River Earn walk - Crieff to Muthill

Summary

A lovely linear walk along the banks of the River Earn and through beautiful woodland. The walk gives the chance to explore the town of Crieff and the pretty village of Muthill from where a bus can be caught back to Crieff.

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Grade

Bog Factor

Rating

Terrain

Clear paths, can be muddy at times and overgrown in summer (worst section can be avoided)

Getting there

Start

Crieff centre.

Public Transport

Crieff is served by local and long-distance bus services; link bus back from Muthill.

Start Grid Ref

NN863216

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Walk Statistics

Distance: 9.75km / 6 miles
Time: 2 - 3 hours
Ascent: 75m (Profile)

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OL47 Crieff

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Walk Description

User reports (6)

Stage 1

Start from James Square in the centre of Crieff. Follow the main street to the west (towards Comrie), keeping straight ahead (Lodge Street, signed for Stirling) when the Comrie road goes off to the right. Head downhill to an attractive square at a cross-roads; again go straight ahead onto Drumawhandie Road. When this ends at a T-junction, go straight across onto a path down steps. At the bottom go ahead to the road and turn right onto Sauchie Road. When it bends to the right just before an old railway bridge, go straight ahead onto path at bollards signed Muthill. Follow the wooded path, go straight across a minor road to soon run around the edge of a cemetary before reaching a road. Tak the first right past several houses and keep right at a fork and then slightly left to reach the busy main road to Stirling. Cross the road and turn right to head over the bridge.

Stage 2

After crossing the river take the second lane on the right, Alichmore Lane, with footpath sign. Follow the lane round to the left and slightly uphill. At the corner turn left onto a path signed for Crosshead. At a kissing gate head uphill keeping the wood on your left. This gate features the first of six hands waving at the river - wooden sculptures telling a story about the historical importance of the river and water to Crieff. At the top of the hill turn left to go through the gate into Thomas' Wood. Follow the path through the trees until an arrow marks a sharp turn to the left to head downhill to the road.

Stage 3

Cross the road and head slightly right before taking the path (signed Muthill) to the left to reach the river. Turn right through the gate, soon heading down the clear path which now runs closer to the river Earn a popular salmon fishing river. The path meanders through vegetation, passes over a bridge and then heads along grazing land beside the river. Keep following the clear path, which moves away from the river bank after a while to follow a small embankment built to protect farmland from flooding in the 1990's.

Stage 4

The path follows the river, passing over a small bridge and through a number of gates before crossing a more open grassy area (ignore the path gate over to the right). Keep following the line of the river until just after the 5km point and a bend in the river bear slightly right to head up to a small grassy embankment returning to the riverside as the water bends again before Templemill. Pass to the river side of the buildings here, over a boggy area, ignore the footpath to the right and stay next to the river. Follow the river until the derelict piers of a former railway line. Just before these turn right through a gate and diagonally left to another gate. Here the path runs along a section of old railway, however in summer the first section can be overgrown to the point of impassable - if so just detour through the field on the left and pick up the path at the next gate. From here head up onto the old railway and follow this through a number of gates.

Stage 5

Pass under a stone bridge and after a couple more gates the path reaches a track. Turn left to go under the old railway and pass the buildings at Strageath. Keep to the right of the buildings and follow the driveway to the road. At the road turn right and almost immediately left onto a signed path into Sallyardoch Wood. Very soon turn right (yellow arrow waymarker). Follow the path through the woods until it emerges at the far end.

Stage 6

Turn left at the minor road towards Muthill, keep right at the fork after a few houses to reach the primary school on your right and church on your left. Turn right opposite the church to reach the main road and the village centre and ancient church, hotel and bus stop. Muthill was founded by Culdee Monks in the 700's and has a rich history, including having to be almost totally rebuilt after most of the buildings were destroyed by retreating Jacobites in 1716.

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