Kinnoull Hill has fine woodlands and a dramatic clifftop escarpment above the Tay. It makes a grand setting for a cylindrical tower built as a folly. The whole walk makes an excellent circuit from Perth city centre.
Bog Factor
Roads and woodland paths; good amount of ascent.
South Inch, Perth city centre.
Perth is well served by both buses and trains.
NO120230
The walk starts from the very centre of Perth on the west side of the Tay. Arrivin by public transport is ideal; otherwise, park at the South Inch car park (charge). From here head to the riveside and turn left upstream. Just before the railway bridge on the left is an ornate domed building - once the town waterworks, it then became a gallery, but is now closed. Head under the railway bridge then turn right up the steps onto the walkway beside the railway, crossing the bridge over the mighty River Tay.
The river is split in two here by Moncrieffe Island and the walkway and railway give good views of the town centre as they stay high above the island before crossing the second part of the Tay. As the walkway emerges at ground level there is a spiral-shaped sculpture seen over to the left. Keep straight ahead to ascend a flight of steps and meet the main Dundee Road. Cross this - there's a crossing on your left - and turn right on the far side along the pavement. After a very short distance take the fork on the left which is signed for the National Trust Branklyn Gardens. These can be visited from here to make a day of the excursion. Otherwise turn left again, signed for 'Kinnoull Hill'.
The narrow tarmac lane climbs steeply to a crossroads - go straight on here with a grand building on the left. This is Barnhill, once a centre for soft fruit growers and market gardens. Above this the lane turns left; leave it here by turning right onto a track, again signed for Kinnoull Hill. A short distance further on turn left up a track at the corner of the Kinnoull Hill woodland park. After passing a modern house the route continues ahead as a path, climbing steadily, initially with woodland on the right and open ground to the left, giving some superb views back over Perth.
Keep ahead on the main path as it bends right through the woods. There are many junctions but simply ignore them all and always keep to the main path, waymarked in orange. After some distance the path swings left to keep to a gentle gradient. Beyond this turn right at a fork (with a picnic table off left) to continue towards Kinnoull Hill summit. At the next junction keep right on the main path. The summit area is soon reached, adorned with a large, old stone table and an amazing view over the Tay. The true summit of the hill can be visited from here by a short detour to the left; it is marked with an Ordnance Survey column and two indicators, one for the history of the area and the second one for the view. The prospect is superb, looking up the beautiful Tay valley with the river winding through a fertile landscape of woods and hills, backed by the mountains of the Highlands.
Return to the stone table and continue the walk on the orange path - it heads left, then turn right almost straight away, then left again to keep close to the edge of the escarpment. This section is often near the edge of a high and dangerous cliff, though this is partly hidden by the trees. There are occasional gaps permitting dramatic views down to the A90 far below, with the Lomond Hills and Fife beyond. A little further on and the view is even better, as Kinnoull Tower is seen for the first time right on the edge of the escarpment.
Continue following the path to reach the tower. It is a folly dating back to the eighteenth century, inspired by the castles along the Rhine in Germany. From the tower continue on the escarpment path for more great views down to the river and countryside, as well as back towards Perth. The path swings left away from the escarpment and then continues to reach a junction. Keep left here, ignoring the orange markers which turn right. Another trail soon joins in from the left.
At the next major intersection turn left, now rejoining the orange markers coming back in from your right. Continue to reach another junction, turn right here, then ignore a 'P' signed path off left to continue downhill and reach a more open area with picnic tables and good views of northern Perth. Fork left across the grass to pass the picnic table and continue down the path with some blue markers to reach a parking area alongside a road. Turn down left down the road, heading through a new housing estate. Keep ahead at a mini-roundabout. The road passes close to St Mary's Monastery where it bends to the right.
At the next crossroads the quickest way back to the start is to turn left down the narrow road and follow this right down to the busy Dundee road. Turn right here and then left (using the crossing) to reach and cross Queen's Bridge. You are now back on the west side of the Tay between the High Street (to the right) and the South Inch Car Park (to the left)
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