Accessible giants and lovely glens – hiking in Highland Perthshire

This popular classic is an elongated loop that takes you through a picturesque gorge lined with enchanting mixed woodland and boasting several impressive waterfalls, chief among them the spectacular Falls of Moness. Named after the 1787 Robert Burns poem ‘The Birks o’Aberfeldie’, the woodland is a fine… read more

Any amble that explores remnants of the great wood of Caledon is always a treat, with a real sense of ancient natural history and the opportunity to spot wildlife. The Black Wood of Rannoch loop gives you the chance to spy red squirrels, pine marten and deer, as well as revealing splendid vistas across… read more

Rising near the southern boundary of the Cairngorms National Park, Ben Gulabin makes for an excellent smash-and-grab summit raid and a great introduction to the Mounth region. With glorious views north towards the Cairnwell Munros and south towards Tayside, this quick out and back is well worth it.



Ben… read more

This fine outing combines two excellent objectives above the shores of the wonderful Loch Tay. First, you explore the ravine of the Falls of Acharn, with its beguiling ‘Hermit’s Cave’ – a human-made stone cave built in Victorian times as a viewpoint for the cascade. Then, you contour the hillside and… read more

This is a glorious loop that has the bonus of being accessible by train from Dunkeld and Birnam station. It takes you above the beautiful village of Dunkeld through mature woodland and to a couple of lovely lochans. If you’re feeling fit, you could always bolt on an ascent to the Rocking Stone, high… read more

There are few Munros that take so little effort to hike up than Meall Buidhe. This is thanks to the high car park on the eastern end of Loch an Dàimh, which provides a starting elevation of around 1,340 feet (410 m). From here, it’s a quick out and back, with around 1,650 feet (500 m) of elevation gain… read more

This loop above Blair Atholl has plenty going for it. From stupendous mountain views and glorious woodland to a spectacularly cascading burn and stunning wildlife.



You begin from Blair Atholl station, pick up the path along the River Tilt, before venturing northwest to the hamlet of Old Blair. Use the… read more

This out and back from the Glen Lochay road aims directly for the lonely Munro summit of Meall Ghaordaidh, the high point on a broad massif that separates Glens Lochay and Lyon. It’s a straightforward hill walk and a good introduction to Munro bagging on a good day, with fine views of the surrounding… read more

Pointy Schiehallion has its fair share of history. It was the subject of a groundbreaking experiment by Astronomer Royal Nevil Maskelyne to estimate the mass of the world in 1774. This also resulted in the inception of contour lines by British mathematician Charles Hutton. As you study the contours of… read more

A high start point and two Munros make this an enticing prospect for peak baggers, while plenty of boggy, peaty ground throws additional challenges into the mix. Meall Corranaich and Meall a’ Choire Lèith are the two Munros on the western end of the Lawers Group and are often neglected in favour of their… read more

Ben Lawers is the 10th highest mountain in the UK, towering to 3,983 feet (1,214 m) above sea level. It’s something of a gentle giant, with relatively straightforward terrain and the added bonus of a high start point. Due to this, as well as its proximity to the population centres of the Central Belt… read more

Rising high above the beautiful town of Pitlochry, Ben Vrackie is a popular and prominent objective that affords spellbinding views across its surroundings. Despite being a Corbett, its mix of accessibility and charm mean that it’s climbed more often than even most Munros.



This hike starts from Pitlochry… read more

The neighbouring Lawers Group may be higher but those in the know head for the Tarmachan Ridge. Accessible and awe-inspiring, the Tarmachans provide some of the most interesting hiking in the area with rocky, rough terrain quite at odds with the grassy giants to the east.



Begin from the Ben Lawers car… read more

These four rolling Munros – often referred to as the Càrn Mairg hills – are the preserve of Munroists and experienced hillwalkers who may have already explored the better known mountains in the region. Broad topped and adorned in heather, their outlines draw no gasps of awe from afar. However, a loop… read more

The three Munros at the eastern end of the Lawers Group can either be tackled as part of a huge traverse of the range or as a satisfying round from the shore of Loch Tay, as is presented here. However, their great height makes this a strenuous outing, much more so than the usual hike up to their parent… read more