Dunkeld, Perth & Kinross
★★★
You know those days where you feel like going for a decent long walk but, for whatever reason, the highest hills are out of bounds? Deuchary Hill might provide a good alternative with a mix of forest and moorland surrounding it, not far from Dunkeld and the A9. This circular walk heads out to Loch Ordie and several other smaller lochs, with a steep out-and-back detour to the summit itself, from which the view can be fantastic. There are obvious opportunities to shorten the route if time is limited.
Chronological photo guide
Location
O.S. Grid Reference: NO 023437
GPS coordinates: 56.575214,-3.591460
Bus to Dunkeld (0.5 mi partly via off-road footpaths)
Car park – access by rutted track
Key info
24 km / 15 mi | ▲ 560 m |
6-7 hr
Features: △ Deuchary Hill (511 m, sub-2000′ Marilyn);
various lochs including Loch Ordie
⬤ Tough | Mostly decent forest tracks; steep, narrow path for ascent / descent of Deuchary Hill’s south side; short road section before Polney Loch.
Anticlockwise circuit with extension to summit: start – Mill Dam – Leddown Burn – Deuchary Hill – Leddown Burn – Loch Ordie – Dowally Loch – Rotmell Loch – Lunan Burn – River Tay viewpoint above Ledpetty Lodge – Polney Loch – start
On our last visit
Wildlife: Swans keeping a small section of water ice-free at Mill Dam; deer in the forest near King’s Pass.
Weather: Blue skies and sunshine, but near freezing with a brisk wind at the summit. Deceptively deep snow with intermittent crust made for tough going.
January 2015
