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A beaver dam of peeled sticks holding back a pond at Bamff in early spring, a ruined steading and a timber-clad barn beyond.
Perthshire

Bamff Wildland

A rewilding estate on the Highland edge, three miles north-west of Alyth, where beavers have lived since 2002.

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Welcome

Bamff is a wonderful place to see what beavers can do to a landscape.

The first two came over from Norway, and an old ditch across the low ground is now a string of ponds behind some forty dams. The Ramsays' time here began in 1232, when an ancestor who looked after Alexander II's health was given the land. An easy loop on the Cateran Trail passes a beaver wetland and the family's house. Round the back, walkers can brew a cuppa in the do-it-yourself café and pay by honesty box. The beavers are busy at night, so by day it's their dams and felled trees you'll see. Look out too for otters and herons, and for the Exmoor ponies, Tamworth pigs and cattle that roam the wildland. In 2024 a pair of ospreys nested on one of the hills and had a chick. To see the beavers themselves, book a guided evening watch, run from April to September.

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The Daily for 31 October, from Scotland with love. A ring of standing stones set among mist and autumn birch
A short drive awayPeel FarmA working family farm near Lintrathen with a coffee shop, a farm shop of its own Highland beef and lamb, a gift and antiques barn, ice cream and a nature trail.16 min by roadSee itFarm café with beamed ceiling, mismatched chairs and cakes under glass domes
Before you go

The whole estate is open to walkers.

The walk
4.2 km round, almost level, with 40 metres of climb in all, by paths, estate tracks and quiet lanes. Allow an hour or two.
Dogs
On a lead at all times, on the guided wildland walks too; the beaver watch takes no dogs. Give the grazing animals plenty of room, and never offer them food.
Guided walks
Wildland walks of about two hours, usually at 10am or 3pm; the beaver watch usually starts around 7.30pm. Both are £48 a head with a minimum of two, and children under 16 go free. Book by email: bamffwalks@gmail.com.

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Where it is

The walk starts at the car park on Balwhyme Road, off the Bamff Road out of Alyth.

Close byAlyth, Glen Isla and Blairgowrie.
  1. The Alyth Burn running through the town between stone walls.AlythAn old market town at the foot of the hills north of Meigle, with the Alyth Burn running through it, a packhorse bridge of the 1500s and the ruined Arches of its first church.3 miles 9 min by road
  2. The Reekie Linn pouring white into its gorge among autumn trees.Reekie LinnA waterfall on the River Isla north of Alyth, the smoky linn, where the river drops into a deep gorge in two falls that join into one when in spate.4 miles 14 min by road
  3. Loch of Lintrathen from above in late summer, the water low along its shores, conifers on the points and the Angus hills beyond under a blue sky with cloud.Loch of LintrathenA Scottish Wildlife Trust reserve on a reservoir loch in Angus, with two hides for watching the birds.6 miles 19 min by road
  4. Glass cake stands display Crunchie Tiffin, Raspberry Brownie and Summer Berry Victoria Sponge on a farm shop counterThe Wandering Bear CafeA cafe, lodge and farm shop by Loch of Lintrathen in the Angus glens, run by Lauren and Calum and their family. It was once the Wee Bear.6 miles 20 min by road
  5. BlairgowrieA market town on the River Ericht at the edge of the Highlands, with its twin Rattray across the water, once a town of flax and jute mills and now of berry fields.7 miles 14 min by road
  6. Cargill’s Leap, PerthshireCargill’s LeapA narrow rocky gorge on the River Ericht just above Blairgowrie, where the Covenanter Donald Cargill is said to have leapt the river to escape the dragoons.7 miles 14 min by road
  7. Persie Distillery's still behind glass: a brass pot with a round copper top beside a tall copper column with portholes, against an old stone wall.Persie DistilleryA small-batch gin distillery at the foot of Glenshee, with a tasting room and tours behind the scenes.9 miles 26 min by road
Directions
The Alyth Burn rushing over stones between autumn beeches in the Den o' Alyth.WalksDen o' Alyth2.6 miles
Farm café with beamed ceiling, mismatched chairs and cakes under glass domesCafePeel Farm4.8 miles
A bowl of orange soup with a cheese scone and a cappuccino on a red-checked tablecloth at The Joinery in Meigle.CafeThe Joinery Coffee Shop6.9 miles
The great carved cross-slab standing in the hall of the Meigle Sculptured Stone Museum.AttractionsMeigle Pictish Stones7.0 miles
Nàdair, AngusKirriemuirNàdairSleeps 6 · 8.4 miles
Country road running alongside a tall, dense beech hedgeAttractionsMeikleour Beech Hedge11 miles
Ruined stone gable with empty windows beside a glass-cased Pictish cross-slabAttractionsThe Eassie Stone12 miles
Glenshee Café & Gift Shop, AberdeenshireCafeGlenshee Café & Gift Shop12 miles
The Cockstane: Clan MacThomas' Ancient Gathering Stone, AberdeenshireAttractionsThe Cockstane: Clan MacThomas' Ancient Gathering Stone12 miles

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Stay nearby

Places to stay near the estate, and when each is next free.

Nàdair, AngusNàdair
  • Sleeps 6
  • In Kirriemuir
  • 6 miles from Bamff
Free 4–7 DecThe whole of Larch House across its meadow: the larch-clad gable and long roof with roof lights, the lower wing beside it, a ring of river stones in the grass and oaks behind.Larch House
  • Sleeps 6
  • In Blairgowrie
  • 9 miles from Bamff
Check datesA stone cottage with a green door and three chimneys sits behind a lawn bordered by shrubs and flowerbeds.Fairygreen Cottage
  • Sleeps 4
  • In Kinrossie
  • 11 miles from Bamff
Check datesAn aerial view shows a black timber cabin with a pitched roof set on a deck in an open field, a bath and seating area visible outside.The Cabin at Fairygreen
  • Sleeps 2
  • In Perthshire
  • 12 miles from Bamff
Check datesPlaces to stayEvery stay in PerthshireAll our places to stay nearby, to search by date and by who is coming.See them all
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