Walking and Cycling

Walking in Perthshire

Perthshire is perfect walking country, with walks to suit all ages and abilities. A day’s hike or a gentle stroll, a hike on the hills or a ramble through leafy woods, by burns and lochs or bagging a mountain top Munro - in this section we'll give you a few pointers.

The first thing to do is to let us know the kind of walking you prefer and we’ll ensure that there’s good information available to you in the Abade holiday home you have selected.

Perthshire has hundreds of outstanding walks. If you would like to do some research before you come, you will find details of over seventy walks spread throughout the eight geographical areas of Perthshire: Aberfeldy, Auchterarder, Blairgowrie, Crieff, Dunkeld, Kinross, Perth and Pitlochry. We particularly like the suggested routes contained in the excellent small booklets written by experienced hill walker, Felicity Martin. You can see and order them at Catkin Press. Mention “Abade” to claim a small discount on your purchases.

Perthshire is known as the Big Tree Country and it has some of the most remarkable trees, woodlands and gardens in Europe. The famous Birnam Oak is reckoned to be the sole survivor of the oak woods mentioned in Shakespeare’s Macbeth. There’s even a move to re-establish the ancient fruit orchards for which the Carse of Gowrie was known in century’s past.

Enjoy a walk in Perthshire at any time of year, what better way to take pleasure in exercise, enjoying some of Scotland’s most magnificent scenery and taking in its extraordinary birdlife, wildlife, flora and fauna.

The Forestry Commission can offer many walks throughout Scotland. Check their site for information about the country's forests and walks and what the Forestry Commission is doing to protect and expand them.

CNDo Scotland offer short walking breaks and outdoor skills courses. A 2005 winner of a Gold Award in the VisitScotland Green Tourism Business Scheme, which encourages tourism businesses to operate in an environmentally friendly way.

The Munros and Tops are for the serious walkers and 'Munro baggers' though some are perfectly achievable by the less expert. See the list of Munros along with grid references for each.

Looking for a guide? With advance notice this can usually be arranged.

Walking further afield

For something different, how about a walk across the Forth Road Bridge ? Make sure you have a head for heights! The 2.5km walk will give you great views inland toward the Ochil Hills and the distant Trossachs. To the East admire the world-famous Forth Rail Bridge.

Some useful links for walkers

The Ramblers Association is the representative body for walkers in Scotland and throughout Great Britain, working to encourage walking and campaigning to protect the rights of walkers and the outdoors.

The Scottish Rights of Way Society contains information about the work of the society, and about Scottish right of way in general.

Cycling in Perthshire

Perthshire has some of the best cycle routes in the UK.With miles of little used routes throughout the area’s 2,000 square miles you can choose between routes over rural south Perthshire, the Fife Millennium cycleways, or take your mountain bike over the rugged Highland tracks and quiet roads in the north and west of the county.

Perthshire is an all-year-round destination, and with the changing seasons cyclists can make the most of the countryside’s changing colours.

Off-roaders will find an extensive selection of little used Highland forestry and other tracks, many of which are close to the main A9 road route north.

If you would like to do some research before you come, you can download copies of eight different leaflets, describing the best on and off road routes in Perthshire: Aberfeldy, Auchterarder, Blairgowrie, Crieff, Dunkeld, Kinross, Perth and Pitlochry.The Forestry Commission has excellent routes and the national cycle route runs through Perthshire, see the website Sustrans

Many Abade holiday home ownersare members of VisitScotland’s Walkers and Cyclists scheme, all will help you with routes and your bicycle storage.