Hills: Culteuchar Hill 313m, Castle Law 275m, Law of Dumbuils 108m
This relatively short walk in the Strathallan area is quite flexible. The described route includes optional ascents of Culteuchar Hill, Castle Law and Law of Dumbuils. Reaching the summit of Castle Law hill fort requires little additional effort and is well worth including. The walk is primarily around grazing pastures in the foothills of the Northern Ochils on reasonable paths and tracks. Not all paths / tracks are surfaced. Including Culteuchar Hill in the walk will entail walking up a pathless grass hillside. Law of Dumbuils requires crossing grazing fields.
As always when walking around farmland, ensure dogs are kept under close control.
- Distance: 11 km / 6.8 miles
- Ascent: 350m / 1150 feet
- Terrain: Tracks, paths (unsurfaced), off path on grassy hillside
- Start / Finish: Forgandenny, PH2 9EW. An alternative start point is possible from the road end at Glenearn.
- Facilities: Limited facilities in Forgandenny. Considerate on-street parking available. Bus service (17) from Perth and Auchterarder.
Walk out from the village of Forgandenny, south along Kinnaird Road and County Place. After passing the houses on County Place the road becomes a track leading to Kinnaird Lodge/Cottage. Follow the signpost for Ardargie / Castle Law. The track bears left around the buildings as it heads up the hill. At a sharp left corner before reaching Woodend turn right (straight on) leaving the track for a trodden path. Follow this path for uphill for approximately 150m.
On reaching an obvious track turn left, again following a signpost for Ardargie / Castle Law. This unsurfaced track (a right of way and core path) now heads up hill through woodland. After reaching its high point the track descends down to the public road at Ardargie. However, before exiting to the road an obvious track junction is reached. Turn left at this junction on to a farm track. Keep on this track (still a right of way / core path) to reach the farm at Culteuchar.
Pass by the farm and through the gate on the far side. There are now a number of gates and field tracks any of which could be used. It’s probably easiest to go straight on staying with the main track. This next section is through grazing fields and livestock may be present. Keep dogs under close control. Follow the main track which roughly parallels a fence / hedge. About 500m beyond the farm the track bears left slightly uphill. To your right is an area fenced off with an electric fence. Avoid these fences by keeping to the track skirting around the southern slopes of Westhall Hill. Ahead is the obvious hillock of Castle Law.
The grass field track becomes more of a path than a track. Stay with it, as it ascends to the col between Culteuchar Hill and Castle Law. Just before the col is a grassy path up the slopes of Castle Law iron-age hill fort. It is well worth making this short detour to view this well preserved fort. It’s easy to see why the site was chosen as the views are expansive from up here. Little additional effort is required to reach this summit. Descend the hill back down to the col and the trodden path.
Optional ascent of Culteuchar Hill
A detour to the summit of Culteuchar Hill can now be made though this does involve some fence climbing. It is probably easiest to climb the non-barb wire fence and then follow a barb-wire/electrified fence up the hill. If you go up the left side of this fence you will avoid some further electric fences. Initially it looks as though the fence bars access to the summit but don’t despair. Keep following it down to a corner where there is a convenient gate. Unfortunately the gate is not the easiest to open! Once through the gate it is a straightforward short wander up to the summit and the Ordnance Survey triangulation pillar. Return to the col the way you came up and re-join the trodden path.
The path starts to make its way downhill around the southern slope of Castle Law. Prior to reaching the ruins of Glenearnhill cross the fence on your right using a wobbly stile. Using the stile avoids having to climb a barb wire fence. Next to the ruins is an obvious grassy track with core path arrow markers. Follow this track downhill passing some isolated areas of woodland.
The downhill gradient increases quite noticeably and the track makes some wide zig zags down the hill. However, the underfoot conditions are good. Keep sharp left when a junction is reached, “zigging” back on yourself. Continue onwards downhill with a right turn and a locked gate. There is a stile to the left of the gate.
A further 200m down the hill you will reach a T junction at an obvious vehicle track.
Direct route back to Forgandenny
For the direct route back to Forgandenny turn left here through a gate and pass under the pylon line. Continue to the house at Westhall, after which the track turns sharp right. The track now starts to climb again towards South Dumbuils Farm.
Including Law of Dumbuils
If you would like to include Law of Dumbuils, the site of another hillfort, turn right towards Glenearn. On reaching the farm buildings go left on to a reasonable track around the outside of the farm. Glenearn House lies to the right of this track. After turning a corner to the left leave the main track via a gate on your right hand side. If you reach the cottage at Westmiln you’ve overshot the turning! Proceed northwards on a field access track. There is a wooden bridge as an alternative to the ford where a burn crosses the track. Keep to the right hand side of a hedge / fence on an easy track through gorse. Keep to the line of the track as it veers right and heads up the hill to a gate. Pass through the gate into the woodland area. There is a feint track here but aim left off the track to reach the summit. An Ordnance Survey triangulation point bolt is located on the summit which you might spot if you look carefully.
Leave the summit in a roughly northwest direction so that you reach a gate in a dip. The gate is an awkward one to open but it’s easier than negotiating the barb wire fence. Cross the next field in a westerly direction. Go slightly right up the hill (avoiding getting tangled in gorse) towards a pylon. Close to the pylon is the start of a muddy field track to South Dumbuils Farm and the road. Turn right on reaching the farm road.
Note that the fields around Law of Dumbuils are grazing pastures and livestock may be present. If you have a dog with you it’s probably best to stick to the main track route.
Both Options
After South Dumbuils the track becomes a tarmac road. From the high point of the road it is approximately 1km downhill back to the eastern end of Forgandenny. There may be occasional traffic on this section.
Fife Walking 