Craig Hill run at Aberfeldy
Length
21.6 Kms
Elevation gain
622 m
Max elevation
493 m
Difficulty
***
Rating
****
Type
Loop
Route id
575
Main road
0 Kms
Country road
2.7 Kms
Dirt road
13.1 Kms
Dirt path
0 Kms
Trail
5.8 Kms
0
Route summary
The Craig Hill run at Aberfeldy route is a trail and forest road run within Perthshire, Kinross & Angus. The loop covers a distance of 21.59 Kms ( 13.42 miles )
and has an elevation gain of 622 m ( 2041 feet )
.
Description
We have found this one hard to classify as we had one of those crappy weather days that Scotland can serve up at times. This made getting the feel for the open section on the high moors difficult. However, lets describe the route.
On a wet autumn morning we left The Birks car park and headed over the wee bridge and along the east side of the burn heading south. Wow, what a place this is in autumn where the colours of the trees are spectacular. Nice running though there are many steep sections with slippy steps but the overall feeling of the place is bliss. We started early on this route and were lucky enough to have this part of the route to ourselves. The area can get busy with families and dog walkers later in the mornings so best to try for early if you can make it.
This section in the woods is probably the steepest part of the route and you are soon rewarded with the views on the Falls of Moness and indeed a small bridge right over the top of them. A short trail section takes you from the falls onto a small tarred road before hitting a well signposted detour to take you round the farm.
After the farm you are onto hard core road till about
9.4 Kms
and that is basically all uphill. On this section you are out onthe open high moors which are used for grouse shooting. We saw hundreds of the birds so must be easy shooting for the mighty hunters. With the wind and the rain this wasn't the greatest of sections for us but it does look like it would be wonderful in the right weather. This section ends beside a small reservoir and the start of a nice downhill section on a tarred road.
This downhill is rewarding with nice views and seems very peaceful. You soon hit the turning point to head back onto forest style roads and back towards Aberfeldy. This is really a mixed bag of running with trail and good quality forest road. At
12.1 Kms
an easy to miss path heads off to the left. This is marked for the Rob Roy way but keep watching for this as it is easy to miss. This also starts a section on slippy trail. Our shoes were trail/road style and in this section we really would have liked full on trail shoes as we were slipping all over the place. Strangely enough although it was muddy and slippy it wasn't too wet.
The trail section ends and you are back onto forest roads of varying quality. Again keep focus the route as one of the right turns is easy to miss as the road seems overgrown. You soon arrive back at the small tarred road for a short section before heading back into the woods towards the Falls of Moness. This time the route follows the west trail and it is all downhill back to the car park.
Route directions
Kms
1
From the car park take the main path
0
2
Cross the bridge on the left over the river
0.1
3
Over the bridge over Falls on Moness
1.7
4
Follow the trail to the left
1.7
5
Take the small trail path to the left
1.8
6
On reaching the small tarred road turn left
1.9
7
Before the farm house take the marked path on the left
2.8
8
Through the gate and across the field
3.1
9
Turn left
3.2
10
Follow the road to the right
3.2
11
Across the ford
5.6
12
Keep on main path to the right
5.9
13
Take the left
6.1
14
Keep to the right
6.2
15
Keep to the main road on the right
6.8
16
Main road swings to the left
7.6
17
About the highest point
8.7
18
At the tarred road turn right and enjoy some downhill
9.4
19
Turn right at the small house onto forest road
11.3
20
Keep straight ahead
11.8
21
Take the small Rob Roy way detour to the right - see picture
12.1
22
Back onto forest road head right
12.2
23
At the tee turn right
15.1
24
At the fork keep to the left.
16
25
Take small path on the left - marked for Rob Roy way
17.2
26
Turn right at the signposted tee. Poorer path heading uphill
18.6
27
At the tarred road turn right for 100m
19.9
28
Turn left into the woods at the signed marker
19.9
29
Left back towards the falls
20.1
30
Keep to the left path
20.2
31
And back at the car park
21.6
The Birks car park
Information sign
The Birks car park
The upper car park
The bridge
Path down towards the bridge
The bridge
Bridge across the river
Alongside the stream
One of the few flat sections
Alongside the stream
Image from Craig Hill loop
Further upstream
Rabbie Burns himself
Further upstream
Image from Craig Hill loop
Stairs and bridges
Watch out as these can be slippy
Stairs and bridges
One of the many bridges
Woodland route
Getting higher
Woodland route
More stairs - there are lots
Towards the falls
Falls of Moness area
From the bridge
Falls of Moness area
Bridge over the falls
Falls of Moness area
Image from Craig Hill loop
After the falls
Looking back
After the falls
Take the small trail on the left
Small road
For a short section
Small road continues
Farm detour
Walkers way well signposted
Farm detour
The walkers path can get very slippy
The field
Short section across the field
Start of the hill road
Route takes the right hand road
Start of the hill road
Image from Craig Hill loop
Out in the open
Further up
Gamekeepers hut
The ford
Wet feet time
Climb continues
Close to highest point
Shortly before the reservoir
Onto the tarred road
Across the style
Downhill
Nice even tarred surface
Views into the Glen
Heading towards Kenmore
Turning point
Love the trees in Autumn
Turning point
Signpost for Rob Roy way
Another detour
Hope Rob Roy had Gortex trail shoes
Out of the trees
Path is a bit over grown
Out of the trees
Image from Craig Hill loop
Forest road
Firmer surface
In the open
Looking back
Rob Roy way path
Easy to miss the path on the left
Rob Roy way path
Image from Craig Hill loop
Downhill
Towards Aberfeldy
Downhill
Turn right at this point
Downhill
Looking down on Aberfeldy
Tarred road again
Short section on the road
Tarred road again
Signpost from the tarred road
In the trees
Downhill towards Aberfeldy
Close to the end
The trees are stunning in Autumn