Route Summary
This is an easy walk on level ground. The mighty River Tay fascinates throughout, passing by parkland, a golf course, rough grazing, splendid villas, and notable features such as Perth Racecourse and Scone Palace. All in all, an excellent leg-stretcher without too much effort.
Duration: 2.5 hours.
Route Overview
Duration: 2.5 hours.
Transport/Parking: Perth is readily accessible by train or bus. Check timetables. We suggest that you park at the South Inch car-park
Length: 9.040 km / 5.65 mi
Height Gain: 45 meter
Height Loss: 45 meter
Max Height: 12 meter
Min Height: 5 meter
Surface: Moderate. Mostly on smooth paved on hard-packed surfaces. One short section close to the riverbank between waypoints 4 and 5 is on a grassy path that may be muddy after rain.
Child Friendly: Yes, if used to walks of this distance.
Difficulty: Easy.
Dog Friendly: Yes, on lead on public roads.
Refreshments: Many options in Perth.
Description
This is a straightforward but satisfying “there and back” walk along the River Tay from the centre of Perth. The initial section passes the verdant North Inch park and golf course on the west side, with the grand villas and grounds at Bridgend stretching out north, on the east side of the river. The mid section gets wilder on the east side of the river but more urban, relatively speaking, on the west. Towards the turning point at Inveralmond Bridge, Scone Palace and Perth Racecourse are visible across the Tay. The River Tay is the longest river in Scotland at 117 miles. The Tay originates in western Scotland on the slopes of Ben Lui then flows easterly across the Highlands, including through Loch Tay. It becomes tidal at Perth, before reaching the sea south of Dundee. It is the largest river in the UK by measured discharge. The fine old town of Perth has been known as “The Fair City” since the publication of the story “Fair Maid of Perth” by Sir Walter Scott in 1828. During the later medieval period the city was also called “St John’s Toun” or “Saint Johnstoun”, hence the eponymous local football team. The area surrounding the modern city is known to have been occupied since Mesolithic hunter-gatherers arrived more than 8,000 years ago. Royal Burgh status was granted to the city by William the Lion in the early 12th C, with the city becoming one of the richest burghs in Scotland, doing trade with France, the Low Countries and Baltic Countries. Perth is graced by two large main parks close to the city centre, namely the North Inch and South Inch (the word “Inch” being an anglicised form of the Gaelic “innis” meaning island or meadow). The North Inch is still famous for the “Battle of the Clans”, a staged “grudge contest” between two sets of clans in September 1396. 30 men were selected to represent each side in front of spectators that included King Robert III of Scotland and his court. The Clan Chattan warriors killed all but one of their opponents from the mysterious “Clan Kay”, at a cost of 19 deaths on their own side.
Links:
Photos from walk
Download Route Guide (PDF with illustrated Waypoints)
Download GPX file (GPS Exchange Format)
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Access Walk on OSMaps
Access Walk on AllTrails
Access Walk on Wikiloc
The Mack Walks 