The Loch of the Lowes from Dunkeld – Woods, Pasture and Hides
About 4.7 miles on foot.
An old path leads out of Dunkeld through woods and open pasture to the Loch of the Lowes, where the Scottish Wildlife Trust's hides look over a loch that fills with geese and ducks in autumn.
It's a 7.5 km round and about two and a half hours' walking. Give the hides an hour, then come back for lunch at ARAN Bakery.
- Time
- About two and a half hours' walking: a 7.5 km (4.7 miles) round through woods and pasture, with about 85 m of climb. Allow an hour more for the hides.
- The path
- Woodland and field paths with a climb out of the town. At the reserve, a level path of 120 m leads from its roadside car park to the visitor centre.
- Where to start
- Dunkeld's North Car Park, off Atholl Street: pay and display, £1.50 for an hour, £2.50 for two, £4.20 for four.
- When to go
- All year, and at its best from October to March when the geese and ducks are on the loch. From 1 November to 28 February the hides open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday only. From November to January set off by 11am.
- Dogs
- Welcome on the path, on a lead near livestock. Assistance dogs only in the visitor centre and hides; the Trust sells two-for-one tickets so dog walkers can take turns.
- Children
- Children go into the hides free. It is a long walk for small legs.
- Toilets
- Public toilets at Dunkeld's North Car Park.
- Before you set out
- The visitor centre and hides are open every day from 1 March to 31 October, 10.30am to 5pm, and from 1 November to 28 February on Friday, Saturday and Sunday only, 10.30am to 4pm.
The walk
Park in Dunkeld's North Car Park, off Atholl Street. It's pay and display, at £2.50 for two hours or £4.20 for four, and there are public toilets beside it. The path to the Loch of the Lowes starts at the stone cairn in the car park, and it was once the main way between the town and the loch. It's a 7.5 km round with about 85 m of climb, so allow two and a half hours' walking, through conifer and broadleaved woods and across the open pasture at Fungarth. At the far end is the Scottish Wildlife Trust's reserve.
Its hides look out over a loch that's home through autumn and winter to greylag and Canada geese, wigeon, goldeneye, tufted duck and grey herons. Red squirrels and woodpeckers are about all year, and ospreys nest in sight of the hides from April to August. There's no path round the loch and no way down to the water, so the hides are where you see it from. The visitor centre and hides are open every day until 31 October, from 10.30am to 5pm. From 1 November to 28 February they open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday only, from 10.30am to 4pm, so in winter walk out on one of those days.
Entry is £6.50 for adults and £6 for concessions, and children go in free. Dogs can't go into the centre or the hides, though the Trust sells two-for-one tickets so that dog walkers can take turns. The centre sells hot drinks and snacks. From November to January, set off by 11am.
If it rains
The woods give some shelter and the hides are dry, so it's a fair walk for a showery day. In steady rain, drive round to the reserve's own car park instead, which is 120 m from the visitor centre.
Afterwards
4 min on foot
ARAN Bakery
Lunch
Lunch is at ARAN Bakery on Atholl Street, about 4 minutes' walk from the car park, for sourdough, pastries, cakes, coffee and lunch from the counter. It's open Monday to Saturday from 9.30am to 3.30pm and Sunday from 10am to 3.30pm, and it closes early on a day it sells out, so be back in the town by two. If it's sold out, the café at Birnam Arts, across the bridge in Birnam, serves soup and sandwiches every day until 4pm.
Before you go
Book accommodation nearby
If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.
Where to eat
ARAN Bakery, artisan bakery and lunches.
The Taybank, riverside pub, live music.
For further reading, before you go.