Hills: Newtyle Hill and Birnam Hill (King's Seat)
Date: Friday 26th November 2010
Company: Myself and Beinn
Dog friendly: Yes
For the ascent of Newtyle hill, I parked in the Loch of the Lowes visitor centre car park. From the car park, I walked a short distance along the road towards the Loch of the Lowes before taking the Loch of the Lowes path towards Dunkeld.
Beinn at start of Loch of Lowes track towards Dunkeld (and Newtyle hill):
I followed the Loch of the Lowes path towards Dunkeld for circa 800 metres and then took a left at a path junction. I followed this track as far as the transmitter.
View towards Deuchary hill:
Loch of Lowes path to Dunkeld:
Having driven through lots of snow in Aberdeenshire and Angus to get to the start of this hill, I was quite surprised at how little snow there was around Dunkeld and how nice a day it was
.
First view of Dunkeld:
Dunkeld:
From the path towards the transmitter I got a good view across to my next target of the day, Birnam hill.
Birnam Hill from Newtyle hill:
Dunkeld:
On reaching the transmitter, I left the main track and followed a path up to the base of the transmitter and beyond alongside a fence.
Transmitter on Newtyle hill:
Ascent beyond mast:
From the end of the fence I crossed an area of very deep heather to reach the summit of Newtyle hill.
Newtyle hill:
Beinn at summit cairn of Newtyle hill:
I returned to the car via the same route.
For the ascent of Birnam hill, I parked in the car park of the Dunkeld and Birnam station.
Dunkeld and Birnam station:
From the station, I descended some steps to reach an underpass below the railway line. I then followed the signs for “Birnam hill path”.
Birnam hill path:
Beinn ascending Birnam hill:
A good wide path zig-zags its' way up this hill.
Looking back towards Dunkeld:
View from Birnam hill:
At a height of 330m, the ascent becomes more gradual.
Approaching summit of Birnam hill:
During the final ascent, I passed a pick-axe, then a petrol strimmer then a petrol chainsaw. I wondered why such good kit had been left lying on the hill. Three men then appeared from round the corner – they were carrying out some path maintenance.
Beinn at summit of Birnam hill:
View from summit of Birnam hill:
From the summit, I returned to the car via the same route.
Nice couple of straight-forward hills. Good walk for little-uns.