Hills of Scone, Perthshire
Distance: 5 miles/8km
Time: 2-3 hours Grade: Moderate countryside walk
Grade: A joy to wander up
REGULAR readers of Scottish Walks will know that I am fascinated by hilltop monuments, of which there are hundreds in Scotland. To find a walk like this with a monument BOGOF (bag one get one free) felt like hitting the jackpot.
As is quite common, the monuments are to the memory of people long forgotten, but they are the centrepiece of a very enjoyable circuit of the hills above Scone, just outside Perth. The walk, which is well signposted, was set up in 2005 to mark the 200th anniversary of Scone itself.
You start up the Den of Scone. Several places in Scotland have their Den (we featured Kirriemuir’s recently) and the name usually carries a promise of a delightful walk up a little glen with a rushing burn and often (as in this case) fine mature trees.
Scone’s Den is a joy to wander up. At the top a road section takes you past the imposing former gates to Balcraig House with their twin eagles guarding the property. A bit of hard work then follows on a path leading you more or less directly uphill to the first monument.
This one is now rather fragmentary. It was erected some time in the late 18th century by the McDuff family who lived at that time in Bonhard House. It commands a wonderful view taking in Scone, Perth and much of the surrounding countryside.
It’s a short walk, down and then up again, to our bonus monument on the 279m Murrayshall Hill. This one is called the Lynedoch Obelisk and is to the memory of Lord Lynedoch who fought alongside the Duke of Wellington in the Peninsular Wars, notably the Battle of Barossa in 1811. He was also MP for Perthshire from 1794 to 1807, and lived to the grand age of 95.
A clear path wanders down the hill to the outskirts of Murrayshall Golf Course, part of the extensive grounds of Murrayshall Country House Hotel. Murrayshall was originally owned by the Norie-Miller family who founded the General Accident insurance company.
A stroll past Bonhard leads you back to the top of the Den; walking down it is every bit as pleasant as going up. If you really want to go into monument overkill, the memorial to the pioneering botanist David Douglas is in the churchyard adjacent to the car park. David Douglas introduced over 200 new species of plants and trees to Britain, mostly from North America, and his achievements are recognised on an imposing monument. But three for the price of one – I’m not sure I can cope with that!
Map: OS 1:25,000 Explorer sheet 369 (Perth & Kinross)
Distance: 5 miles/8km
Time: 2-3 hours
Start/finish: Car park off A94 at south end of Scone (GR: NO 133255, follow signs for David Douglas memorial)
Public transport: Frequent local buses from Perth to Scone. Main line trains and buses from Perth to Glasgow and Edinburgh.
Details from www.travelinescotland.com Information: Perth TIC, 01738 450600, www.perthcity.co.uk
Refreshments: None on route. Wide choice in Perth.
Route: From car park, walk out to main road, cross and turn L. Turn R on Den Road.Follow road up to ‘Private’ notice, turn R across footbridge and follow path up the Den, recrossing higher up. Reach road and turn L. At next corner go R on path up to another road. Turn L and follow road past Balcraig. Turn R on track as signed. When track goes R go straight ahead on path, climbing steeply through trees to reach McDuff’s Monument. Follow clear path close to and then through fence and up to Obelisk. Take path heading downhill (NW). At crossing track keep ahead. Take smaller path on L down to road. Turn L and at Two Mile House turn R (signed for Balgarvie). Follow track down to hotel access road and turn L. Turn L on road and follow it to regain outward path at top of Den. Walk down Den and return to start.
Link to digital map: https://osmaps.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/route/4373416/SW34-Scone © Crown copyright 2020 Ordnance Survey. Media 059/20.
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