May is National Walking Month, so in this article we’ve made it easy to find the perfect one near you, whether you’re on holiday or a resident looking for a day out. Because sometimes we all need a reminder of what’s on our doorstep!

Read on for our selection of 2 family-friendly walks in 4 areas across the region, so you can spend less time planning and more time enjoying the fresh air and stunning scenery.

Highland Perthshire

The Birks, Aberfeldy

No visit to Aberfeldy would be complete without a walk round this scenic beauty spot, made famous by Robert Burns. Deep green ferns fringe much of the paths, and there’s some rather exciting bridges and good views of the water, with some still, clear pools and some amazing waterfalls. This is a fairly straightforward circular walk, and although you’re going uphill for the first half, it has steps on one side and a quite gentle slope on the other, so you can choose which one to go up or down. A visit to Aberfeldy itself for a coffee or lunch afterwards is recommended.

River Tilt, Blair Atholl

For this fairly easy walk you start off by parking at the Bridge of Tilt car park, then head down towards the river, which to begin with you look down on over a steep gorge. A curved grotto early on makes for a particularly spectacular viewpoint from which to watch the colourful water. (Last time we went on this walk one of the wooden walkways was closed on the grotto side, but it was possible to divert thought the caravan park.) The halfway point is basically Blair Atholl village itself, so a wander around and perhaps some lunch or a coffee makes a good destination. Then walk back along the river up the other side, and so back to the car park.

Strathmore

Darroch Wood, Blairgowrie

We’ve only done this walk once so far and got a bit lost… but we wanted to include it because Darroch Wood is in fact a bluebell wood, so May is the perfect time to go! We started on the path opposite the Dalmore Inn, which is signposted ‘Bluebell Woods’. This takes you into a small woodland area called Druidsmere Wood, then on to White Loch and then Fingask Loch and up the hill to Darroch Wood, with the path looping right round. As well as bluebells, look out for signs of ancient coppicing. You can now go back the way you came, or continue along the Ardblair trail.

Cargill’s Leap, Blairgowrie

Cargill’s Leap on the River Ericht, Blairgowrie, is part of the Cateran Trail and so makes an excellent walking destination. You can start from Blairgowrie itself, parking in the town and walking up by the side of the river. Cargill’s leap is so named as it’s the scene of a daring escape by Donald Cargill from chasing government troops. There’s a viewing platform here, perfect for stopping and marvelling at the incredible distance he jumped. This is a fun, easy and not too long walk, with the option to explore Blairgowrie afterwards.

Strathearn

Glen Turret, Crieff

This walk starts at the car park just below the dam, from where it’s a short trot up to the top, with its spectacular view past the tower over the reservoir. Once you’ve enjoyed the scenery for a moment, you can start making your way along the right side of the loch. The path is mostly easy and reasonably dry, but it can be gravelly with some quite big stones, so stout boots are a good idea. Although a somewhat bare landscape in some ways, we’ve always seen lots of wildlife here—make sure you keep an eye out for ospreys! This is quite a long walk if you choose to do the whole thing, but you can easily choose to just do some and turn back at what feels like a good halfway point for you.

Deil’s Cauldron, Comrie

A waterfall walk that starts at the small car park signposted Glen Lednock, where a narrow wooded track will take you slowly towards the river and then the first waterfall, known as the Wee Cauldron. A viewing platform with a bench provides the perfect location for enjoying this. There are a series of smaller waterfalls just above, which form a pretty cascade of small pools. A wooden bridge marks the start of a series of steps and walkways, leading to a viewing platform over the spectacular Deil’s Cauldron waterfall. When you finally tear yourself away, you can either climb the long wooden staircase to the road above, or go back the way you came.

Perth City and Kinross

Kinnoull Hill, Perth

This pleasant moderate walk located just outside Perth is mainly famous for its panoramic views. Starting off by skirting round some fields, it soon opens out to a wide path, which slopes gently upwards through the woodland. Make sure to look out for the sculptures on the way—see how many can you spot. But of course the main highlight is right at the top, where a folly sits on the very edge of the hill and it’s possible to gaze down on the outskirts of Perth, with the silvery River Tay shining below.

Loch Leven, Kinross

The Loch Leven Heritage Trail starts off in Kirkgate Park with a wide green where several picnic benches are dotted about, and also has a children’s play-park and lots of open space. There’s a stretch of sandy shoreline too, and opportunities for bird spotting and visiting historical sites. It’s possible to walk all the way round the loch as a circular route, but this is a long way (13 miles!), so you can just do a bit of it if you prefer. It’s known for being a very level, accessible path that’s also suitable for wheelchair users.