The Check Bar Road gets its name from a tollhouse which stood near its junction with the Coupar Angus turnpike (now A923). Centuries ago it was the main ‘road’ from Lundie to Fowlis.
Head off through a farm style gate. At the bottom of the hill, bear right alongside a massive ditch, dug in the 1780s to drain Piperdam Loch so its lime-rich sediment, marl, could be used as fertiliser. The reinstated loch is now popular with anglers and sometimes ospreys. After 120m, before a gate, turn sharp left up a gradual ascent. On your right note the loch and country park with its backdrop of Blacklaw Hill. Who the Piperdam piper was is unknown!
This path rises gently between golf courses, then fields. A farm road joins from the right but you continue straight on. After the final rise, the path snakes left then right to drop down a fairly steep descent. A magnificent view of the upper Tay estuary and Fife stretches before you.
Where the track meets Berryhill Road either retrace your steps or extend the walk and do a circuit (NB country roads - no pavements).
Turn left to Fowlis where you turn left again at the T-junction on to Benvie Road. Pass the village green on your right and Fowlis Easter Village Hall on your left before climbing the brae out of Fowlis. Follow this road until Muirloch cottages and take the farm road. Bear left up past a farmyard and houses on your left. Note the lovely little pond or stank (‘No Swimming’!). Continue with trees on your right and 9-hole golf course on your left, back to the point where you crossed the ditch earlier. Retrace your steps to the start.
By turning right on reaching Berryhill Road you can walk 0.5km to Balruddery Sustainable Farm run by the James Hutton Institute (formerly the Scottish Crop Research Institute) (information boards, wildlife pond)).