walking & running
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Here are a selection of our favourite local routes for exploring on foot.
1. Bow Road
The Bow Road is a winding right of way that connects Auchtermuchty with Dunshalt, passing through the middle of some arable and vegetable farmland.
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The route can be made into a loop of just over 3 miles from the Pod by turning right into Dunshalt at the end of the Bow Road and returning to Auchtermuchty via Station Road, passing Myres Castle, in the trees to your left.
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For runners, this is a nice, almost flat 5k loop.
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Please follow the signs for the right of way on passing through the farm yard at Plains Farm.
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Click on the image to explore the route in detail.
2. auchtermuchty common & the Clink
This route is a little longer and a little more challenging, but well worth it.
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From Southfield, head towards Muchty cross, turning right into Back Dykes. Follow the road until you come to the primary school at which point turn right and begin the climb up the track to the Common. Here, you can either take a turn around the common and the meadows / paddocks, or continue on, down to the small car park. Here, you can cross the road and take the small footpath along the side of the burn (stream).
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When this path ends, turn to your right and then right again into Glassarts. Look for a footpath on your left and follow this up the steep climb into the Clink (part of Pitmedden Forest). From here, you can take the Mournipea road, back down in Auchtermuchty.
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The Common, and the return from the Clink offer some great views of the Lomond Hills.
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Click on the image to explore the route in detail.
3. Pitmedden forest
This route is definitely not for the faint-hearted, however the spectacular views of the the Tay Valley are well worth the effort. (Of course you can access this route from various points by car, one of the best is the start of the track where it turns off the road at approximately 3.5miles on the map opposite).
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This loop is almost 12 miles long and contains some considerable climbing (although nothing too steep). The loop around Pitcairlie Hill is quite spectacular, perched almost on a cliff above the town of Abernethy and with views from Bridge of Earn to your left, to Dundee to your right and the expanse of the Tay in between.
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The return route is via the main fire road through Pitmedden forest, eventually passing the Clink and dropping down the Mournipea, into Auchtermuchty.
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Click on the image to explore the route in detail.
4. Drumdreel and Pillars of hercules
This route takes you on a loop of the main trail around the Falkland Estate. A real mixture of outlook from the winding fire track with views of the Ochill Hills to the quiet road through the fields on the way back.
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There is also the added benefit of some refreshments at the Pillars of Hercules Farm Shop and Cafe at around the 5 mile point in the map shown here.
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The route shows the main trail, however there are countless opportunities to explore the estate, including the popular 'Red Squirrel Trail' that starts from the Pillars of Hercules car park.
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Click on the image to explore the route in detail.
5. The Bunnet Stane Loop
The Bunnet Stane (Bonnet Stone) is an unusual and spectacular rock formation on the north slope of West Lomond. It can be accessed by a track from a small car park on the Dryside Road (see map).
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There is a lot of speculation as to the history of the stone and some tales and folklore associated with it. Some information notices at the stone will provide the details.
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You can return to the main road, either by retracing your steps, or by taking the path through the forest to the west of the stone as shown here.
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Click on the image to explore the route in detail.
6. The Maspie Den
The Maspie Den is a real wonderland of a path, climbing up the path of a small river in the Falkland Estate.
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The path contains a tunnel, several bridges and even goes behind a waterfall before allowing you to rejoin the main path up to Craigmead and either return to Falkland (as shown) or to continue up into the Lomond hills.
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Click on the image to explore the route in detail.
7. West Lomond from Craigmead
West Lomond, at 522m above sea level, is the highest peak in the area.
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The views are spectacular. Loch Leven, the Firth of Forth, the Firth of Tay and most of Fife are visible, and on a clear day you can clearly see to Schehallion and many of the other Highland peaks.
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The peak is most easily accessed from the car park at Craigmead (via the road from Falkland to Leslie), but those with plenty of energy can start from Falkland and come up to Craigmead via the Maspie Den.
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Click on the image to explore the route in detail.
8. east lomond and the limekilns
Although not quite as tall as West Lomond, East Lomond is also more than worth the effort.
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East Lomond can be accessed from Craigmead, but also directly from Falkland (via the path that starts from the top of East Loan).
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In addition, there is vehicle access to the car park at the radio masts, from which it is only around a half mile to the summit. This can be found by a right turn from the A912 (heading toward Glenrothes). It is well signposted.
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As an added bonus, you can visit the old Limekilns, accessed via a path, signposted from the gate on the way back down to Craigmead, as shown on the map (the Limekilns are at mile 3).
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Click on the image to explore the route in detail.
