📌 Crieff, Perth & Kinross
★★
🛠️ Temporary route diversion at Templemill due to river erosion (checked March 2024)
Anyone up for a riverside ramble with an excellent restaurant at the end? We definitely were, and the Barley Bree‘s lunch menu didn’t disappoint, dishing up elegant portions of local game and animals you’re likely to see on this one-way jaunt through farmland by the River Earn. Starting in the busy market town of Crieff and finishing at Muthill village (probably pronounced MOOTH-ill), navigation isn’t just a case of following the water course (take a map). The route is also far from direct, taking 10 km to achieve what the road manages in 5. But there’s plenty to see, both beside the river and in it: the Earn is a well-known fishing destination, and we enjoyed watching a heron engaged in an almighty battle with an enormous fish. The heron eventually won, but not before dropping the fish and nearly losing it in the process. Later on, we were tempted away from the main trail onto a side path which follows the river bank more closely, but a tricky tributary needs to be leapt in order to get back onto the proper path at the end.
📷 Chronological photo guide
Crieff 
View from Crieff Bridge 
View into the Highlands from near Alichmore Cottages 
Woodland south of Alichmore Cottages 
Finally down by the River Earn 
Geese flying in to feed 
Riverside path 
Goosander 
Riverside path 
River Earn 
Heron vs. fish 
Further on, some fishy business 
Distant Highlands 
Erosion close to the riverside path 
Riverside path 
Old railway bridge 
Following the old railway bed towards Strageath Hall 
Farm track near Strageath Hall 
Boggy final stretch in the woods 
View of Crieff near the end of the walk 
Muthill Old Church & Tower
🌍 Location
📌 Start at James Square, Crieff town centre
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NN 864216
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 56.373070,-3.840637
🏁 Finish in Muthill village centre
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NN 867170
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 56.332060,-3.833328
🚌 Bus to Crieff (walk start), & from Muthill (walk finish)
🚗 Street parking (walk finish) – take the bus to the start (generally hourly – check times in advance)
📝 Key info
▶ 10 km / 6 mi | ▲ 80 m | ⌛ 2.5-3 hr | ⚠️ Linear route
Features: 🏠 Crieff ★★★; 💧 River Earn; 🏠 Muthill; ⛪ Muthill Old Church & Tower ★★
⬤ Moderate | Mostly clear footpaths with rare wet sections, short stretches of minor road. Some parts are overgrown in high summer, especially just before & after where the route leaves the River Earn. Route signposted, though not continuously.
Download file for GPS➡️ Southbound linear walk: start & Crieff – west side of Gallowhill Cemetery – Crieff Bridge (A822) – Alichmore Cottages – cross A822 just of industrial strip – path junction at 🧭 NN 880187 via south bank of River Earn – Strageath Hall – Sallyardoch Wood – finish, Muthill & Muthill Old Church & Tower
🥾 On our last visit
Wildlife: Lots of mallards, goosanders, sheep, horses; grey heron attempting to swallow an enormous fish; geese in fields.
Weather: Mostly sunny with a few snow flurries; around freezing with frosty ground, fresh snow on hills & a dusting on some of the approach roads.
December 2017
