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Perthshire

Lady Mary's Walk

A riverside walk along the Earn at Crieff, laid out in 1815 by Sir Patrick Murray of Ochtertyre and named for his daughter, under an avenue of tall beeches.

Welcome

On the edge of Crieff, a level path follows the River Earn upstream under an avenue of tall beeches, their trunks grey and smooth, with the river running wide and slow beside them.

Visited and photographed by Simon Hird

In autumn the path disappears under a carpet of copper leaves, and the whole avenue glows.

The walk was made in 1815 by Sir Patrick Murray of Ochtertyre, whose estate lay above the river. A guest wrote in her journal that May of walking on the new path by the water side, and it came to be named for his daughter, Lady Mary Murray, who loved it.

It runs for about a mile along the north bank, with benches along the way and small burns crossing under footbridges, and it can be joined to longer loops over Laggan Hill for views over Strathearn.

Before you go

Free, at any time.

The walk follows the north bank of the Earn from the edge of Crieff, and joins longer loops over Laggan Hill.

Where
The north bank of the River Earn, on the south-western edge of Crieff.
The walk
About a mile along the river, level and easy.

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Did you know

A small wooden footbridge crossing a burn beneath an avenue of autumn trees at Wildwoodz.
Did you know

Named for a daughter.

The walk takes its name from Lady Mary Murray, daughter of the man who made it, who loved it.

A distant figure walking beneath the golden canopy of an autumn tree avenue at Wildwoodz.
Did you know

New in 1815.

A visitor wrote in her journal on 12 May 1815 of walking on the new path by the water side.

A bend in the river at Wildwoodz, autumn branches framing the water on both banks.
Did you know

Beeches all the way.

The walk runs for about a mile along the banks of the Earn.

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New places, news and stories, as we find them.

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Where it is

Along the River Earn on the edge of Crieff.

Close byCrieff.
  1. Sourdough loaves, seeded rounds and baguettes stacked on wire racks with price cards at Damsel Bakery in Crieff.Damsel BakeryUnder a mile as the crow flies
  2. Gallery interior with framed artwork on white walls and ceramics on plinthsThe Strathearn GalleryA gallery of contemporary Scottish painting, ceramics, glass and jewellery on West High Street in Crieff, founded in 1994.Under a mile 2 min by road
  3. The fountain in the square at Crieff under bunting.CrieffThe market town of Strathearn, once the great cattle tryst.1 mile 3 min by road
  4. The dining room at the Glenturret Lalique Restaurant, with tables laid in white under a beamed ceiling, a golden Lalique chandelier, tartan chairs and tall windows onto the garden.The Glenturret Lalique Restaurant1 mile as the crow flies
  5. Drummond Castle GardensDrummond Castle GardensA formal garden of 1630 below Drummond Castle, near Muthill.4 miles 13 min by road
  6. Farm stall with baskets of apples, pumpkins, leeks and citrus fruitComrie Croft Farm ShopA reimagined 231-acre farm between Comrie and Crieff, home to a farm shop, the Gorse Cafe, mountain bike trails, eco camping and a sauna.5 miles 8 min by road
Directions
The Wild Hearth Bakery shop in Comrie, with sourdough loaves on wooden shelves behind a glass counter of pastries and cinnamon buns.CafeWild Hearth Bakery4.9 miles
Glass-fronted bookcases and a sliding ladder in a library beside an arched windowAttractionsInnerpeffray Library5.4 miles
Red-fronted shopfront with "Hansen's Kitchen" sign above an open doorwayRestaurantsHansen's Kitchen6.2 miles
A landscape view of Whitehill on its hill: the steadings, the farmhouse and its red-roofed wing in low sun across a field of young crop.AuchterarderWhitehill Farm HouseSleeps 8 · 7.0 miles
Small stone hexagonal hut with slate roof on a grassy knollAttractionsThe Earthquake House7.1 miles
A pear soufflé with a crumble topping, beside poached pear and a scoop of ice cream on a gold-rimmed plate, at Restaurant Andrew Fairlie.RestaurantsRestaurant Andrew Fairlie7.5 miles
Rusted Nissen huts with white gables stand in a grass field under grey skyAttractionsCultybraggan Camp8.0 miles
Stepped gable end of a stone chapel with a tall arched windowAttractionsTullibardine Chapel9.0 miles
Punnets of brambles, raspberries and strawberries on a bed of straw beside the polytunnels at Broadslap Fruit Farm.ShoppingBroadslap Fruit Farm9.6 miles

Recommend to a friend

The Daily for 23 October, from Scotland with love. Aerial view of a concrete road bridge with angled supports spanning a sea loch, twin cloud-wrapped mountain peaks rising behind autumn-coloured hills.

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Stay nearby

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

A landscape view of Whitehill on its hill: the steadings, the farmhouse and its red-roofed wing in low sun across a field of young crop.Whitehill Farm House
  • Sleeps 8
  • In Auchterarder
  • 5 miles from Lady Mary's Walk
Free 23–27 OctThe Old Farmhouse, PerthshireThe Old Farmhouse
  • Sleeps 8
  • In Logiealmond
  • 9 miles from Lady Mary's Walk
Check datesA grand stone mansion with multiple gables and chimneys stands behind a lawn set with wicker chairs, seen through overhanging leaves.Cromlix
  • To stay
  • In Kinbuck
  • 11 miles from Lady Mary's Walk
Check datesA red sandstone and grey stone Victorian house stands wreathed in morning mist, a shrub with orange autumn leaves in the foreground.The House at Dun Aluinn
  • Sleeps 18
  • In Aberfeldy
  • 17 miles from Lady Mary's Walk
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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