Walk on the wild side: Loch Ordie and Deuchary Hill

Published on Tuesday 3 March 2009 15:16

THIS week's walk goes to Loch Ordie, north of Dunkeld, and includes a circuit round Deuchary Hill. Jimbo and I had planned to go further west and higher that day, but with poorer weather forecast for that direction, a more easterly outing seemed sensible. In fact, we went too far east, but with a well-nigh perfect day for a walk – cold, but with blue skies and no wind – who could complain about such an attractive outing, even if at lower level.

Immediately north of Dunkeld is a rough, craggy area, well-wooded in places, holding a number of small hill-lochs. The ground rises to 509m Deuchary Hill, beneath whose northern slopes at a height of 980ft – nearly 300m – nestles the largest of those lochs, Loch Ordie. Important enough for its depth to be surveyed, it is to some degree an artificial loch, its size expanded by a sluice. This was undoubtedly done for fishing reasons and its waters, I am told, hold an abundance of fine large trout. On its grassy SSW banks, close to the sluice, is a line of attractive fishing cottages.

Loch Ordie drains south-west to Raor Lodge, then more steeply west to Dowally on the A9. This is the shortest approach to the loch, just over two miles by track, but arguably the more attractive approach is from the south, from the A923, the Dunkeld to Blairgowrie road. This southern area has a good network of tracks and paths. A popular approach to the loch goes from a parking area just before Cally Loch, using a not well-signposted side road that leaves the A923 at map ref 025433, just past a sawmill.

However, Jimbo and I opted to start further east on the A923, at the north end of Loch of Craiglush, using a track to Mill Dam to join the popular route. In fact, for the complete walk there are tracks all the way, with one short stretch of Tarmac. Arguably the most scenic part of the walk is on the south side of Deuchary Hill, using a mapped path, the remnant of an overgrown track.

You will need Ordnance Survey map 52, Pitlochry to Crieff. Use the A923 parking area by a bend on the north side of the road at map ref 045447. From there, a short path leads to a beautiful grassy and pine needle-strewn track. This rises gently north-west, an easy start to the day, with open views developing on the approach to the Glack and Mill Dam. From there, the circuit of Deuchary Hill, passing Loch Ordie, is in open country, with superb views to the west over Strath Tay, not spoiled even by the sound of the A9 traffic. A broad gravel track goes north-west to Raor Lodge to join the Dowally track, and then continues north-east, again gently rising, to reveal the sudden emergence of Loch Ordie.

Turn eastwards and cross the sluice for a charming stroll on the south side of the loch by the cottages, with a stone wall at the water's edge. At map ref 042500, turn southwards past the entrance to Riemore Lodge, by now on a short stretch of Tarmac, and continue towards Grewshill croft.

Immediately east of Grewshill, by the track-side, is the site of the Sancta Crux Well, a Pictish/Christian healing well to which folk, even into the 19th century, used to resort for cures on the first Sabbath in May. Known locally as Grews or Gruis, the name is a corruption of the Pictish word for cross. I did not know at the time of the curative nature of the water; in any case, Jimbo and I were not there on the requisite date.

Just beyond Grewshill, another track, grassy this time, goes south-west past the south base of Deuchary Hill. The track soon becomes overgrown, but still has a definite path that climbs gently to the watershed, easing the way through rough terrain, craggy heathery slopes dotted with boulders. If wishing to climb Deuchary Hill, an approach from this side is not recommended – use the path on the north-west side via Lochan na Beinne – but if going there tomorrow (8 March) look out for the runners taking part in the annual Deuchary Hill "Canter".

More open views develop to the south-west on descent to map ref 031472, where a mapped path comes in. This proves to be another grassy track that quickly leads down to Mill Dam. Return to the road using the ascent route.

Factfile

Map Ordnance Survey map 52, Pitlochry to Crieff

Distance 10 miles

Height 250m

Terrain Track and path all the way

Start point North side of A923 at bend in road, map ref 045447

Time 4 to 5 hours

Nearest towns Dunkeld and Birnam

Nearest refreshment spot Birnam Arts Cafe