BIG Five Viewpoints in Highland Perthshire

Drummond Hill

Drummond Hill - Forest of the Black Laird! The ruthless laird, Sir Duncan Campbell – Black Duncan of the Cowal - ordered Drummond Hill planted with oak, birch and pine in the 16th century, thus creating Scotland's first managed forest. Drummond Hill is now managed by the Forestry Commission and is part of the Tay Forest Park & Big Tree Country.

The best views are from the Black Rock viewpoint, dramatically seated on a rocky outcrop with amazing views over Kenmore Village, Loch Tay including the Iron Age Crannog and Priory Island, Taymouth Castle (built by the Earl of Breadalbane in 1801) and down the Strathtay Valley.

Amongst the many possibly sightings for birds and wildlife, Drummond Hill offers a chance to catch a glimpse of red squirrels, roe deer, pine marten and make sure you keep your eyes peeled for the distinctive capercaillie, reintroduced to Scotland here in 1837 after being hunted to extinction.

Click here for information about walking and cycling paths on Drummond Hill. There are two access points for Drummond Hill, the main car park and a secondary entrance at Peeler's Gate for cyclists.

Aberfeldy Viewpoint

Enjoy stunning views of the fairtrade market town of Aberfeldy, down the Strathtay Valley, over to Weem Hill and Schiehallion. This viewpoint is situated approximately 2.5 miles outside Aberfeldy on the A826, part of General Wades Military Road, the car park offers ample parking and picnic benches. Nearby Griffin Forest offers a lovely circular walk along a fire road past Loch Kennard and Loch Scoly.

Further up the A826 sits Loch na Craige, a small inland body of standing water.

Pine Cone Point

Pine Cone Point sits within the Craigvinean Forest – Gaelic for 'crag of the goats' – is one of Scotland's oldest managed forests.

The forest was created by the 3rd Duke of Atholl in the 18th century with larch (Larix deciduas) seed brought from the Alps. The Duke allegedly used a canon to scatter the seeds onto inaccessible cliffs. Historically the lower slopes of Craigvinean were part of the Hermitage 'pleasure grounds'. Today the lower slopes have a mixed woodland of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) and beech (Fagus sylvatica) while the upper slopes are mixed conifers including the third generation of larch.

The views from Pine Cone Point across the Tay to Dunkeld and to the mountains in the north are quite spectacular. A most abilities path gently zigzags through the forest, arriving at the new hand-built wooden sculpture in the shape of a pinecone. Hand crafted benches offer a handy resting place from which to enjoy the surrounding area.

Craigvinean Forest provides an alternative to the very popular walks in the adjacent Hermitage. The way marked walks meander through the plantation, revealing follies and superb views over The Hermitage and Dunkeld to Craig a Barns.

The forest is home to many species of wildlife and has a high conservation value with its healthy population of red squirrels and capercaillie. The more diligent and patient visitor may even catch a glimpse of the elusive pine marten. Roe Deer can often be seen grazing in the woodland, whilst Osprey can be seen in the skies above - residents of the nearby Loch of the Lowes Wildlife Centre.

Craigvinean Quarry car park has parking space for 12 cars and is the ideal place to begin the walk to Pine Cone Point.

Ben-y-Vrackie

Ben-y-Vrackie (Speckled Mountain) is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) offering woodland, open moorland and the picturesque Loch a' Choire. A path from the car park leads you past a mixed Conifers Wood to the open hillside. Heather surrounds marshy streams, a beautifully carved seat is a welcomed resting place, maybe a view of Lochnagar from the top, but that's not all, the flora & fauna is outstanding...

Ben-y-Vrackie reaches 841m (2759 feet) high at its summit and commands views of Pitlochry and the surrounding glens.

Plants are in abundance on and around Ben Vrackie including Pignut, Cow Parsley, Ground Elder, Wood Forget-me-not, Wood Avens, Common Wintergreen, Yellow Pimpernel, Dog's Mercury, Foxglove, Blaeberry, Bog Stitchwort, Lesser Stitchwort, Pink Purslane, Red Campion, Wild Strawberry, Bitter Vetch, Herb Robert, Wood Cranesbill, Common Dog Violet, Goosegrass, Alkanet, Bugle, Lady Fern, Broad Buckler Fern, Hard Fern, Alpine Lady's Mantle, Bell Heather, Heather, Bog Myrtle, insectivorous Butterwort, Purple Oxytropis and Scottish Asphodel, to name a few.

Birds you may see on your travels include Chaffinch, Willow Warbler, Blue Tit, Dunnock, Tree Pipit, Ptarmigan, Cuckoo, Whitethroat, Buzzard, Kestrel, Raven, Grasshopper Warbler, Common Sandpiper, Red Grouse, Meadow Pipet, Dunnock, Wheatear, Ring Ouzel, and many more.

Image Gallery: © Copyright Richard Webb, Eileen Henderson, Russel Wills, Lis Burke, Alan O'Dowd and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.