ABERFELDY to PITLOCHRY

Starting in the centre of Aberfeldy take the B846 towards the Wade Bridge and the Black Watch Memorial. Cross the Tay at the Wade Bridge and immediately on the north bank turn right onto a marked footpath along the north bank and to the side of the golf fairway. Close to the modern footbridge erected for the golfers, keep to the left track, carefully cross another fairway and head to the wicket gate on the Weem to Strathtay road.

River Tay flowing east from the Wade Bridge - Aberfeldy

Aberfeldy from the north banks of the River Tay

At the road turn right (E) and follow the road along the north banks of the Tay. This is all roadwork until you reach Strathtay, but being a quiet minor road it is a very pleasant walk with interesting views of the River Tay. On the route you pass the gardens at Cluny House and come close to ancient Earthworks at Findynate Farm.

On the opposite side of the Tay you can see over to Pitcairn with its historic church. On entering Strathtay you come to a crossroads with a village shop on the right and church on the left. The road to the right leads to Grandtully with its small centre and Grandtully Castle. Proceed straight through the crossroads with a road shortly merging from the right, and the golf course on the left. About 10 metres past the junction on the left is Hope Cottage and a track clearly marked as a public footpath to Pitlochry.

River Tay flowing east close to Edradynate

Derculich House and Garden

Follow this track and immediately bear to the right then up a track that crosses one of the golf fairways, taking care as you approach. Past the fairway the path starts to climb up through woods with the small Tullypowrie Burn running on the right. Pass by Tullypowrie then cross the burn to the right hand side on a small wooden bridge, climb to the top of the wooded area which then opens out with a high deer fence on the right.

About a 100 metres up the line of the fence there is a gate, cross through and head north east following a relatively well defined path over open grazing. The next gate is towards the NW end of the dividing fence. Once through continue NE towards a clear corner of the forestation that is ahead on the rise. We strongly recommend that you take a look back over the pathway, looking west to Schiehallion, Ben Lawers and the Tay Valley.

Looking west along the Tay Valley from Tullypowrie

Forest Track close to the Stone Circle

Enter the forest over a high stile, taking the track straight ahead. This is a clear open forest track, at the first T junction continue straight on. Along this section there is a pre-historic stone circle set about 20 metres to the left. The next junction is a crossroads with the path straight ahead being a grass track. Take this more attractive route starting the descent towards the Tummel Valley. The grass path soon rejoins the forest road approaching from the right, and at this point cross the track and take the grass path opposite which proceeds steeply downhill. As you descend there will be glimpses through the trees of Pitlochry lying below.

This path comes to the forest fence then onto a vehicle track that zig zags down hill till it reaches a metalled road above Middleton of Fonab Farm. Continue down this straight road until you reach the A9 Dunkeld to Blair Atholl road, taking care while crossing this bypass section.

View over Pitlochry from Fonab Forest

Road to Pitlochry at Middleton of Fonab

Immediately across the road there is a narrow residential road running down to a junction with the Pitlochry Festival Theatre on the left. You are now close to the end of the walk, but if you wish to reach the centre of Pitlochry, take the road below the entrance to the theatre and as it approaches the Tummel River at Port-na-Craig there is a footbridge to the right.

Cross the river Tummel and on the other side pass up the side of some bungalows. At the roadway into the houses take to a footpath opposite marked to the town centre through the woods, going under the railway line them immediately turning right for about twenty metres before emerging at the north west corner of the Memorial Park. This is the end of the Rob Roy Way, the park's main entrance being on the main road through Pitlochry.

Memorial Park in Pitlochry

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