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.

Click here to see a map of the routes undertaken

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.