THEY are by no means rare across Scotland's countryside, but it's still hard not to be entranced by the sight of deer in the wild. The larger red deer are probably the best known but roe deer numbers are growing, and catching a glimpse of these timid woodland creatures will make any outing memorable.
Moncreiffe Hill, just south of Perth, is home to these and other animals. It sounds strange but to see a "real" country fox is, I think, also rather special. Walk quietly, especially at the higher part of this walk, and the chances are that you will
see these creatures as well as the rare but ever-popular red squirrel.
Thanks to good work by the Woodland Trust Scotland, a series of waymarked trails leads up and around the hill to the site of Iron Age forts. This route follows the red trail but there are shorter ones.
The first section is easy, through mixed woodland along the base of the hill. At the end you do get close to the M90, but a narrow, steep path leads quickly away – watch your footing. After this, you emerge on to more open ground and can enjoy views over Perth and across the Tay to Kinnoull Hill, with its 19th-century tower – a folly built to imitate castles by the Rhine, in Germany.
Further on, you reach another view across the Tay, this time to Binn Hill Tower – another gothic folly built in the 19th century, some say as an observatory. As you continue, Moredun Top, the site of an Iron Age hill fort, rises to your left. Archaeologists can probably see the significance of the bumps but it is also worth clambering up for the panoramic view, which takes in the Tay estuary, the Lomond Hills, the Ochil Hills and the mountains of Perthshire. The final section takes you on a lovely stroll along the eastern end of the hill, with views across the River Earn.
Walking boots should be worn as it is rough and steep underfoot in places and can be muddy.
DISTANCE: 4½ miles.
HEIGHT CLIMBED: 800 ft.
TIME: 2-3 hours.
MAP: OS Landranger 58.
PARKING Come off the M90 at junction nine and follow the A912 through Bridge of Earn. Once over the River Earn (at the north end of the village) turn right, following a brown sign for Moncreiffe Hill. Just over a mile down the minor road, turn left at another brown sign for the hill and follow a stone track all the way to the end, where there is a parking area.
IN SUMMARY Follow the track beyond wooden gates at the end of the parking area, uphill into woodland. At a small clearing, go straight on, dropping down slightly. The undulating track eventually passes above the side of the M90 before you reach its end, and follows a steep path heading off to the right, up through sycamores.
The path bends further right to pass a rather dried-up pond and then zig-zags up into trees. On reaching a clearing, keep left and shortly afterwards look out for a bench, down a short grassy path to the left. This offers views over Perth and across to Kinnoull Hill.
Continue down the main route, now a track, and at a clearing go right and uphill. As the narrowing track bends round to the right and reaches some exposed rocks, look for a bench just off to the right – which offers further views across the Tay.
Carry on along the grass track to a junction, where you go left. A little further on, a very steep grass path on the left leads to Moredun Top and its panoramic views. Return to the main track and continue down. At another two junctions a little lower down, keep left and continue along the east flank of the hill.
As the track starts to descend steeply, it swings to the right. A little way down, ignore a path off to the right and carry on to the main track you followed at the start. Turn left to retrace your steps the last few hundred yards to the parking area.
REFRESHMENTS The Village Inn, in the main street in Bridge of Earn, is not far away. Or you could try the Roost Restaurant, which does reasonably priced lunches – follow the brown signs that start at the south end of the main street, and find it near the entrance to Kilgraston School.
WHILE YOU ARE IN THE AREA In Perth itself, there are a number of things to do. Visit the Black Watch Museum (
www.theblackwatch.co.uk, 01738 638152), which is housed in Balhousie Castle and celebrates the famous Scottish regiment.
