Kinnoull Hill – A Walk to the Tower Above the Tay
About 4.5 miles on foot.
Kinnoull Hill rises 222 metres straight out of the east side of Perth, and you can walk to the top from the station.
Cross the Tay, climb through the woods to the summit and a little folly tower on the cliff edge, with the whole river valley spread out below, then come back down into town for lunch on the High Street. It suits anyone fit enough for a steady climb who wants a big view without a car.
- Time
- About two hours on foot from Perth station and back: about an hour up, 3.3 km with a climb of about 200 metres, and about 35 minutes down to the High Street.
- The path
- Steep woodland paths to the summit; easier, fairly level paths lead round the park from the Jubilee car park.
- Where to start
- None needed: on foot from Perth station over the Queen's Bridge. Drivers use the council's Jubilee or Corsiehill Quarry car parks on the hill.
- When to go
- The hill is open ground at all hours (go in daylight); Brew & Chew opens every day, 9am to 3.30pm (4.30pm Fridays and Saturdays, 10am to 3.30pm Sundays).
- Dogs
- On a lead near the cliff edges by the summit and the tower.
- Children
- High cliffs at the summit and the tower: hold small children's hands.
- Toilets
- The nearest public toilets are in Perth.
- Before you set out
- The council posts path closures on its Perth and Carse area page.
The walk
From Perth station, walk through the town to the Queen's Bridge and cross the Tay, then follow Dundee Road and the signed paths up through the woods of Kinnoull Hill Woodland Park. It's about 3.3 km, a little over two miles, from the station to the top, and the second half is a steep climb of about 200 metres through the trees, so allow about an hour.
The summit is 222 metres high, and just to the east the little stone folly of Kinnoull Tower stands on the crag above the river. The views run down the Tay towards Dundee and across to the Sidlaw Hills.
The summit and the tower are on the top of high cliffs: keep well back from the edge, hold small children's hands, and keep dogs on a lead there. The paths are steep and slippery after rain, so wear boots or shoes with a good grip, and there are no toilets on the hill.
If it rains
In rain the steep woodland paths turn slippery and the view may be lost in cloud: keep to the wider paths, turn back if it is wet underfoot, and let lunch at Brew & Chew run long.
Afterwards
15 min on foot
Brew & Chew
Lunch
Lunch is at Brew & Chew at 51 High Street: walk back down the way you came and over the Queen's Bridge, about 2.6 km and around 35 minutes. It's an independent café for breakfast, lunch and coffee, and dogs are welcome, with a menu of their own. It opens at 9am on weekdays and Saturdays and 10am on Sundays, and shuts at 3.30pm, or 4.30pm on Fridays and Saturdays. There's no need to book. From here it's about 15 minutes' walk back to the station.
Before you go
Book accommodation nearby
If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.
Where to eat
Coffee and Things, italian-style coffee bar.
Effie's of Perth, traditional afternoon tea.
For further reading, before you go.