Aucper one

Slow Way not verified yet. Verify Aucper here.

This is a good route, correctly but roughly drawn, pretty direct, and easy to follow. The downside is that it is primarily on tarmac. There are 3 sections where the route follows field edges, rough tracks and trodden paths, and therefore would not make for easy use by wheelers. At one point, although the route follows a core path, there is no actual path on the ground through or around the field so it is relatively hard going. The route follows the A9 for much of its length, so the traffic is often within earshot.

There is only one settlement en route, Aberuthven, where there is a deli shop, pub, and bus stop (Perth-Auchterarder). Unfortunately this village is near the western end of the route. Off route, about half way, lies the hamlet of Forteviot where there is a bus stop for an irregular service between Auchterarder and Perth, but no shops.

From Auchterarder the route follows a footway beside the A824. At Nether Coul it takes a signposted path around the edge of a field on a trodden route. This drops down briefly but steeply – photo - (impossible for wheelers) to skirt a second field. The route is very pleasant, adjacent to but above Ruthven Water. There is a signpost (indicating Nether Coul) where the route rejoins the Auchterarder-Aberuthven footway.

East of Aberuthven the route is signed to Dalreoch. It heads away from the noisy A9 to Drumtogle where the route is signposted, but the track shown on the map does not exist. I walked south of the field boundary and encountered no problems, there was a narrow trodden path along the edge of the field. At Millands a waymarker indicated the route westwards (on the south side of the fence). Recent flooding in the nearby fields had encouraged a group of whooper swans to alight on the water.

The next 5km were along the former A9, and therefore tarmac, but with no traffic except for a short stretch of quiet road at Dalreoch Bridge with no pavement. A pedestrian gate allowed access to the old A9 route up the hill, whose gradient was very gentle. Half way up there was a very narrow stretch, only 3m long, with another pedestrian gate allowing access (photo). A pair of secateurs would have been handy as there were a few blackberry stems to snag clothing.

At Cairnie Cottage a track leads down to the A9 and crosses beneath it. Here the Slowways route turns left (east, and uphill) to follow the line of the core path, however there was nothing on the ground to indicate a route, the field was in stubble but if it had been in crop it would have been more of a struggle. At the top of the field there was a short stretch of uncultivated ground to cross, to gain the next field (photo), but thankfully no fence. I had to continue around the field, adjacent to the B934, until I found a field gate at the bottom of the field, next to to the access road to Wester Cairnie. I climbed this gate (photo) but there was a strand of wire which might have allowed the gate to open. If heading in a westerly direction along Aucper it would be easy to miss this gate and continue too far up the B934. It may be that an alternative route, using field tracks past Wester Cairnie, would be easier, if there are no curtilage issues at the farm. (Later edit - track past Wester Cairnie is fine, route added as Aucper two)

The B934 is briefly joined, then a long walk towards Perth on the B9112. Both roads have good sightlines in most places, and are relatively quiet. I enjoyed the walk more than I was expecting, due to the surrounding scenery, glimpses of the River Earn, and the autumn leaf colour. Eventually the route heads downhill under the M90 and into Perth. There is a pub/restaurant on the route at Cherrybank. There are many possible routes into the city centre, and the route Aucper takes is as good as any as it avoids the main roads. It's all downhill!

I felt that the route only deserves 2 stars, due to the preponderance of tarmac, including 7km along a quiet road, the stretch of field with no path, and a few narrow sections.

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