Kinnoull Hill and Deuchny Hill Fort

A straightforward walk to the well known viewpoint of Kinnoull Hill on the outskirts of Perth combined with a visit to nearby bronze-age Deuchny Hill Fort site. The walk through Kinnoull Woodlands would be particularly attractive in the Autumn months when the beech trees are at their most colourful.

The walk is in two distinct parts which could be undertaken separately if you wish a shorter walk. The route uses much of the blue waymarked route described in the Kinnoull Woodland leaflet.

Distance: 8 km / 5 miles
Ascent: 250 m / 820 feet
Terrain: Reasonable paths and tracks
Start / finish: Jubilee Car Park, at grid ref NO 144 236 on Muirhall Road, Perth

Route Map

Kinnoull Hill and Tower

This first section is approximately 2.5 miles.

From the car park follow the green signpost for Kinnoull Hill Summit through a gate and on to a well made path. Keep to the main path following the blue waymarker arrows and green signs for Kinnoull Hill. The path takes you through mature beech wood and later through some pine. Keep an eye out for wooden animal carvings in the woods.

As you gain height you also gain views eastwards over the Tay and Carse of Gowrie. After walking for about 1.3 km you will reach the remains of Kinnoull Tower perched on the cliffs above the valley. The tower is a folly and distinctive landmark in the area. If you’ve got children or dogs with you take heed of the warning notices about the cliffs.

Leave the tower still following the blue marker posts along the cliff top walk. As you start to go up the hill there are a couple of good viewpoints of the tower. Top out at a flat grassy picnic area complete with stone table constructed for the 9th Earl of Kinnoull. The actual summit of the hill is about 100m to the north and crowned with a white painted trig point and viewpoint indicator. From here there are views northwards to the higher ground.

Keep following the blue markers to descend the hill down its western flank. A convenient picnic table is located in the woods towards the bottom of the hill. Follow the waymarker arrows, now in a northerly direction to reach the area of the Corsiehill Car Park. Keep to the waymarkers though rather than following the green signs for Corsiehill. From here it is a roughly 1.2 km woodland walk following the blue arrows back to the Jubilee Car Park and the second part of the walk.

Deuchny Hill Fort

This section is also approximately 2.5 miles. Visiting Decuhny Hill Fort require the use of a rough path. However, this can be by passed by walking around the hillock on tracks.

Walk through the car park to reach the green sign at its northern end for the “Coronation Road” path. This side of the forest is more coniferous than the Kinnoull side, however much of the walk is through the more open areas of the forest including this first section along the forest edge. Keep following the blue arrows for now around the edge of the forest to join the ancient “Coronation Road” from Falkland to Scone.

The route leave the forest for a while to cross a grassy field and follow the Langley Burn before re-entering the forest. Keep straight on, on a good path/track for 550m to where the blue arrows point right. Turn right on to this rougher path until you reach a junction after 200m. At this point the blue arrows indicate left on to the forest track. However, to reach the Deuchny Hill Fort go straight on picking up a rough unsurfaced path / mountain bike trail though the trees. Keep right at junctions on this path (you should be able to see the hill through the trees to your right and ahead of you), climbing a wee steep bit at one point, until you reach the edge of the trees. Follow the path across the cleared area to the summit of the hill.

At 233m this is the highest point of the walk (Kinnoull Hill is only 222m) and at one time there would have been 360 degree views. Although there are still views today, they have unfortunately been marred by the surrounding forest.

Descend from the hill in a roughly north west direction on an obvious path to rejoin a forest track. Turn left on to the track and after about 200m reach a junction where you will see the return of the blue arrows. Turn right, now following blue arrows again, on a good track which takes you back towards the Jubilee Car Park. Before reaching the car park though, turn right when you reach the entrance to the Arboretum and follow the path through the arboretum directly back to the car park.