Binn there, done that
By Colin Hogarth
Deuchny Wood and Binn Hill, near Perth, combine for a pleasant woodland walk taking in an historic tower with views out over the Carse of Gowrie.
The starting point for this walk is the Forestry Commissions Jubilee car park, a couple of minutes drive from the Fair City of Perth. Leave the car park at its north end, turn right and follow a steep track up to a gate and water tower. Turn left here and the track flattens out to contour round the hillside, engulfed completely in a tall woodland of pine. The way curves right and, a short way after the bend, a path branches left. Follow this down to cross a fence and join the Coronation Road, an ancient right of way.
Turn right and the track, often used by pony trekkers, leaves the woodland and heads out over an open field, bearing right to meet the Langley Burn. Underfoot conditions can be muddy here as you follow the burn upstream through a sheltered valley.
A gate leads back into the Forestry Commission plantation and, carrying straight on through the base of the glen, a good track makes for easy walking in a wide break in the trees and a T-junction is soon reached. Carry straight on and the Coronation Road emerges into the open at a gate on the edge of the woodland, 400 yards or so on.
A path drops to the right to cross a grassy field and the way trails the fence south, negotiating a marshy spot using makeshift stepping stones. Beyond a gate, it rises to the steading at Northlees. The path is signed through the farmyard and joins a track leading down to the public road.
Once on the tarmac, turn right and follow the road up to the bottom corner of Deuchny Woods. When you reach the woodland, turn left on a track leading to a small unofficial car park at Binn Hill. The track on the right passes through a gate and heads west along the side of the hill. At its end, a small path rises left through the trees to finally emerge at Binn Tower, an impressive stone folly built in the early years of the 19th century. Its prominent location is a magnificent viewpoint with vistas over the Carse of Gowrie and, threaded through the fertile plain like a wide blue ribbon, the River Tay.
This is a great spot for a picnic or breather. There is, however, no access to the tower which is very firmly sealed off. When you're ready to go on, continue along the path which curves round to bring you back to the parking area. Follow the track back to the road, turn left and, on the other side a few yards on, a narrow path climbs into the trees and over a recently felled portion to join a wide track.
Turn left and the forest road takes you round the hillside, with views to neighbouring Kinnoull Hill with its equally impressive cliff-top tower. At the next junction you reach, go left and the track returns you to the start of the walk.
WALK FACTS
Distance 3 miles/5km.
Map OS Landranger sheet 58.
Start/parking Forestry Commission Jubilee car park (grid ref NO 145236). To reach this follow the road out of Perth from Perth Bridge, up past Murray Royal Hospital and continue out into the countryside for a mile and a half.
Grading An easy woodland walk for all the family.
