Auchterarder Walks - AUCHTERARDER TO GLEN DEVON

Scottish

Towns

Auchterarder to Glendevon

Length: 8 miles
Height climbed: 1200ft/350m
Grade: A
Parking: Auchterarder, Glen Devon or Dollar
Toilet facilities: Auchterarder

Starting from Auchterarder, walk to the north end of the town and turn right, down Abbey Road. At the foot of this road there is a former textile mill. Cross the Ruthven Water here and continue across the bridge over the A9. At the far end of the bridge turn right and keep walking until you reach the junction: turn left here, towards the hills.
Continue on this road, passing beneath the railway line, until you reach another junction immediately following a sharp right turn. Turn left here and carry straight on up the glen of the Coull Burn, keeping to the metalled road. The road climbs steeply here, up the hillside and passed the house of Cloan before teminating at Coulshill Farm. When you reach the end of the road continue up the right hand side of the glen on a farm track, which is signposted.

About half a mile beyond Coulshill Farm there is a large stand of conifers on an otherwise bare hillside to your right, with a tributary of Coul Burn climbing the hill beyond them. Walk passed the trees, turn up the left hand side of the tributary and follow the track which leads away from it. This will lead you to the highest point on the route, in a shallow saddle between two small rounded peaks. From this point the path continues downhill through the Borland Glen, eventually joining the A823 by the Youth Hostel at the north end of Glendevon village.

Should you wish to extend this walk to Dollar (some 4 miles away) you should turn left, towards the village, until you see a signpost for the route to your right. Follow the path across Glen Devon and onto the small road on the far side of the glen. Turn right here, across a small bridge then left, up a steep zig-zagging path into Glen Quey. The path is quite clear from here on, providing an impressive entrance to Dollar, passed the dramatic Castle Campbell (open tp the public) on its high rock and down the deep, dark Dollar Glen below it.