Dug out in the 12th Century, Perth’s Town Lade began its working life as an offshoot of the River Almond, the water drawn off and funnelled down through bleachworks at Huntingtower and Ruthvenfield, a dye works at Tulloch and then the mills of Perth before flowing into the River Tay.
Running west from 18th century Newton Bridge, in the Sma’ Glen, near Amulree, to Ardtalnaig, above the shoreline of Loch Tay, the right of way through Glen Almond offers a long but pleasurable valley hike, part of the route now incorporated into the long-distance Rob Roy Way.
This hike through the Sidlaw Hills, to the north of Dundee, was born of a sunny Spring afternoon stravaig which, as any seasoned walker or scholar of the Scots tongue will tell you, is simply an aimless wander.
Opened a handful of summers ago, the Sleeping Giant Path was, at the time, described as the missing link between the communities of Fife and Perth & Kinross separated by the recumbent form of Benarty Hill.
May is the month when bluebells bloom in Scotland and one of the best places to see these delicate little plants blossoming is the appropriately named Kinclaven Bluebell Wood, in Perthshire.
Still just one lottery jackpot win away from buying my own secluded Scottish estate, the opportunity to wander through the tranquil wooded policies of someone else’s is always time to treasure.
Coultra Hill, Balmerino, Fife
Playwright J M Barrie’s classic story about the little boy who never grew up – Peter Pan – has captivated and enthralled generations of children and adults.
To start the New Year (or indeed end the old one) on a high, there are few summits in this part of the country more prominent and accessible than East Lomond in Fife.
Bessie’s Cairn in Glen Isla is a stout little landmark tucked away in one of the remotest corners of Angus.