Highland Perthshire Walking & Cycling: Wildlife

Loch Oiseanneach by Loch Ordie

Start from the Cally Car Park (signposted off the Blairgowrie/Loch of the Lowes road just outside of Dunkeld). Take the main fire road uphill, you achieve height quickly and easily. Continue up past Mill Dam and another two lochs, head through a gate and kept dogs on a leash as there are ducks and wildfowl, at Loch Ordie continue straight keeping the loch on your right. As you pass Loch Ordie continue on the main fire road as it bends left, right then bears left again. Either return by the same way or continue round the head of the loch taking second left then right to bring you round in a bigger loop back to Loch Ordie, this path may be boggy in places.
Tips:
OS Landranger (1:50 000) 52 Pitlochry and Crieff
Less than 30 minutes north of Perth.
Facilities in Dunkeld, five minutes from car park.

Birnam to Bankfoot via Glen Garr - and back by bus!

This walk begins in Birnam, following the Birnam Glen path up to just beyond Balhomish, then taking a left off into the fields leading into Glen Garr - a very old droving right of way. After you arrive at Upper Obney, follow the minor road into Bankfoot. If you've got your timing right, you can wait at the bus stop by the school for the bus to take you back to Birnam.

The alternative of course is to take the bus to Bankfoot from Perth, walk across to Birnam and from there the bus back to Perth. A great day out either way, with options for food and drink both in Bankfoot and Birnam!

Birnam to the Hermitage

This is a really lovely, easy ride or walk that is almost completely flat, avoids roads, and takes you past some of the loveliest scenes in Highland Perthshire.

The Birnam Oak, the historic Telford's Bridge, the medieval Cathedral and old town of Dunkeld (looking across the river), the pretty hamlet of Inver and the stunning Hermitage (including possibly Britain's tallest tree) are all part of this route.

Great relaxed family cycling for a Sunday afternoon - or any other afternoon for that matter!

Tips:
There is a nice snack bar (Big Tree Cafe) in the Hermitage Car Park with good home baking - try the oatie biscuit... and plenty of refuelling opportunities in Birnam.

Faskally Woods

Older, confident children and adult beginners will find it fun and gently challenging on hybrids or mountain bikes.
Cycle out from Pitlochry or Faskally Caravan Park, it's ten minutes in either direction to the Forestry Commission Faskally Woods car park and toilets.
The route is a circuit around Loch Dunmore through Faskally Woods, starting at the carpark and toilets. The woods are the location for the Enchanted Forest spectacle in autumn

Tips:
The network of informal trails associated with this route offers huge potential to entertain the non-conformist, rebellious yoofs who really don't want to be on holiday with you anyway!
Sensible newcomers will stick to this route until they feel more confident! Over ambitious riders (usually Dads), who haven't been on a bike much recently, will at least find privacy when resting foreheads on handlebars prior to continuing on their chosen alternative trail!

Allt Sheicheachan Bothy Circuit

Probably best to get the pronunciation out of the way first! Sheicheachan is pronounced 'ee igh an'! It takes a comfortable two to two and a half hours in the dry with stops. Expect to get wet feet.
The route starts with a steady climb from Blair Atholl, up lower Glen Tilt, past the shooting range, out on to grouse moor alongside the Slanaidh Burn (a few water crossings but none is dodgy), before cresting the watershed (Haribo stop) and flying down to the Allt Sheicheachan (where the footpath to the Munro, Beinn Dearg, heads off). The route continues downhill to the burn crossing (usually best walked over (just ask Iain!)) at the bothy. It's Mountain Bothies Association sponsored and provides important and sometimes essential respite. MBA's a voluntary group and a donation towards the upkeep would be much appreciated: http://www.mountainbothies.org.uk/ .
A path heads north off over to Glen Bruar from here but you stay on the track and head uphill, initially, to cross more grouse moor. The track will eventually join the Banvie Burn and lead you back to Blair Atholl.

Tips:
Maps- OS Explorer 394 Atholl 1:25000 or OS Landranger Braemar and Blair Atholl 43 1:50000
Sheicheachan is pronounced 'ee igh an'!
It's amongst mountains: bring appropriate gear for Scottish hills i.e. everything!
It's virtually all on land rover track with no singletrack and crosses several small burns.
This route starts and stops at the gates to Blair Castle, a genuinely great place to visit. Parking is across the road or up at the Glen Tilt car park (NN874662), which the route passes. Blair Atholl has pubs, hotels and shops plus a fab Mill where you can sip coffee and eat Rami's wonderful bread, bagels, carrot cake etc made from freshly milled flour.
The nearest bike shop is the incomparable Escape Route, ten mins away by car in Pitlochry, on the main street near the tourist information centre. http://www.escape-route.co.uk/
Do the route anticlockwise for the best downhills.
There's a huge range of routes in this area. Check out others on EveryTrail or just browse a map!