Cycling from Kinloch Rannoch to Perth
This is a fun day out which involves navigating the Schiehallion Road to Tomphubil then down the hill to Coshieville, along to Weem and take the Strathtay road passing JK Rowling's house. At Strathtay cross the small bridge over the Tay at Grandtully then cross the road and go into the canoeing centre car park where you can turn left on the disused railway path that leads through to the Dalguise Road. On reaching the Dalguise Road turn right and cycle through Balnaguard and Dalguise to reach the A9. Here you dismount to cross the Coronation bridge and take an underpass that leads to a footpath/cycleway along the north bank of the Tay. It goes past the Hilton Hotel to Dunkeld cathedral and thence to Dunkeld. From Dunkeld the route passes through Birnham and on to Bankfoot. You are now on National Cycle route 77. It takes you to Almondbank and along the River Almond. The cycle path goes through a underpass under the railway and then under the A9. The River Almond joins the Tay and you cycle alongside the Tay to North Inch and into the centre of the city of Perth.
Whilst I can thoroughly recommend this cycle of about 55 miles I really want to emphasise the delights of the Perth end of the route.
The River Almond is a hidden treasure with goosanders, dippers and herons along the River. It has a high cliff with a sandy band where sand martins nest. This cliff has had its topography altered by the fall of a large beech tree that was growing at the top. It has fallen and taken some of the cliff with it and now hangs precariously. In spite of this event I think it likely that the sand martin colony will be re-established this year.
Even more intriguingly there are clear signs of beavers. I am familiar with these signs consisting of chewed willow, aspen and alder, from the Tay at Aberfeldy and Grandtully and from Dunalastair Water. It is reckoned that there are about 150 beavers in the Tay catchment now. They have been introduced by person or persons unknown and seem to be thriving to a greater extent than the official introduction at Knapdale. When a beaver fells a sapling the resulting stump is the same shape as a sharpened pencil. The teeth marks are clearly visible. Along the River Almond, bark has been stripped from some thin branches and this could be the work of beavers but also some could be due to the activity of squirrels. Grey squirrels are known to do this. In Perth there are both grey squirrels and red squirrels. You can encounter both species on Kinoull Hill.
Along the Tay, as you enter Perth, there are flocks of common gull and quite a few piping oystercatchers heralding spring. Oystercatchers gradually make their way between Perth and Rannoch, arriving in Rannoch about March. They breed on farmland and wetlands in the Rannoch area.
The Almond and the Tay's banks are well vegetated and tree lined. At this time of the year the red bark of the dogwood contrasts with the yellow of sallow and you are quite likely to hear the high pitched short note of a Great Spotted Woodpecker.
If you have spare time in Perth why not walk/cycle along the path/cycle way from North Inch up to the start of the River Almond. at any time of the year it is an attractive walk/cycle and it likely to yield much wildlife.
In my case the spare time resulted from owning a high maintenance Ford Fusion which was in the garage receiving life support.