This enjoyable loop begins through the dense forestry plantations of Drimmie Wood but later leads onto the lovely Tullyfergus estate on fine old drove roads with a fine lochan, woods and wild flowers.
Bog Factor
Marked paths and tracks, one section on quiet road.
Drimmie Woods parking area.
None to walk start; 4km from Blairgowrie.
NO188492
There is a parking area on the right hand side of the Drimmie Road around 4km out from Blairgowrie. The walk, which is signed 'Drimmie Woods', starts not through the gate but instead by turning right facing the gate, following a path along the edge of the forest almost parallel to theroad. When a forest track is reached, turn left into the dense plantations of Sitka spruce. The track bends left by a small quarry.
Continue through the dark plantation, ignoring a track coming in from the left and another leaving to the right; the route is waymarked. Eventually the route reaches a fence; turn right alongside this, as waymarked. Another marker post indicates where to bear right away from the fence over the needle-clad but barren forest floor; this is to avoid a boggy section, and further on the route rejoins the fence. Pass through a gate and soon the countryside becomes more open and varied, with many species of trees, wild flowers and clear areas highlighting the poor environment provided by the spruce plantation just left behind.
A beautiful lochan is soon seen on the left, with distant views of the Angus hills and a windfarm. Just beyond the pond the track widens to a spacious area with a marker post indicating the route straight ahead. Turn right here onto a wide path. This is part of an ancient drove route, so you are following in the footsteps of the drovers, men from the Highlands bringing cattle down to market to Blairgowrie and beyond.
The drove route is now just a grass path giving fine views over the Strath to the Sidlaw Hills, and lined with a mix of old stone walls, rowan trees, copses, flowers and meadows. It passes through a wooden gate and later joins a track. Eventually it emerges on a minor road opposite a farm.
Turn left and follow the road for around one and a half kilometres. Where the road bends sharp right just after West Tullyfergus farm, turn left through a gate onto a track signed for Drimmie Woods.
This track is another old drove route; keep straight ahead along it. It rejoins the outward route just before the pond. From here retrace your steps back through the sitka spruce plantations to return to the car park and the start.
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