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A walk up Ben Vrackie from Moulin
A walk · Pitlochry

Ben Vrackie – The Speckled Hill above Pitlochry

About 5 miles on foot.

Directions
Ben Vrackie car parkStartBen Vrackie, 841 mThe top

Ben Vrackie is the hill that stands over Pitlochry, and its name means the speckled mountain.

A path beside a burn, or stream, climbs out of Moulin through birch and heather to a small loch under the screes. Then a long staircase of stone steps leads to the top, 841 metres up, with Beinn a' Ghlo to the north and the Tay to the south. It's a fine half day for fit walkers, with a pint at the Moulin Inn at the bottom.

Time
About four hours: 8 km there and back from the car park above Moulin to the summit, 841 m, with 700 m of climbing. A hill.
The path
A burnside path through birch woods, a moorland path past Loch a' Choire, then a long flight of stone steps to the top.
Where to start
The small Ben Vrackie car park at the top of Moulin, on the lane above the village; about 15 cars, no charge.
Set off
From November to February, start up by 11am to be down in daylight.
When to go
All year in daylight, on a day with a good forecast. From November to February start up by 11am. In snow and ice it is a winter hill.
Dogs
Under close control: sheep graze the hill.
Children
A steep climb for older children who walk well; no pushchairs.
Toilets
None on the hill; Pitlochry has public toilets.
Before you set out
Steep and very exposed to the wind: take waterproofs and a warm layer, and turn back if the cloud comes down. In snow and ice it is a winter hill.

The walk

The walk starts at the small Ben Vrackie car park at the top of Moulin, on the lane above the village, which takes about 15 cars and costs nothing. Perth and Kinross Council gives the walk as 8 km there and back with 700 metres of climbing, about four hours, on a steep but well-made hill path. It starts through birch woods beside the Moulin Burn and crosses open heather moor to Loch a' Choire, a small loch tucked under the screes.

Then a long staircase of stone steps climbs to the top, 841 metres up, where there's a trig point. From the summit Beinn a' Ghlo fills the view to the north, with the Cairngorms behind it, and the Tay runs away to the south. The council calls the weather unpredictable and the hill very exposed to the wind, so take waterproofs and a warm layer even on a fair day, and turn back if the cloud comes down.

In snow and ice it is a winter hill. From November to February, start up by 11am to be down in daylight. Sheep graze the hill, so keep dogs under close control.

If it rains

Not a day for low cloud or a gale: the top is open and very exposed. In poor weather walk up through the birch woods by the Moulin Burn and come back down to the fire at the inn instead.

Afterwards

  1. Moulin Hotel and Brewery

    Moulin Hotel and Brewery

    A drink

    It's a short drive back down into Moulin for a drink at the Moulin Inn, the old inn on the village square, which has been a pub since 1695. It brews its own ales in the old coach house behind, keeps a long shelf of malts and lights log fires in the colder months, and the bar menu runs to Cullen skink and steak and ale pie. It opens every day; ring 01796 472196 to check the kitchen's hours. Dogs are welcome. If you'd rather a café, Hettie's Tea Rooms in Pitlochry serves until 4pm, last orders at 3.50pm.

    More about Moulin Hotel and Brewery

Before you go

  1. Book accommodation nearby

    If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.

    The nearest of ours is Charlottefield, 5 miles away. Sleeps 4.

    Then Milton of Kincraigie in Blair Atholl, 6 miles away. Sleeps 4.

Where to eat

Find out more

For further reading, before you go.

Photograph by Rafal Iskierka via Google