Let's Go Outside: Where kids can run free

Jul 11 2008

IN summer, the woods of Perthshire Big Tree Country offer dappled shade for refreshing walks, while the surrounding hills turn purple with blooming heather. Many routes combine leafy paths with open slopes where you can breathe the honeyed scent of heather. Others take you to refreshing burns where dippers bob, and peaceful lochs with darting dragonflies.

It’s a great time for family walks, especially if you take a picnic. Rather than turn it into a route march, why not allow time for the kids to play along the way? Forestry Commission Scotland has been championing children’s outdoor play for a long time and their recent Woods for Health strategy aims to develop this further through natural play developments in woodland settings.

Evidence demonstrates that limiting children’s outdoor play experience can affect their physical, mental and emotional development, and leave them likely to be less concerned about the environment. On the other hand, children who visit and enjoy the outdoors grow into adults who do likewise.

Choose from this Forestry Commission Scotland guide to six of the best routes around Perthshire Big Tree Country.

1. Faskally Wood

Don’t miss the sight of waterlilies in flower on Loch Dunmore, in the heart of this small but fascinating wood just outside Pitlochry. In autumn, it’s the venue for the Enchanted Forest, but in summer nature uses its magic to create a colourful backdrop for the two waymarked walks. The shorter one is suitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs.

Practicalities: Start at the Forestry Commission Scotland car park, signed off the B8019 about 500m from the A9 junction at the north end of Pitlochry.

Length 0.75 or 1.5 miles

Guide Map board in car park

2. Clunie Walk

A longer Pitlochry walk takes you up on to the high ground on the west side of the Tummel Valley. The Clunie Walk climbs into Forestry Commission Scotland’s Fonab Forest and out on to heathery knolls, where it follows the course of an old Pictish road. Get in touch with even older energies, by visiting the small stone circle of Clachan an Diridh (250m straight ahead when the route turns right at a junction in the forest).

Practicalities: Start from the Ferry road car park in Pitlochry and follow the brown waymarkers, which lead over the Port na-Craig footbridge. Take care crossing the A9.

Length 7 miles

Guide Pitlochry Walks leaflet

3. Birks of Aberfeldy

To learn more about the birds, plants and trees of Perthshire Big Tree Country pick up a leaflet from the Birks of Aberfeldy car park and follow the nature trail beside the Moness Burn. The path climbs on the east side of the burn then crosses a bridge above the Falls of Moness, before returning down the near side. There is also a Tree Trail with exotic trees and shrubs by the car park.

Practicalities: Start from the Birks car park by the bridge with traffic lights on the A826, or from Aberfeldy town centre.

Length 1.5 miles

Guide Leaflet from dispenser in car park

4. Glen Almond

The Sma’ Glen is a jewel. The alder-lined River Almond flows through a dramatic valley with rock, scree and heather covered hills towering. Take a peaceful walk up the right of way beyond the public road. The track passes below the deserted township of Craignavar (0.75 miles) and the chambered cairn of Clach na Tiompan (4 miles).

Practicalities: From the parking and picnic site by the Newton Bridge, cross the bridge and turn up the track marked by a footpath sign then go as far as you like (it’s 14.5 miles to Loch Tay!).

Length 1 to 29 miles.

Guide OS Landranger 52.

5. Den of Alyth

A visit to this wooded glen will revive your spirits, whatever your age. The babbling burn is shaded by oak, ash, birch and beech trees that are home to small birds such as treecreepers and great tits. There is grassy space and play equipment for the children to let off steam, and a network of trails including a path suitable for wheelchairs and buggies.

Practicalities: Walk from the centre of Alyth or start from car park on the Bamff road.

Length 1.5 to 3.5 miles

Guide Den of Alyth leaflet

6. Loch Ordie Trails

The long summer days lend themselves to longer walks. You may have taken the Atholl Woods route – part of the Dunkeld & Birnam Walks network – to Mill Dam, but beyond lies the larger expanse of Loch Ordie, which shimmers amid rugged hills. Why not make it a target to get fit enough to reach the loch and visit the cairn that commemorates Queen Victoria’s visit? Look out for roe and fallow deer, and a wide variety of wildlife on the smaller lochs along the way.

Practicalities: Start from the Cally car park, off the Blairgowrie road on the north side of Dunkeld.

Length 10 miles there and back

Guide Countryside Trails Dunkeld – a Discover Atholl Estates leaflet.

Further information

www.perthshirebigtreecountry.co.uk or pick up your free copy of the Perthshire Big Tree Country brochure from any Perthshire Tourist Information Centre.