An Autumn Walk at Den o’ Alyth
We love an autumn woodland walk in Perthshire, it’s truly a magical time of year and this is one of the best ways to experience it. We’re also somewhat spoiled for choice, as there’s plenty of options available, but one of our absolute favourites is Den o’ Alyth.
Just a brief drive outside the lovely little small town of Alyth, this walk has a convenient car park and well-kept path, though it can be muddy in places, especially if the weather has been wet. After a short slope downwards, past a children’s play park and grassy area, the path takes you along the Alyth Burn, the same one that also runs through the town itself.
I always feel like that those last few steps into the ‘Den’ are like entering another world. Because of the steep banks on either side, not a lot of sunlight penetrates, making it dark, cool and quiet. Even the burn has a subdued burble rather than a rushing tumble. Tendrils of ivy and ferns always droop from the gorge, just lightly brushing the water in places, and copper and yellow leaves drift down from the trees above.
The first ‘landmark’ of the walk is a wooden bridge, which is a kind of cross roads—you can continue along the same way, go over the bridge and walk on the other side, or go upwards. We usually choose to go straight on, continuing along the burn side, but it really doesn’t matter too much, as there’s another bridge later on, and one at the end, so you can go in a kind of giant figure of eight. It’s also great to have the option of doing it slightly differently on your next visit. (For this article we’ll assume you continue without crossing the bridge.)
You’ll find a bench just here as well, which makes a perfect spot to just sit, take a few deep breaths and let the stresses of life float away downstream. Try to use your senses and smell the damp earth, listen for the rustling of the trees above, scrunch up a dry leaf and watch the water go by. If there’s one word that describes Den o’ Alyth for me it’s probably ‘peaceful’.
Once you move on, the path narrows and rises for a little way, and the feeling of being in another world intensifies, as the gorge becomes quite dar and deep just here. It doesn’t feel forbidding though — more like a place to hide away from the rest of the world. As you enter the shade, another well-placed bench allows you to take it all in.
A little further along, you’ll come to the other wooden bridge, and this one we do usually cross. The landscape here alters quite a bit and you’ll find you’re no longer walking on woodland mulch and leaves but on a gravel path through mixed greenery. The path winds gently up hill until you’re looking down at the river. The landscape of the path on the other side is clearer woodland and looks equally inviting — something to look forward to exploring on the way back.
Once the path starts sloping back down again it’s not long before you’ll come to the final bridge — a stone one this time. This marks the end of the walk, although across the single track road is a sign to the ‘Upper Den’ if you wanted to do that. The path back from across the bridge is closer to the water again, and whenever we’ve been the reflections of the trees have been spectacular, glowing gold, red, green and bronze.
This is such a lovely walk, and it’s suitable for most abilities, being fairly flat and not too long, although it’s also very easy to shorten if needed. It also in our experience tends to be less busy than the likes of the Hermitage, the main people you meet being local people walking their dogs. So why not explore this hidden gem in October?
