Perth - Kinnoull Hill

It’s fair to say that the weather has been challenging these last few weeks with endless westerly storms blowing in which seem to have been at their worst each time over the weekends. So I’ve not been away much but my life admin and indoor tasks are at least up-to-date. However, with cheap rail tickets still on offer, my friend Graham and I did attempt a day trip to Aviemore last weekend to banish the cabin fever. We didn’t get beyond Perth. At that point, we’d already passed severe flooding across Fife with fields underwater and many rivers having broken their banks. As the train approached Perth, only the embankment on which the line had been built was above the water so looking out the windows either side it was as if we were travelling by boat rather than train. At Perth, the guard announced the train would go no further.

Luckily, I remembered pictures I’d seen online of a walk close to Perth city centre at Kinnoull Hill and it seemed a decent alternative in the circumstances. We walked through the city centre towards the River Tay and crossed it by a metal footbridge attached to the side of the rail bridge. It was a bit disconcerting as a huge Intercity train crossed at the same time and rattled the bridge. Halfway across, we stood awestruck, watching the flood waters below our feet. The Tay was not silvery today but was the colour of white tea. It had risen almost as high as the arches of the road bridge and looked terrifyingly fast. I don’t think I’ve seen anything like it before.

Our walking route continued to Kinnoull Hill through pleasant suburbs. Soon we were wrapped up in the trees and following a network of trails to the top. Dotted about the woods were sculptures carved from fallen trunks – fairy house, badger, owl, red squirrel and a giant oak leaf. A steep pull had us on top as snow flurries piled through on a keen wind. 

Looking east through a veil of snow, the Tay powered its way on towards the sea. To the west, as the snow showers cleared, we could see the snow-covered flanks of Ben Chonzie.  It was too cold to linger so we made our way back down and stopped for lunch at a picnic table in the woods. We must have looked odd to any passers-by, sitting enjoying our picnic as snow flurries blew through.

We finished our walk by re-crossing the Tay, this time by the reassuringly sturdy road bridge, and returned home on the next train, crossing again the watery world around us.

Fact File

Start/finish: Train station, Perth

Public transport: Trains or buses to Perth

Route: From the train station walked down to the river Tay and crossed it via the footbridge attached to the rail bridge. Turned left upriver. At the heather garden left the river and walked up Manse Road then turned right on Hatton Road. At the top of the hill a footpath leads into the woods and a network of trails go to the top.