Hills: Core Hill (542m), Berry Hill (480m), Kinpauch Hill (437m)

This walk explores the quieter and peaceful side of the Northern Ochils away from the crowds and well-trodden paths from the south. Kinpauch Hill is optional on the return but worth including for the views across Strathallan and Strathearn. Parts of this route are off path on tussocky ground and may not be to the liking of casual walkers.

  • Distance: 10.6 km / 6.5 miles
  • Ascent: 480m / 1500 feet (with Kinpauch Hill)
  • Terrain: Off path on tussocky hillside with some ATV tracks. Footpaths and tracks part way.
  • Start / finish: Blackford minor road (grid reference NN 8933 0846)
  • Facilities: Parking. Public transport to Blackford. Refreshments in Blackford or Auchterarder.
Core Hill, Ochils. Walking route map.

The walk can be started from the minor road south of Blackford where there is ample space to park. If you start in Blackford itself take extreme care when crossing the busy and fast A9.

The route can be walked in either direction but anti-clockwise has the advantage of using paths and ATV tracks for most of the ascent leaving the more tussocky ground for the descent.

Start the walk heading up the farm track to Burnside. This track starts to the west of the junction with the A9. This is not the track that is signed for Tillicoultry which is the return route. The route up to the farm buildings at Burnside is straightforward, after which the track skirts the edges of fields to reach Whaick. Keep left at Whaick through a gate and downhill to reach the Danny Burn. Keep to the track to cross the burn using a bridge.

Cross the burn and turn right at the track junction. Head up the side of the hill along the line of the burn. The track terminates when it reaches a felled forest area. At this point bear left up the grassy hillside alongside the edge of the forest. There is a feint trodden path in places which helps. If you can’t find the path just keep between the edge of the bracken to your left and felled forest to your right, for the easiest ground. On reaching the corner of the forest an animal trod turns right and this can be followed for a while to gain some height before heading left up the hill. However, it is probably easiest to strike out up the hillside from the corner of the forest, off path for a few hundred metres. Soon an ATV track is reached which provides a straightforward route up the northern shoulder of Berry Hill.

Pass over Berry Hill to cross an old fence line. Keep to the right hand ATV track when it splits heading towards the summit of Core Hill. The track becomes indistinct the higher up you go and peters out completely before the summit is reached. However, the ground is easy going at this point and the summit marked by a pile of stones is soon attained. The summit is unremarkable but it does have a feeling of remoteness not often encountered in the Ochil Hills.

Descend, initially the same way you came up, to reach the old fence line between Core Hill and Berry Hill. Leave the ATV track at this point and follow the fence roughly northeast down tussocky ground. Higher up the tussocks are mostly grass but become more mossy and wet as height is lost. As the coll between Glen Bee and Glen of Kinpauch is approached, bear right across some rough ground aiming for an old wooden gate. Climb the gate (take care as it is not in good condition) and turn left onto the obvious path. This path is part of the old drove route between Tillicoultry and Blackford.

Soon after crossing a stile (beside a locked gate) a choice can be made as to whether or not to include Kinpauch Hill an outlier of Craigentaggart Hill. If missing this out, stay on the main route which circles around the western side of Kinpauch Hill. Including the hill will add just 50m of ascent so it is probably worth including. Turn right on to the track which zig zags up the hill to reach the 437m summit. 200m beyond the actual summit is a well built cairn at a spot with good views of Strathallan. From here the track becomes an obvious well trodden footpath through thick heather. Stick to this path as it descends the northern side of the hill until it rejoins the main track.

From here it is a straightforward walk on the track across fields back to the road at Blackford.