Caisteal Dubh (Castle Dow)

7 September 2019

 

Participants: Neil and Ben

Where: Caisteal Dubh (Castle Dow), 340m/1,115', P 31m, Tump, OS 52, NN 929513

 

I was glad to see the back of August with it's heat, humidity and rain although September started very wet also. However, today was a brilliant early autumn day, just right for a trip to highland Perthshire. Castle Dow is a hill that looks from the map that it is in the midst of dense forestry. It's not, the walk up is through nice deciduous trees and the top is completely clear and a magnificent viewpoint. There is a small FC car park at the start of the track at Balnaguard.and the walk to the summit is about 2 miles in length. I was still experiencing pain in my back and thigh so I took it at a gentle pace. Ben on the track looking back......

 

 

The walk is waymarked so it is easy to find the rough path between the track and the summit, which is crowned by a large number of cairns. Some apparently date from the 19th century and no one seems to know why they are there. Most of the stones will have come from the remains of the Pictish fort and hut circles that adorned the summit area yonks ago- only traces remain. It was such a clear day that I stopped for a while; here are some photos.

 

Approaching the cairns with Ben Vrackie in the background.....

 

Ben at the main cairn and highest point.....

 

The cairns with Faragon Hill in the background.....

 

 

The view to Schiehallion and Faragon Hill.....

 

 

Looking over the Tay valley to Ben Vrackie.....

 

 

Looking south along the valley......

 

 

An excellent start to autumn!