Criper one

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An excellent route, we mapped the route from Starbucks, The Triangle, Inveralmond, picked up the cycle route no 77 and followed this out to Almondbank.
Most of the paths were in a good state of repair and suitable for wheelchair, buggies and bikes. The path from Starbucks to the No77 cycle route was overgrown with shrubs/weeds but was still passable on foot. There had been a lot of rainfall but the paths were clear of puddles.
There are clear signs throughout the route with distance to Perth / Almondbank etc however there was only a small section of the path which had street lighting, as we were walking in the day this wasnt a problem but would be a consideration in the winter months or in the evening.

An excellent route, mapped correctly except for a few details. I did it over the course of 3 short winter days, using the Perth-Crieff bus to complete linear walks. Route unsuitable for wheelers due to narrow trodden paths, tree roots, steps, and (avoidable) locked gates. I have given it 4 stars as the stream at Loch Meallbroden could be tricky to cross, and the route west of Methven is not easy due to locked gates and rough ground (but this can be avoided if a minor road is followed instead). The route follows farm and forest tracks, paths, quiet roads and the pavement beside the A85 for occasional short stretches. The only refreshments/shop en route are in Methven, ⅔ of the way from Crieff to Perth.

From the centre of Crieff the route heads up Ferntower Road to an entrance to the Golf Course. A woodland path is signposted, but coming in the opposite direction I missed that path and used an easily available path beside the golf course. Passing the clubhouse then out through the main entrance of the golf course (path is signposted in the opposite direction). Across the A85 (good sight lines) and into the woodland of Callum's Hill. Here the path is signposted, but is very boggy. At the east end of the wood the pedestrian gate led into an overgrown lane, however there was a good trodden path here. It is signposted at its eastern end. Then a very quiet road, past Cultoquhey. Straight across the A85, where there are good sightlines, and up a farm track to Belnollo. After Belnollo Cottage the route crosses fields, but is easy to follow and has a firm surface. One small stream could be jumped across. Gates easy to open, a sign indicating that dogs should be on a lead, and evidence of livestock in fields (sheep).

The track climbed the eastern spur of Milquhanzie Hill, rising to 280m but at a shallow gradient. From here there were excellent views to distant hills to the west and south, and to nearby Loch Meallbrodden. The minor track then met another track with a good surface, which descended (again a shallow gradient) past a ruined cottage at Ardoch. The stream at the head of the loch could have been impossible to cross, as there had been a lot of rain recently, however there was an old iron beam to balance along, luckily it was fairly wide. Up on the moorland the track passed some standing stones and stone circles. A short stretch of quiet road led to a road junction above Fowlis Wester. In this hamlet (off route) there is a church with ancient Celtic carved stones inside, and a replica of one of them outside.

Two stretches of very quiet road follow, linked by forest tracks through Gorthy Wood, and farm tracks from Keillour to Grundcruie. There are gaps at the gates into Gorthy Wood, where many trees have been felled so parts of it were fairly open. Passing South Cassochie there is an outer track which avoids the factory working area. Delivery lorries could be encountered on the private road between Cassochie and Grundcruie. The next short stretch of road was busier than previous stretches, then at Drumbauchly a large (frozen) puddle almost barred the way to the route. Down the track the route continues through a woodland and some rough ground, but I had to climb all 3 gates. A slightly easier route lies along the field edge immediately to the north, just one gate to climb, but this could potentially be fairly boggy. A right (south) turn at the track at the end of the field, a hop over a low fence, and then it's plain sailing along a farm track past Newbigging. The route then takes some very pretty paths down into Methven Den and into Methven. But from Drumbauchly the easiest and quickest way into Methven is straight down the road, taking the Methven Den paths if time and inclination permit by briefly doubling back up the Newbigging Farm access track just after entering the village.

A cafe, shop, pub and bus stops can be found in Methven (cafe open weekdays 9-3, hours may be longer in summer). The route heads westwards out of the village along the footway beside the A85, then it takes a signposted path towards Almondbank. East of Methven Castle, at a signpost well into the wood, the route takes a right turn towards Methven Loch (note that the paths shown on OS base mapping are not shown correctly). Nearer Almondbank the track is fairly churned up due to recent (autumn 2022) forestry operations, and could potentially be very muddy.

After crossing Main Street, Almondbank, a flight of steps leads down to the River Almond, (there is a sign indicating that this part of the route is liable to flooding). The route follows the river for 400m before taking a narrower path beside the Perth Lade. Then it follows paths and footways beside the road before returning to the lade at Ruthven Lade just north of Tarry Row. The path becomes a cycleway and lies close to the lade until it uses a (lit) underpass beneath the B9993, then a bridge over the A9 Perth bypass to return to the Lade. The route follows the north (and east) side of the Lade all the way into Perth. It is lit, and surfaced with tarmac, for most of its length. The crossing of the Crieff Road is best done by using the signed cycleway to Stanley Crescent, crossing the Crieff Road at traffic lights. There are also traffic lights to aid crossing the inner ring road - Caledonian Road - into the city centre.

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