Famous last words, perhaps I should always keep in mind ‘never say never’, for this was the case for Birnam Hill. They say reading a map is like reading a book and once you start it becomes so. You start to notice details, symbols and then curiosity kicks in, ‘I wonder what that is, this looks interesting’ until you reach a point where you have to get you hiking boots and go explore. Such was the case for Birnam Hill. It was a bit disappointing and It was pretty much unlikely I would return; sometimes you find a gem and other times not so much. That was a few years ago.
Leap forward in time and whilst exploring another location I found a fork in the path and a sign pointing to Birnam Hill, I paused, there was an intake of breath followed by a deep sigh as the memory came back, hmm. I carried on with the exploration of that time and thought maybe, just maybe some other time.
There it was, that alarm making its tiresome annoying sound yet another ‘snooze button’ misdemeanor was about to happen, or rather too many presses of the infernal button. So the chosen target for the day was out of reach for a sunrise photo shoot, plan ‘B’, take a look at that path up Birnam Hill.
It was cool and misty when I arrived at the parking spot and set off at a jaunty pace, didn’t last long, as although the path is quite good, it’s also quite steep and unrelenting. Over heating together with puffing and panting soon arrived with many wind breaks along the way.
At one such breather stop I reached a side path signed to Stair Bridge, what the heck, lets have a look. It turned out to be an old stone bridge offering excellent views in the misty morning air.
Misty view to Rohallion Loch
Rohallion Lodge
In the early morning mist I could see Rohallion Lodge, its turret peering above the trees like some Bavarian castle and also the scene of a previous exploration.
I continued upward on a steep zig zagging path until I reached the summit with a massive stone cairn marking the top, it somehow wasn’t how I remembered it from that visit years ago. It was in fact much better than than I remembered it which was a pleasant surprise. Coffee and croissants ensued as I sat in the sun which was starting to break through and my camera was on timelapse duty behind me up on the cairn.
Clearing summit mist
Having finished the croissants and a chocolate biscuit it was time to head on down the way I’d ascended and with clearing views decided to take another side sorty to Stair Bridge. The sun was pushing through and the views opening up, it was glorious and I stopped to finish off the last of the coffee.
A sunny Rohallion Loch and Lodge
Further stops on the descent were obligatory with the Strathearn landscape uncloaked from the misty envelope of earlier on.
The River Tay and the A9 road meander across a green Perthshire countryside
Perthshire basks in the warm sunshine
It had truly turned out to be an unexpected outing that had not only been a joy to experience but it was noted for a return in the autumn when the the colours start to change.
Never say never, maybe just wait a year or two.