Calendar An icon of a desk calendar. Cancel An icon of a circle with a diagonal line across. Caret An icon of a block arrow pointing to the right. Email An icon of a paper envelope. Facebook An icon of the Facebook "f" mark. Google An icon of the Google "G" mark. Linked In An icon of the Linked In "in" mark. Logout An icon representing logout. Profile An icon that resembles human head and shoulders. Telephone An icon of a traditional telephone receiver. Tick An icon of a tick mark. Is Public An icon of a human eye and eyelashes. Is Not Public An icon of a human eye and eyelashes with a diagonal line through it. Pause Icon A two-lined pause icon for stopping interactions. Quote Mark A opening quote mark. Quote Mark A closing quote mark. Arrow An icon of an arrow. Folder An icon of a paper folder. Breaking An icon of an exclamation mark on a circular background. Camera An icon of a digital camera. Caret An icon of a caret arrow. Clock An icon of a clock face. Close An icon of the an X shape. Close Icon An icon used to represent where to interact to collapse or dismiss a component Comment An icon of a speech bubble. Comments An icon of a speech bubble, denoting user comments. Comments An icon of a speech bubble, denoting user comments. Ellipsis An icon of 3 horizontal dots. Envelope An icon of a paper envelope. Facebook An icon of a facebook f logo. Camera An icon of a digital camera. Home An icon of a house. Instagram An icon of the Instagram logo. LinkedIn An icon of the LinkedIn logo. Magnifying Glass An icon of a magnifying glass. Search Icon A magnifying glass icon that is used to represent the function of searching. Menu An icon of 3 horizontal lines. Hamburger Menu Icon An icon used to represent a collapsed menu. Next An icon of an arrow pointing to the right. Notice An explanation mark centred inside a circle. Previous An icon of an arrow pointing to the left. Rating An icon of a star. Tag An icon of a tag. Twitter An icon of the Twitter logo. Video Camera An icon of a video camera shape. Speech Bubble Icon A icon displaying a speech bubble WhatsApp An icon of the WhatsApp logo. Information An icon of an information logo. Plus A mathematical 'plus' symbol. Duration An icon indicating Time. Success Tick An icon of a green tick. Success Tick Timeout An icon of a greyed out success tick. Loading Spinner An icon of a loading spinner. Facebook Messenger An icon of the facebook messenger app logo. Facebook An icon of a facebook f logo. Facebook Messenger An icon of the Twitter app logo. LinkedIn An icon of the LinkedIn logo. WhatsApp Messenger An icon of the Whatsapp messenger app logo. Email An icon of an mail envelope. Copy link A decentered black square over a white square.

HIKING: Drimmie Woods offers native woodlands, tranquil ponds and lovely Strathmore views

Post Thumbnail

At first glance, Drimmie Woods appears to be just another regimented commercial plantation.

However, beyond the conifers, more recently planted native woodlands, old drove roads and a tranquil pond await the walker.

The forest lies between the Perthshire towns of Blairgowrie and Alyth, on upland slopes overlooking the River Ericht, and the approach from Blairgowrie is via Bonnington Road, a steep country lane that branches off the A93 by the Keathbank Mill car park, at the northern end of town.

There is a small parking area by one of the access gates and it was from here I set off on foot, pausing briefly to study an information board explaining a little of the history of the area before wandering up through a gap in the trees.

The well-walked route through Sitka spruce is waymarked and, swinging left, I followed the bronze, needle encrusted trail as it rose steadily towards the remains of an old quarry beyond which the incline flattens off.

Passing a track branching left that I made a mental note to explore on my return, I ambled on to the next junction where arrow posts guided me along the fence line to a gate in the eastern perimeter of the plantation.

You may encounter grazing cattle here and, as such, the onward track can be muddy, but it is an otherwise pleasant grassy trail through bands of oak, ash and rowan, leading to a peaceful wee pool that attracts ducks, swans and the occasional heron.

Flanked on three sides by mixed woodland, the eastern end of the water is more open, the hills of Glen Isla visible in the distance.

The terrain underfoot is much firmer beyond the pond, an old drove road once used by cattle farmers travelling to the markets of Perthshire climbing between bands of established forestry and plenty of newer planting on Tullyfergus Estate.

With views opening out across Strathmore towards the distant Sidlaw Hills, it rises to a large shed before weaving down past a couple of smaller huts towards a farm and cottages at West Tullyfergus.

Here I joined a stretch of ‘walking and cycling friendly road’, leading me south past a house at Tamarisk, where a red squirrel scampered across the lane, pausing briefly on the grassy verge before disappearing into the undergrowth, then west towards Forehill Farm, again a good spot for views over Strathmore with its mix of arable fields and berry tunnels.

Above the farm, a track leaves the road, rising above a stream gully to the left known as McSourie’s Den to a band of Scots pine trees. Originally a straight road, the track now curves left at the pines, but a grassy path continues ahead, re-entering the Tullyfergus Estate woodland at a gate.

Again, cattle had churned up the softer ground here but, stepping carefully to avoid the worst of the mud and a pat or two, I cut a course through the trees back to the pond where, with the sun shining, I sat awhile on a wooden pallet left by the water.

Retracing my steps into the plantation, I returned to the junction passed earlier and, striking north, set out to explore more of the forest, finding a pleasant path leading to a hidden clearing carpeted in blooming heather from where a break in the trees descends to the car park.

ROUTE

1. From information board, follow waymarked path, parallel with power line initially, south to junction. Turn left and proceed east through forest, passing disused quarry.

2. Ignore path branching left and continue ahead, following waymarker arrows at next junction to fence. Go right by fence, dipping to cross drainage channel, then bear left, ascending to gate.

3. Go through gate, bear right initially then go left through deciduous woodland, passing pond, to signed junction.

4. Go through metal gate and follow track (signed West Tullyfergus) east to meet road.

5. Turn right (signed Drimmie Woods) and follow minor road 1.28km to Forehill.

6. Turn right (signed Drimmie Woods) and ascend track.

7. Where track swings left, continue ahead on path, passing through gate, to signed junction at point 4. Turn left and retrace steps to point 2 then fork right.

8. At crossroads, go straight ahead to heathery clearing.

9. Bear left along edge of clearing then swing left, descending break in trees to car park.

INFO

Distance: 7.2km/4½ miles

Ascent: 160m/530ft

Time: 2 hours

Grading: Easy low-level route following paths, tracks and a stretch of minor road through forestry and farmland with some well graded ascent. Some sections can be muddy underfoot so stout, waterproof footwear recommended. Keep dogs under close control where livestock is encountered

Start/finish: Small track-end parking area 3.5km north of Blairgowrie (Grid ref: NO 188492), accessed by single-track Bonnington Road

Map: Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 Landranger sheet 53; Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer sheet 381

Tourist Information: Perth iCentre, 45 High Street, Perth PH1 5TJ (Tel 01738 450600)

Public transport: None