📌 Perth, Perth & Kinross
★★
Perth Lade was probably built around the 12th century and provided Perth with both a defensive moat and its industries with a water supply. Used for centuries to power several mills, it’s now surrounded by housing estates and retail parks but is equipped with a path for most of its 7km length. This route uses the lade along with paths along the River Almond and River Tay to make a straightforward (though fairly long) circuit starting in the city centre, which has lots of interesting attractions to visit. It would also make an ideal cycle route, since the majority of the paths are wide and surfaced – through there are steps in a few places. Huntingtower Castle is also visited on this walk; this is cared for by Historic Environment Scotland and open to the public.
📷 Chronological photo guide
🌍 Location
📌 Start / finish at Methven Street / Mill Street junction, Perth city centre
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NO 116237
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 56.397634,-3.434538
🚌 Mill Street | 🚆Perth (0.5 mi)
🚗 Street parking / car parks nearby (both with charge)
📝 Key info
▶ 16 km / 10 mi | ▲ 60 m | ⌛ 3.5-4 hr
Features: 🏠 Perth ★★★ & city sights; 💧 Perth Lade; 🏰 Huntingtower Castle ★★★; 💧 River Almond; 💧 River Tay
⬤ Easy | Clear paths & pavements, mostly level & surfaced with some steps.
Download file for GPS➡️ Clockwise circuit with extension to Huntingtower Castle: start – follow Perth Lade northwest – Huntingtower Castle – join River Almond at east end of Almondbank – follow River Almond & River Tay downstream – Perth & city sights – start
🥾 On our last visit
Wildlife: Evidence of beaver activity along the River Almond. Sheep, a little egret, mallards, goldeneyes, goosanders, moorhens, water rails. Gulls, oystercatchers, a woodpecker heard, yellowhammers, bullfinches, many other small birds. Snowdrops flowering.
Weather: Sunny, some cloud building, light winds. 4°C at start, climbing a few degrees.
February 2025
