The following walks were developed with help from the local community, in conjunction with the National Park Ranger Service. Distances are approximate and are for the round trip back to the Information Point. Particular thanks are due to the Estates and local landowners, over whose land many of these paths cross.
The maps are for illustrative purposes only. Always equip yourself with the approproiate map.
By hovering over the photos in each walk, you can view the respective instructions.
Distance: 3½ miles (5½ km)
Time: Allow 2 hours
Grade: Strenuous
Colour Code: Blue
An historic walk, starting beside the Loch and River Earn, crossing St Fillans Golf Course and passing beside an ancient Chapel and Graveyard. This walk culminates with a climb of about 400ft (100m) to St Fillans Seat at the summit of Dundurn Hill. From the vantage of this Hill Fort site, spectacular views can be enjoyed in all directions.
Starting on easy paths and tracks, then across an open meadow to a narrow, faint and steep hill path. Please note: the grass slopes and rocks on Dundurn Hill can be very slippery when wet – good grip footwear is recommended. Care should also be taken to avoid the dangerous and precipitous crags on the east side of the hill. (It is not an easy climb up the hill when the bracken reaches full summer maturity).
Starting at the Village Information point, cross the footbridge spanning the River Earn and immediately turn right. Follow the path to the South Loch Road and there, turn left for about ½ mile, past the weir on your left and St Fillans Golf Club on your right. Just before the road bends left (to go over the old Dundurn Bridge), take the track to the right onto the golf course. Look both ways and take care crossing two fairways (please give way to golfers playing across the track). Keep to this track, which then skirts the golf course. Turn left through a farm gate, down a straight tarmac ‘road’ with the walled boundary of the golf course on your left.
Half way along this track (on your right) are the ruins of the Pre-Reformation Church, St Fillans Chapel and its Kirk Yard.
These ruins date back to the 1300’s and the burial ground is the traditional resting place of the Stewarts of Ardvorlich. Access can be gained via a gate (or steps built into the wall) at the far corner of the site.
Continue along the track and go straight on through the farm gate at the far end, with the wastewater treatment plant on your right. Just into the field, turn right and walk along the top of a small embankment until you come to a small burn. Cross the burn via some stepping-stones and then angle left across the field towards a stile at the base of Dundurn Hill. Climb the stile and bear left, then follow a faint path that slowly angles up to the right.
The route to the top is steep, making one corkscrew turn from base to summit. Follow the path up grassy slopes and rocks. The path becomes even fainter towards the top, on the far side, but grassy ramps lead round to the summit.The exposed rock at the west end of the summit is known as St Fillan’s Chair or Seat and the wonderful panoramic views of the valley below make it obvious why this was once a strategic Iron Age and then Pictish Hill Fort.
Return to the village by retracing your steps to the golf course and then by crossing the road bridge (which is straight on as you exit the golf course) and back to the village, using the main road.
Distance: 3.5 miles (5.5 km) – there and back
Time: 2 hours – there and back
Accent: 350 metres
Start/Finish: St Fillans information point and footbridge
A fairly strenuous walk on good paths, climbing from the Lochside to a rewarding viewpoint on the hills behind St Fillans.
From the footbridge and Information Point in the centre of the village, walk West along the Main Road for about 400 metres to The Four Seasons Hotel. Just beyond the hotel, fork right up a tarmac track that leads past the St Fillans Hydro-Electric Power Station. From here, follow this on for about another 200 metres, gently climbing all the time, until you reach a house on the left called ‘The Sheiling’. Just beyond, take the track that turns sharp right, signposted Wester Glentarken via Glen Tarken. Continue climbing and you will shortly pass over the disused railway line and then to the side of a track gate.
Continue uphill on the track for another 300 metres and follow it round a sharp left bend, ignoring a wooden gate on the right. After a further 350 metres, keep straight on following the sign for Wester Glentarken, ignoring a metal gated track going off to the right. After another 450 metres (bending right and then left), at a junction, turn right and go through a metal deer gate. In a short while, climbing more gently, go through a second metal deer gate. As the ground levels off, keep to the main track that turns sharp left up the hill. (For a slight detour, if you continue forward at this point for about 100 metres, you will find the end of a tunnel, tucked away on the left; this leads all the way to Glen Lednock! The flat area to the right is the ‘spoil heap’ from this construction.) Follow the main track up hill to the Hydro-Electric Power Station Surge Shaft and a bench with a view overlooking Loch Earn.
The Surge Shaft collects and delivers the head of water to drive the turbines below. Most of the water comes by tunnel from Loch Lednock.
Please retrace your steps to the start-point at the centre of St Fillans.
However, as an alternative on your decent, you can take the track on the left, half way down the hill, through the metal gate (or wooden pedestrian gate to the side). This track gently rises for about 200 metres to a picnic bench but then descends all the way back into St Fillans at the top of Station Road. Follow this road straight down to the Main Road, turn right and after a short distance back to the start point.
