

Open in Google Maps

Walk Statistics

Distance: 4.7km / 3 miles
Time: 1.5 - 2.5 hours
Ascent: 110m (Profile)

Mapping and GPS

ROUTE MAP
View detailed map of walk

OS Paper map
OL47 Crieff

Get our App FREE
Full GPS mapping &
descriptions when offline

Export GPX

Export KMZ

Open on Big Map showing all our routes

Want to sponsor this route?

Walk Description

User reports (2)

Stage 1

There is a parking area on the left hand side as you come into St Fillans from Comrie, almost opposite the shop. There is further parking at the western end of the village, near the Four Seasons Hotel. Begin the walk by facing Loch Earn and turning left over a footbridge although you may want to go a little further ahead towards the loch to get good view of Still - a mirrored statue of a human by Scots sculptor Rob Mulholland - if so, return to the bridge and cross.

Stage 2

The walk turns left on the far side on a path downriver, but before doing so it is worth detouring to the war memorial to the right for the fine views of Loch Earn. Return and follow the path to a minor road. Turn left along the road, passing a weir in the river, part of the St Fillans hydro-power scheme.

Stage 3

When the road swings left over a stone bridge, turn sharp right onto the lane leading across the golf course. Look out for flying balls and give way to any golfers hitting their drives across the track. The rocky knoll of Dundurn is in clear view across the course slightly to the left. Follow the track as it bends left.

Stage 4

At the next bend, with a house further ahead, turn left through a gate onto a surfaced track heading more directly towards Dundurn. After a short distance a burial ground and ruin can be seen just to the right - it can be visited by going through a gate into the field and then there is a gate in the wall of the burial ground on the far side. These are the remains of St Fillan's chapel - the ruins date back to the 1300s. Continue along the track towards the tall plantation of conifers that hides the sewage works. At the far end of the sewage works go through the farm gate ahead into the field in front of Dundurn.

Stage 5

This field can be very muddy; keep right - along the top of a grassy bank - to reach and then cross a stream either on stepping stones if the water is low or on a makeshift bridge just to the left. Once over the stream head diagonally left towards a stile at the foot of Dundurn. Cross this; a faint path begins to climb round the slopes to the left. The path - often overgrown with bracken - climbs steeply on grass at one point beside a scree slope. On the far side of the hill there are good views down Strathearn.

Stage 6

The path becomes fainter high on this side of the hill but keep heading round until the flat little summit can be reached on steep grass. It offers grand views of the valley all around. The prominent rock outcrop is known as St Fillan's seat, but there are no visible remains of the Pictish Fort which once stood here. Dundurn has sheer rocks on most sides so the best way down is to return the way you came and negotiate your way back through the boggy field.

Stage 7

Follow the track back towards St Fillans. Once back at the minor road, you could either return along it and back across the pedestrian bridge, or instead cross the road bridge and follow the pavement along the main road past some attractive cottages to get back to the start.

Route Profile

Where to stay

Report error

Let us know if you've found an error in our route, or if it needs updating.

Write walk report

Share your story and photos from this route.
£150 of Highlander Outdoor gear to win every month.

Can you help support walkhighlands?

This website and app are run by 'Walkhighlands for All' - a not-for-profit set up to serve walkers' needs.
We rely on the generosity of our users - can you help?