Birnam Hill

Distance	Approximate Time	Height Gain	OS Map
7 kms	02:30 (hrs:mins)	400 metres	Explorer 379: Dunkeld, Aberfeldy & Glen Almond

Description

This short but attractive walk is mainly in delightful deciduous woodlands. It passes around the eastern flank of Birnam Hill before climbing from the south. On the way a short detour leads to a magnificent view across fairytale-esqe landscapes to Rohallion Lodge. The walk then climbs to the summit of Birnam Hill (404m) before dropping ever more steeply through more woodland back to the start.

The walk starts at Birnam (for Dunkeld) railway station. It passes under the railway, then bears left and follows the railway for a considerable distance, through attractive mixed woodland, passing an old quarry at one point. It turns away from the railway, climbing past crags on the side of Birnam Hill.

At 200m altitude there is a short but highly recommended detour to Stair Bridge, an ancient bridge which looks out across a dramatic valley to Rohallion Lodge, an attractive, turreted castle, complete with lake and rolling, forested hills. Beyond the lodge the view stretches down Strath Tay.

Returning to the walk, the climb continues, soon leaving the forest for open moorland, with heather in abundance. The path becomes very steep on the final climb to the summit of the hill, at 404m. Here there is a huge cairn and dramatic views both up Strath Tay to Dunkeld and the Highlands and down towards Perth.

The walk ends with a long but very direct descent through first coniferous and then deciduous forest; the descent becomes very steep near the end (great care is needed in wet weather). Finally, a short walk back under the railway line leads to the start.

Access Info

The walk starts at Birnam (for Dunkeld) railway station, on the Perth-Inverness line and just off the A9 road. There are regular railway services operated by Scotrail. Scottish Citylink runs a Perth-Inverness coach service.

Additional Info

Birnam Hill was made famous by Shakespeare in Macbeth (The Scottish Play). The wood that Stair Bridge overlooks, marked on some maps as 'Birnam Wood' is not the famous wood mentioned in the play, this instead was in Birnam village itself.