Distance: 2 miles (3 km)
Time: Allow 1 hour
Grade: Moderate
Colour Code: Orange
View and Print Goats’ Path Scree
A lovely circular walk, climbing about 140 metres onto the slopes behind St Fillans, giving superb views over Loch Earn.
Look out for red squirrels, deer and woodpeckers. Also, Osprey can sometimes be seen searching for food over the waters of the Loch.
This walk starts on roads but gains height via vehicle tracks, then onto an uneven and sometimes narrow slippery path that follows the contour above the village. The path weaves its way across the hillside, over a small section of loose scree and eventually joins and descends via another track to the old Railway Station (now a caravan park) and back to St Fillans.
From the Village Information Point, by the footbridge over the River Earn, walk west along the Main Road for about 400 metres to The Four Seasons Hotel. Just beyond the hotel, fork right up a ‘tarmac’ track that leads past the Hydro-Electric Power Station. Keep going for about 200 metres, climbing all the time, passed ‘The Sheiling’ until you reach a junction with another track on the right, signposted Wester Glentarken via Glen Tarken.
Take this track, locally known as The Peat Road, and continue climbing. In a short while pass over the disused railway line – now The Loch Earn Railway Path. Follow the track as it bends right just after the railway bridge and continue climbing (now in an easterly direction).
At the next bend, which turns sharp left, go straight on, through a gate in the deer fence, and follow the clear path.
This path meanders and traverses the hillside for about ½ mile (800 metres),
then passes through a ‘kissing’ gate, eventually emerging onto a wide ‘forestry’ track overlooking the Station Caravan Park ahead. Take this track down the hill, bending right between the old railway bridge abutments into Station Road.
After only a few metres, turn right along a tarmac path signposted: ‘Play Park and Railway Path West’.
The path runs between two fences and then bends up on to the dismantled track bed, passing a crocodile on your left.
Continue on this path for about 50 metres and then turn left into a smaller path (beside a Pensive Grouse), signposted ‘St Fillans Play Park’.
Take this zig-zag path down towards the play park.
At the play park bear left and take the track out of the field on to Shoemaker Lane and back to the Information Point on the main road.
Distance: 5 kms (3 miles)
Time: 1.5 hours
Grade: Moderate
View and print East Creag Mhor
A circular walk on forestry tracks that climbs to about 200 metres (650 ft) on the slopes behind St Fillans, giving lovely views over the village and along Loch Earn.
Starting at the Village Information Point (by the river footbridge near the Village Store), cross the Main Road and enter Shoemaker’s Lane opposite. At the top of the Lane, go between the gateposts into the playing field area behind the Village.
At the Play Park Information Sign, turn right and follow the path that skirts the Play Park and then zig-zags up the old railway embankment on to the Railway Path.
Here turn right, signposted towards Comrie and Dalchonzie, and follow the path down to Station Road, passing a crocodile on the way.
At the road, turn left and immediately pass between the old railway abutments.
At the top of a short ramp ahead, fork left onto a forestry track angling Westwards up the hillside.
Keep to this track, passing through a deer fence gate as it zig-zags up the hill.
As the track starts levelling off, there is a bench on the left with a view point looking East over the village, the Golf Course and the Glen beyond.
Continue on to find a picnic table and a small cairn, defining the highest point of this walk, with stunning views over Loch Earn to the hills beyond. This is an ideal spot to pause for refreshments and to enjoy the scenery in all directions.
The same track now starts to descend and in about 400 metres reaches another deer fence gate at a ‘T’ junction with the Glentarken Track. Go through the gate and turn left,
zig-zagging all the way down to an old bridge over the dismantled railway track. (The ‘Loch Earn Railway Path’ running under this bridge is in the process of being upgraded to an all-ability route between Comrie, St Fillans and Lochearnhead.)
In about another 50 metres you will meet a junction with another track; turn left and head East downhill,
passing the Hydro-Electric Power Station on your left, to the Main Road at the Four Seasons Hotel, with the Loch opening out before you. Continue heading East along the Main Road, with the Loch on your right, and back to the start at the Information Point.
Distance: 3½ miles (5½ km)
Time: Allow 1½ hours
Grade: Easy
Colour Code: Green
View and Print Glen Goinean Intake
A lovely stroll through quiet countryside, skirting farmland and through light broadleaf woodland. Starting beside the River Earn and then across St Fillans Golf Course with views of the old Dundurn Chapel and Hill Fort site. Look out for Roe & Red Deer, Dippers & Kingfishers by the river and Osprey over the Loch.
A low level walk, starting on even paths and roads, then easy tracks over the golf course and beside farmland, with a slight climb to the hydro intake where a good location for picnics can be found. There are a few farm gates to pass through and a deer fence stile to negotiate.
Start at the Village Information Point by the footbridge, near the Village Store and opposite St. Fillans Lochside Resort & Spa. (The start follows the same route to Dundurn Hill).
Cross the footbridge spanning the River Earn and immediately turn right past the Village War Memorial. Follow the path a short way around the end of Loch Earn to the South Loch Road and there, turn left. Walk along the road for about ½ mile, past the weir on your left and St Fillans Golf Club on your right.
Just before the road bends left (over the old Dundurn Bridge), take the track to the right, over the golf course. Look both ways and take care crossing two fairways. (Please give way to golfers playing across the track.) Having crossed the golf course, fork left.
Keep to this track, which then skirts the golf course and turns right, passing Wester Dundurn farmhouse and outbuildings on your right.
Keep straight forward on the track for about 100 metres (i.e. forking left)
and climb over the deer fence by a four bar high stile, to the right of the locked vehicle gate.
The track turns eastwards, under trees and beside a wall, for about 200 metres, then through a gate out into an open field. Follow the track right, along the edge of the field, weaving its way to the corner and yet another gate. Go through this gate, following the path as it climbs gently through a wooded area with lovely mature beech trees. After a short while a small dam comes into view, set in beautiful surroundings. (Please remember to close gates behind you. Thanks.)
The Allt Ghoinean burn is claimed to be the Gonan or Monan of Sir Walter Scott’s poem, ‘The Lady of the Lake’.
“The stag at eve had drunk his fill, where danced the moon on Monan’s rill.”
Return to the village by retracing your steps.
Distance: 6 miles (10 km)
Time: Allow 3 hours
Grade: Moderate
Colour Code: Yellow
View and Print Easter Glentarken Ruins
A very pleasant walk, gently climbing up through Glentarken Wood to the ruins of Easter Glentarken, with lovely views over Loch Earn and the surrounding hills, returning via the Glentarken Track and the Loch Earn Railway Path.
This walk climbs to a height of 200 metres, at first on a vehicle track and then on narrow, muddy and uneven paths. Keeping at this height, the path faintly weaves its way across open moorland and then descends via another track to the railway path that leads back to St Fillans. Look out for red squirrels, deer and woodpeckers. Osprey can sometimes be seen searching for food over the waters of Loch Earn.
Starting at the Village Information Point by the footbridge (near the Village Store and opposite St. Fillans Lochside Resort & Spa), walk west along the main road to The Four Seasons Hotel. Just beyond the hotel, fork right, up a ‘tarmac’ track that leads past the Hydro Electric Power Station.
Keep on this track past two concrete railway arches, climbing all the time, until you come level with the disused railway line on your right.
Pass through the opening, join the railway path and continue west for about 300 metres.
Take a narrow path (signposted to Glentarken) that forks right off the railway path and angle up the slope through Glentarken Wood.
Continue gently climbing and you will cross a burn by the small wooden Allt An Fhionn Bridge, built in 1996 by the 127 Field Squadron, 78 Engineers Regiment.
Keep to this path and where it meets the forestry track, continue uphill. (The forestry track forking left downhill meets the disused railway path, and this can be used as a short cut back.) Follow the track uphill, which gradually narrows to a single path and levels out.
Eventually go through a deer fence gate that’s almost at the brow of the hill.
The stone ruins of Easter Glentarken can be seen on your left. This is a lovely spot to stop for refreshments and enjoy the views over Loch Earn to Ben Vorlich, Stuc a’ Chroin and beyond.
Continue following the faint path, heading towards a yellow flag and then a cottage in the distance. Pass between the cottage and a ruined building (this old croft is known as Jerusalem) and pick up a track that descends down to a metal bridge that crosses the Glentarken Burn.
This track then rises and bears left & right to join the main Glentarken track. Turn left and follow the track zig-zagging down towards Loch Earn.
At the junction with the railway path, turn left and head back towards St Fillans.
Leave the old railway path by the access on your right (used on the way up) and join the parallel track. Follow this track down, passing the Hydro Electric Power Station again and retracing your steps along the main road to the start.
Lochearnhead – St Fillans – Dalchonzie – OS Landranger, sheet 51 or Explorer, sheet 368
Distance: 10 miles (16 km)
Time: 5 hours
Points of interest along the way – roughly from West to East
We are in the process of trying to develop the disused railway path that links Lochearnhead to St Fillans and then on to Dalchonzie. The route runs the length of Loch Earn, on the slopes just north of the main road (A85), behind St Fillans, then crosses the road (and the River Earn) at Tynreoch and on to the old Dalchonzie Halt. (From here, the ‘Back Road’ is a very pleasant access route through to Comrie.)
The views from the elevated section along Loch Earn are truly beautiful. Among the many benefits for using the old railway lines are that they are traffic free and relatively level; thus making them ideal for children and the disabled.
See also the Loch Earn Railway Path Facebook page –
Opening up this link will also have enormous benefits for consolidating access to the slopes and countryside, either side of the route. It will offer the opportunity to connect with the National Cycle Network and create a viable East/West long distance route, potentially part of a Scotland – Coast to Coast (SC2C Oban to Dundee) and Pilgrim Way (Iona to St Andrews, including the Three Saints Way). It will also make possible, a local ‘Circle’ around Loch Earn.
The first phase* has been to rebuild a bridge over the Glentarken Burn in 2013, which was the only major obstacle that prevented walking from Lochearnhead to St Fillans. The path now needs improving to meet the needs of a wider range of users.
Phase 2* was completed in 2016 and runs from Station Road at the east end of St Fillans to Tynreoch. View before and after photos below.
Phase 3* was completed in August 2017 and runs west from Station Road behind the village and involved opening up the old tunnel.
CLICK HERE to view the Loch Earn Railway Path Project Plans.
Page 1 shows phases 4, 5 and 6 (proposed)
Page 2 shows phases 1, 2 and 3 (completed)
We would sincerely like to thank all the hard work, help, support and funding from: Drummond Estates, LLTTNPA, Sustrans, SNH, Gannochy Trust, LEADER, Paths for All, PKC, PKCT, AB Gairns, CR Contracting North Ltd & TP&E; this has enabled a construction of such high standard. We would also like to thank Lady Willoughby de Eresby, who very kindly said a few words and officially opened the phase 2 section.
Distance: 2 miles (3 km)
Time: Allow 45 minutes
Grade: Easy
Colour Code: Red
View and Print Circle the Village
A pleasant stroll around St Fillans, beside the River Earn and then back along behind the village, emerging to overlook Loch Earn and the hills beyond. Look out for Red Squirrels, Osprey, Red & Roe Deer, Kingfishers and even Beaver
A low level walk, starting on even paths and roads, then through light woodland, using a rocky, narrow path with gates; returning along the road pavement beside the Loch. Updated February 2021.
Start at the Village Information Point by the footbridge, near the Village Store and opposite St. Fillans Lochside Resort & Spa.
Cross the footbridge spanning the River Earn and immediately turn right past the Village War Memorial. Follow the path a short way around the end of Loch Earn to the South Loch Road and there, turn left.
Walk along the road for about ½ mile, past the weir on your left and then St Fillans Golf Club on your right, eventually bearing left to the main road via the old Dundurn Bridge.
At the main Road, turn left towards the village (taking care crossing the road), then pass Little Port Farm on your right and the National Park sign on your left.
Just beyond the farm, turn right up Station Road and after about 100 metres, keep right towards the Station Caravan Park.
Just before the dismantled railway bridge, turn left along a tarmac path signposted: ‘Play Park and Railway Path West’.
This path runs between two fences and then bends up onto the dismantled track bed, passing a crocodile on your left.
Continue on this path for about 50 metres and then turn left into a smaller path (beside a Pensive Grouse), signposted ‘St Fillans Play Park’.
Take this zig-zag path down towards the play park.
A few metres before entering the Play Park take a faint narrow path that forks off to the right. (A)
This passes the top of the Play Park slide and runs along the bottom of the old railway embankment (on your right) and the back of some gardens (on your left). After a few hundred metres this emerges into the car park of the Village (Sandison) Hall.
Go through the car park and down the entrance ramp. Here, turn immediately right behind the Achray House Hotel and follow the track behind more houses (C).
This track emerges on to the main road beside the Four Seasons Hotel, with wonderful views looking up the length of Loch Earn. There are often ducks and geese on the foreshore, at this point.
Turn left along the main road, returning to the start at the Information Point.
Please zoom in to view the map.
You may shorten your walk by going through the play park (A) and then through the gateposts on to Earn View and then Shoemaker’s Lane and back to the Information Point, or by going down the lane by the side of the Achray House Hotel at point (B) and turning left on to the main road.
The 6-day Clan Ring offers some challenging walking. It is described in detail at –
and passes through St Fillans twice. There is a zoomable map on each Day’s page. St Fillans is the overnight stop for Days 2/3 and Days 5/6.
Day 1: Crieff, via Auchingarrich to Comrie.
Day 2: Comrie, via Loch Boltachan to St Fillans.
Day 3: St Fillans, via disused railways to Balquidder.
Day 4: Balquidder via Kirkton Glen to Killin.
Day 5: Killin, via Loch Breaclaich to St Fillans
Day 6: St Fillans, via Dalchonzie & Comrie Croft to Crieff
Follow the link for additional walks further afield provided by Walk Highlands.