Moncreiffe Hill near Perth

Summary

This excellent circular walk explores Moncreiffe Hill, a beautiful woodland managed by the Woodland Trust, as well as visiting the summit with its grand views over Perth, the Ochils and Fife.

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Grade

Bog Factor

3.5/5

Rating

Terrain

Waymarked woodland paths; can be muddy in places.

Getting there

Start

Moncreiffe Hill woods parking area near Easter Moncreiffe on south side of hill (do not confuse with Tay car park on north side).

Public Transport

No public transport to the start, which is 3km along a minor road from the Bridge of Earn.

Start Grid Ref

NO153192

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Walk Statistics

Distance: 8.3km / 5.25 miles
Time: 2 - 3 hours
Ascent: 330m (Profile)

Summits Climbed

Sub 2000: Moncreiffe Hill

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Explorer 369 - Perth

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Walk Description

User reports (13)

Stage 1

There are two car parks for Moncreiffe Hill - this route starts from the southern one, reached from the road heading east from the A912 just north of the Bridge of Earn. The road passes under the M90 and just over a kilometre and a half further on a sign for Moncreiffe Hill indicates a track on the left. This track can be driven, bending sharp right and then doubling back left to reach a parking area just before a gate at the entrance to the Moncreiffe Hill woodlands. (The walk can be joined from the Tay car park to the north - a shorter but less satisfying route.) Begin through the gate and continue along the track, heading through very fine mixed woodland with glimpsed views to the left across the fields to the nearby Ochils.

Stage 2

Ignore two turnings off to the right that are waymarked in yellow, instead keeping to the grassy track ahead. After 2km this slopes down slightly and comes close to the noisy M90. Just when it seems it might be heading to the motorway itself the track ends and the walk continues on a clear path which climbs to the right and heads deeper into the forest. The path then curves right in a clearer area and, still heading uphill, passes a small pond. At the junction beyond this, bear left (now joing the yellow marker posts). A bench just down to the left of the path is on the very edge of the woods and has an excellent view northwards over Perth.

Stage 3

At the next junction leave the yellow route again and instead turn right. The path continues uphill, passing some sculptures. Keep right at another junction - a bench over to the right gives the best views over Perth. Further on, turn left at the foot of the steep grassy dome of Moredun Top - the summit of Moncreiffe Hill. The waymarked routes keep to the right here but it is well worth making a detour to the top - avoid the eroded steep path straight up, instead taking the well graded path that starts to the left of the hill, curving all the way round to make a gentle ascent to the summit of the hill, almost in a spiral.

Stage 4

The top is encircled by a grassy bank which is all that remains of an iron-age fort. The walls of the fort were made of vitrified stone - rocks heated to such a high temperature that they melted and fused together. How such a high temperature was reached and why it was done are still a mystery to archaeologists. The summit is marked by a small cairn and has terrific views, especially over Perth and the Tay to the north, backed by the first hills of the Highlands. On the southern edge of the summit is a curious flat stone slab with a deep hole carved into it, overlooking the M90 stretching away south towards the central belt. Return from the summit back down the curving path to return to the waymarked trail.

Stage 5

Turn left back on the trail, once more following the yellow waymarkers through the forest, which is mainly coniferous in this area. Ignore the waymarked route off to the right (both this route and your route ahead are waymarked in yellow). The path runs along the top of an escarpment for one section giving more good views of the Ochils. Eventually it curves to the right and descends to rejoin the outward route. Turn left here to head back to the gate and the start of the walk.

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