Perthshire Angus and Fife

Scotland's heartlands have so much to offer. With its miles of coastline, rich farmland and mountainous peaks, this area of Scotland is renowned for outstanding beauty and pretty towns and villages.

This is a land of dazzling contrasts from the glorious lowland and highland mix of scenery in Perthshire to the fertile lowlands and stunning coastlines of the Kingdom of Fife and further north across the Tay road bridge into Dundee and Angus.

Because of these landscape contrasts this area provides countless opportunities for walking. Take a trip along some of Scotland's newest long distance route - the Fife Coastal Path or imagine you're a cattle reiver as you walk a few sections of the 60-mile Cateran Trail around east Perthshire and Angus.

For those seeking something more gentle, many Perthshire towns and villages have dedicated waymarked walks networks around their close environs. And if it's the high peaks you're looking for, head into the little discovered Angus Glens or magnificent Highland Perthshire.

Moderate Walks

This area of diverse landscapes has the greatest variety of walking in Scotland. In the Highland glens there are routes beside lochs and along wooded rivers, while further south paths run past rich farmland and along a well-populated coastline. The hundreds of miles of marked trails and many signposted rights of way mean there is an enormous choice of walks. And with dozens of picturesque villages it is easy to find a tearoom or inn for refreshments.

The walk networks around Pitlochry, Dunkeld, Crieff and Comrie in Perthshire are designed for a wide spectrum of people, with walks and gradients to suit all. For instance, from Pitlochry a walk through Black Spout Wood - an oak wood alive with red squirrels and roe deer - passes a cascading waterfall and a ruined castle. Along the way you can visit the smallest distillery in Scotland at Edradour for a tour and a complimentary dram. At Crieff a route named after a local laird's daughter - Lady Mary's Walk - involves a beautiful stroll along a beech avenue beside the River Earn where herons fish. These walks are especially attractive in spring when the foliage is a young green and in autumn when the trees turn yellow, red and gold.

There are also numerous waymarked trails through forests. Tay Forest Park in Highland Perthshire has walks in seven separate locations, some of which have steep gradients but fantastic views, as on Drummond Hill where there is a panorama over Loch Tay and the picturesque village of Kenmore. At the head of Glen Clova - one of the most majestic Angus Glens - Glendoll Forest offers trails with tumbling rivers and mountain views. Further east a beautiful walk by the wooded River Esk leads from Gannochy Bridge above Edzell to the Rocks of Solitude. In the Lowland forests, as at Blairadam and Tentsmuir in Fife, the terrain is gentler. In fact the latter, which is bordered by a wide, sandy beach, is flat except for ridges of tree-covered dunes.

Longer Walks

As this area intersects the Highland Boundary Fault, it has both rugged and rolling topography, making it a rambler's paradise. The enormous variety of terrain, ranging from meandering rivers and mixed woodland to grassy hills and scenic glens, means there are walks suitable for every season and all fitness levels. Many routes can involve interesting diversions, such as Roman camps, medieval castles and Victorian follies - reminders of the area's long history.

Some of the best rambling areas are in the hill ranges that rise out of the lowland plains - the Ochil, Sidlaw, Lomond and Cleish Hills. Characterised by rounded tops and steep escarpments, they offer miles of open country with delightful views. The many small summits of the Cleish Hills give views for miles around. On the other side of Loch Leven lie the Lomond Hills, whose two conical peaks - East and West Lomond - make distinctive landmarks. Both can be reached from a high-level car park, which has nearby a nature trail round an old limekiln and pond. The Sidlaw Hills are more heavily farmed, but offer good walking in places like Auchterhouse Hill, which has grassy paths and is topped by a prehistoric hill fort.

Highland Perthshire and Angus also offer endless possibilities for rewarding days out, whether it be on lower hills - such as Deuchary Hill near Dunkeld or Cat Law near Kirriemuir - or on gentler walks through the glens. Some routes on the Crieff, Comrie, Dunkeld and Pitlochry walks systems can stretch for miles through beautiful scenery, which is enhanced in autumn when the red, gold and copper leaves of deciduous trees light up the landscape. The Angus glens have less woodland, but splendid views of the hills and interesting landmarks, like the Queen's Well - at Glenmark near the head of Glen Esk - erected to mark the spot where Queen Victoria paused for refreshment.

Long Distance Routes

Hill Mountain Walks

As well as enjoying unparalleled accessibility from most of Scotland's major towns and cities, this area provides numerous opportunities for quiet days in remote locations. The mountains here form part of the Southern Highlands, which are generally more rounded and less rocky than their counterparts further north and west. They provide both an attractive venue for those on short breaks and an excellent testing ground for the less experienced.

The lower hills should not be overlooked as they can provide very satisfying days out. Ben Cleuch in the Ochil Hills offers panoramic views and lovely grassy walking. By contrast the Hill of Wirren above Glen Lethnot in Angus is covered in moorland heath, making it a particularly attractive venue when the blooming heather turns the slopes purple. The Corbetts Meall Tairneachan and Farragon Hill - between Aberfeldy and Loch Tummel - also make a fine outing, especially as they can be accessed by good tracks and have extensive views from their tops.

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