Walk 11

Sunday 5th October

Barry Hill - Alyth Hill - Alyth

Moderate

Distance:  10km/6miles, 360m ascent
Start:  Royal Hotel, Blairgowrie. 10:00

Finish:  Alyth Square 15:30.  Bus leaves for Blairgowrie at 16:30
Limit: 25
Notes: Moderate. Hillwalking gear advised. Packed lunch required.

Maps: Landranger 53, Explorer 381

About the walk:  

Alyth is a quiet country town with a rather old-fashioned feel. (This is meant as a compliment as the town is well looked after by its inhabitants!)

The walk takes us along the range of small hills to the north, beginning on Barry Hill with its iron age hill fort. Many of the hills on either side of Strathmore have these reminders of a time when most of the valley was marshland and the bulk of the population lived on the better drained land at its margins.

Alyth Hill was once the common grazing for the people of the burgh. As is not unusual with common land, there have been many disputes over ownership in recent years. However, Scotland’s Land Reform Act now ensures we all have responsible access to it no matter who owns it. There is a veritable maze of paths up here so its obviously well-used. There are good views too from this foothill of the Grampians.