Blacou two

Slow Way not verified yet. Verify Blacou here.

This is quite a good route, relatively direct (compared to Blacou one), and quite enjoyable in places. The anticipated difficulty of using the main road near Couttie Bridge did not materialise. The route would not be suitable for wheelers due to rough ground and narrow trodden paths. There is nowhere en route for sustenance, but the route is not over long so that should not matter. There are buses between Coupar Angus and Blairgowrie, along the A923.

I walked the route on a lovely February day. The route is well mapped and easy to follow, although a keen eye should be kept on the map north of Monk Myre. The paths are all core paths, but are not signposted or waymarked. Some of them were muddy in places.

Heading out of Coupar Angus there were pavements in places, and quiet roads, and the busy A923 had a pavement beside it as far as the Couttie Bridge over the River Isla. However on the north side of the bridge the pavement reduced to nothing, and it was necessary to keep to the very edge of the road. A blind bend was visible ahead, with no verges into which to retreat, but luckily there was no ditch, hedge or fence so I was able to cross into the adjacent field and walk along the field edge parallel to the main road. Once the main road was straight again I walked beside it. For anyone heading southwards, towards Coupar Angus, it would probably be safer to take to the field edge just before joining the main road and use it until just before the bridge.

The minor road past Easter Bendochy was quiet, and the track to East Myreriggs was slightly muddy in places. It gave good views to north and south. Across the minor road a field gate opened easily onto a track. The 'bridge' over the Monkmyre Burn left rather a lot to be desired, being more or less homemade with metal sheets, but seemed substantial enough when I crossed it. In summer the burn may be so low that the 'bridge' is not required.

A trodden path led westwards a few metres north of the shore of Monk Myre. The loch itself was beautiful and there were many different birds, The route makes an abrupt turn northwards at a pedestrian gate and crossed a newly ploughed field towards Rosemount. One set of footsteps could be seen on the soil crossing to the end of the track leading to Rosemount. Here there are many fruit growing tunnels, and it may be a busy place during the summer months. I missed the turning along an old track between the polytunnels and had to retrace my steps a few yards. The track led out of the fruit farm and eventually back to the A923.

There is a footway beside the main road all the way into Blairgowrie from this point, but it would be tedious and noisy to walk along this busy road. Instead Blacou two heads (indirectly) across the main road up a driveway (signposted to Stormont Loch). At the house (Lochend Cottage) a trodden route across the field follows a line of telegraph posts (slightly west of the mapped route of Blacou two at this point). The trodden path continues through woodland to the junction of Golf Course Road with the A923. From here again the most direct way into Blairgowrie is along the pavement beside the main road, whilst Blacou two follows a mixture of quiet residential roads, cycle route and pavements.

I cannot give this route 5 stars as the use of the field edge just north of the Couttie Bridge is a bit tricky. Also, crossing the field south of Rosemount, and the field north of Lochend Cottage were rather muddy when I walked them. I feel sure that both these paths will be kept open by local people walking them regularly.

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