Walk 12

Sunday 5th October

Blairgowrie - Kirkmichael (Cateran Trail section 1)

Very Strenuous

Distance: 25km/16 miles, 520m total ascent.
Start: Royal Hotel, Blairgowrie at 09:00.
Finish: Kirkmichael for refreshments at 17:00, the bus leaves for Blairgowrie by 17:30.
Limit: 20
Notes: Very Strenuous (See fitness note). Hillwalking gear required. Packed lunch required.

Maps: Landranger 43 & 53, Explorer 381 & 387

About the walk:

This is a substantial section of the Cateran Trail following a conventional clockwise circuit.  In previous years this has been tackled in an anti-clockwise direction and this change gives a different perspective.  The walk follows the River Ericht upstream and along the route of the Lornty Burn towards the open expanse of Cochrage Muir.   We then follow old drove roads near the River Ardle through Strathardle towards Kirkmichael.  Strathardle (valley of the river Ardle), a lush highland 'glen' has been farmed since the Bronze Age.  In later times its soft contours and cattle rich pastures were a magnet for the Caterans.