Walk of the week: Craigower, Pitlochry

CRAIGOWER is a small hill standing above Pitlochry, but the apparent unworthiness of its modest 1,335ft top is eclipsed by stunning views.

The walk to the top is steep but it’s over quick enough that you should still have enough energy to enjoy the panoramas.

On the way up, you can look back over Pitlochry and down the glistening ribbons of the Rivers Tummel and Tay. But the real treat is not seen until you reach the summit; in front lies a view down Loch Tummel, with the conical peak of Schiehallion to the left. If you are lucky with the weather and the skies are clear, Glencoe can be seen in the far distance.

This is chocolate-box Scotland, so make sure you take time to savour it before leaving the top. The descent does bring more views – over Blair Atholl to the mountains clustered around the Pass of Drumochter.

• DISTANCE 3½ miles.

• HEIGHT CLIMBED 790ft

• TIME 1½ to 2 hours. MAP OS Landranger 52 and 43.

• PARKING From the centre of Pitlochry, go up Larchwood Road, past a golf club to a T-junction. Go left to the parking area, on the left just after a turn for Balnacraig Farm. Spaces are limited and you may have to head back along the road, go straight on at the T-junction, to the village of Moulin, where there are more parking spaces.

• IN SUMMARY Leave the parking area and continue up the narrow road. After it has turned into a track, go right before a white cottage and cross a golf course. At the other side of the course, go left, along a path next to a cottage with a red roof.

The path goes right, then continues in the same direction, along the edge of forestry. Follow the path round to the right, then uphill, away from the golf course, to reach a track – where you go left. After only about 20 yards, go right at a marker post, up a path through trees. Below the top of the hill, at the edge of forestry next to a National Trust for Scotland sign, the path goes right. Ignore the stone steps you come to but continue a few yards to some wooden steps on the left. At the top of these, a path leads to the top and view indicator.

Follow a path down that starts directly in front of the information board. The path bears right to reach a track, where you go right and drop downhill. The track leads all the way down to the path coming up from the golf course, taken earlier. Follow this down to the left to retrace your steps back to the start.

• REFRESHMENTS The wonderful Moulin Hotel is closest (go straight at the road junction near the parking area, rather than turning right to go back to Pitlochry).

Otherwise, head to Pitlochry, where you will find a great choice – including the Port-na-Craig Inn and Restaurant, on the other side of the River Tummel from the town centre.

• WHILE YOU IN THE AREA Situated in a pretty setting above Pitlochry, Edradour (www.edradour.co.uk) is the smallest whisky distillery in Scotland and offers tastings and tours.

NICK DRAINEY