Up the Tay
Go to online mappingFrom - to: Perth to Dunkeld
Type: Traffic-free paths and quiet roads, rolling with a couple of short but steepish climbs near Pitcairngreen
Surface: Tarmac and gravel
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This gentle ride takes you between two fascinating places, there are no major climbs, and you can take the train back to your starting point.
Until the assassination of King James I in the 16th century, Perth was Scotland's capital city. Set between the parklands of North Inch and South Inch, the city occupies a strategic position at the junction of the Highlands and Lowlands.
Heading out of Perth on a traffic-free path alongside the River Tay, the route provides a splendid view of Scone Palace, where Scotland's kings were crowned. The route then follows the River Almond near Huntingtower Castle, through Pitcairngreen and Birnam Wood before joining a dedicated cycle route alongside the A9 through the Pass of Birnam.
The route into Dunkeld takes you over Thomas Telford's bridge over the Tay. Dunkeld was Scotland's first ecclesiastical capital, and its cathedral contains a wealth of Scottish history. If you carry on for few hundred yards through the town and turn left into the grounds of the Hilton Dunkeld House Hotel, you can enjoy a beautiful ride up the approach road to the hotel and then along the wooded banks of the River Tay.
Download a route description sheet.
Local attractions: