Distance: 3 miles.
Time: 1.5 – 2 hours.
Ascent: 145m.
Let’s put some colour on our cheeks with an easy walk, taking in a pub that brews its own beer and a distillery. Ok, there’s also a ruined castle, some woodland, an impressive waterfall, and fantastic views.
Start outside the Moulin Inn. From the main street in Pitlochry that’s about 1 mile up West Moulin Road (the A924 to Blairgowrie). The Inn first opened in 1695, the brewery which is round the back, in 1995. Their three draught ales are available in the bar, but best kept for when we get back!
Cross the road into Moulin Square, do not walk straight ahead up Manse Road as it is a dead end, but turn right past the post box down the side of the church graveyard and you will come to Moulin Village Hall. There is a small car park here if your ‘driver’ needs it.
On the other side of the hall is a path marked for the Black Castle, there are information boards here with some history of the castle which you will see ahead, in the middle of a field. There may be sheep, so careful with dogs.
Walk past the castle to the far left of the field and go through the gate which is straight ahead (lilac coloured disc), cross a small field into a quiet cul-de-sac and follow the path up the left side of the first house. This will bring you onto a tarred road, turn left (signposted Edradour and Black Spout) and take the path between the two fences, again signposted.
Follow this path around the outside of the field, through a gate and into woodland, again following the sign for Black Spout.
After a few hundred yards you will come to a dirt track farm road, there are various signs here, but head straight across, again following Black Spout. After a short distance there is a marker post indicating either left or right (the trail here is a loop). Take the right hand path and it will emerge at Black Spout Waterfall and an excellent viewing platform giving superb views of the 190feet (60m) Black Spout Waterfall and gorge below. It can be quite spectacular after heavy rain.
On leaving the platform continue in the anticlockwise direction as before and follow the path as it rises. Before it completes the loop you will see another path signposted for Edradour Distillery, follow that for about a half mile and you will emerge directly across from it.
Edradour is Scotland’s smallest traditional distillery. It offers tours, a shop and a Tasting Bar. It is open 10am – 5pm, however, please note – the distillery is closed on Sundays and will close for the winter on 22nd October. On leaving the distillery turn right and follow the single track road uphill until it joins the A924 Blairgowrie road. Head straight on, mindful of traffic and into Kinnaird, where on the wall outside the first cottage on the right you will see a plaque commemoration a stay by Robert Louis Stevenson in 1881.
Keep going, it’s all downhill now with a fabulous view of Ben Vrackie on the right and all Pitlochry on the left. After three quarters of a mile you are back at the Moulin Inn and time for those beers.