Nature Walk along Loch Earn Railway Path – St Fillans to Comrie

We will take a leisurely walk along the route of the old railway line from St Fillans to Comrie taking in all of the sights and sounds of nature along the way. We will have great views of the mountains, River Earn, farmland and woodland and will encounter birds including raptors, wildflowers and signs of Beavers. The full day walk will include going off-piste to look for some specific species like Red squirrel in a peaceful mature mixed woodland. The half day will include a stop to eat a packed lunch (not provided).

The first leg of this walk follows the Loch Earn Railway Path from St Fillans to Dalchonzie, which is now a multi-user path and is a wonderful route to walk taking in the wildlife and scenery along the way.

Leaving the St Fillans village, we make our way through the sheep pasture where there are great views over to Dundurn and Am Bioran with Glen Artney beyond. Looking over in that direction there is a great chance of seeing soaring raptors, Red Deer and the local Feral Goats (depending on time of year). The sunny banks here are also great for butterflies and wildflowers in the Summer. Reaching the railway bridge over the River Earn, we can look for Dippers and Kingfishers as well as signs of Otter. We get more great scenic views as we pass through farmland, with the option to walk around an ancient Chambered Cairn. Next, we go through a cutting with great floristic interest and views over to the “Golden Eagle ridge”. Stopping along here we will watch the ridge for soaring eagles.

At Dalchonzie we join the Back Road to Comrie for the second leg of the walk, where nesting Ospreys can be seen during the Summer and where roosting Red Kites gather in the Winter. There are also plenty of signs of Beaver to look at along the way along. We continue to Comrie to pick up our return transport.