Birnam, Perth & Kinross
★★★★
North of Perth, rolling farmland quickly gives way to something a little ruggeder, with Birnam Hill (also called King’s Seat) above Dunkeld one of the first noticeable Highland foothills. This clockwise circuit takes in woodland – which features in Shakespeare’s Macbeth – and a more open summit with decent views over much of Perthshire and the A9 / Tayside corridor. Birnam village (an alternative start point) is conveniently close by for refreshments before, during or after the walk.
Chronological photo guide
Lower slopes 
View across Tayside from the lower slopes 
Birnam Hill’s 280m subsidiary top 
Stair Bridge viewpoint 
Track above Stair Bridge 
View west towards Strathbraan 
Obney Hills behind 
Southern edge of the Cairngorms in the distance 
Keep right at the fork (despite the midleading signpost) 
Looking back to the 360m subsidiary top 
Strathmore 
A9 corridor from the final steep ascent 
Summer view 
Central Highlands from the upper slopes 
Birnam Hill / King’s Seat summit 
Looking west with Schiehallion (centre right) visible 
Summer view 
Looking southeast into the Lowlands 
Birnam, Dunkeld & Loch of the Lowes from the descent 
Summer view 
Fungus on an old trunk 
Track to Craigbeithe 
Hair ice 
Returning around the eastern foot of the hill
Location
O.S. Grid Reference: NO 041405
GPS coordinates: 56.546245,-3.561022
Dunkeld and Birnam, close to northern part of the route |
Birnam Hotel, close to northern part of the route
Car park
Key info
6 km / 4 mi | ▲ 420 m |
2.5 hr
Features: △ Birnam Hill / King’s Seat (404 m, sub-2000′ Marilyn)
⬤ Moderate | Wide track then path on ascent. Rockier, steeper paths on descent and near summit. Track then good path from Birnam back to start. Route signposted in places.
Clockwise circuit: start – Birnam Burn near Stair Bridge – King’s Seat – Dunkeld & Birnam railway station – start
On our last visit
Wildlife: Wrens & other small birds, deer hoof prints.* Woodland birds, horse riders & abundant flies!**
Weather: 2°C with fresh snow, up to a foot deep on the summit. Sunny with some thin high cloud, light winds.* Temperature in low teens but feeling warmer in bright sunshine. Cool breeze only at the summit.**
*February 2022 / **May 2015
