Dundurn - St Fillans Hill

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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.

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.

Public Transport

Bus stops in St Fillans.

Start

Layby near Four Seasons Hotel, St Fillans. Open start point in Google Maps for directions.

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Walk Description

Stage 1

There are parking laybys at the western end of St Fillans, near the Four Seasons Hotel. Begin the walk along the pavement back towards the village, with beautiful views over Loch Earn to your right.

Stage 2

After the end of the loch look out for an arched footbridge over to the right - head over this. 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.

Stage 4

When the track reaches a junction with a house further ahead, turn left through the gate onto another 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 the main lane turns right to enter them. There are two gates directly ahead - go through the right-hand one to gain access to the field in front of Dundurn, which is now close ahead.

Stage 5

This field can be very muddy; keep right - along the top of a grassy bank - to reach and then cross a stream on stepping stones. (After wet weather it may be better to follow the left edge of the field right round to the eastern end where there is a bridge over the stream.) Once over the stream head 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 fades out 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 back past some attractive cottages.

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Dundurn - St Fillans Hill

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Terrain

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