04 The Birks of Aberfeldy

The Birks of Aberfeldy is a 2.5 mile [4 km] circular walk up the Moness Glen on the outskirts of Aberfeldy. The Falls of Moness tumble through the gorge and provide a dramatic centrepiece, especially impressive after heavy rainfall.

Robert Burns toured the area in 1787 with his friend William Nicol and was so inspired by the wild beauty of the glen that he wrote the poem, “The Birks o’ Aberfeldie” *. [‘Birks’ is a Scots word for birch trees.]

Birches still cloak the steep slopes of the Moness gorge, along with oak, ash, elm and willow. Remnants of the ancient Caledonian Forest can be found in steep, inaccessible parts and it is likely that, in places, there has been continuous woodland cover for around 5000 years. More recent tree planting took place in the area in the late 1780s.

In 1968 the Lower and Upper Birks, together with the Moness burn, was gifted to the community by Millicent Frances Haggart. The woodland was entrusted to the “Burgh of Aberfeldy and successors” to be maintained as “a public park to be used as a pleasure ground or place of public resort or recreation”.

A narrow path is overhung by mature trees and rises to a height of 150 metres at a bridge directly above the Falls of Moness. From here there are splendid views of the roaring white water beneath and, in winter, fine views over the top of the woodland to the valley of Strathtay.

This circular walk is accessible from the centre of Aberfeldy or from the Birks Car Park off the A826. There are seats and viewpoints along the way. There is also a short tree trail identifying a large number of species.

Designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest for its botanical plant life, The Birks is one of the sites included in the Perthshire Big Tree Country Heritage and Access project, which celebrates the Perthshire’s spectacular natural heritage.

Allow 1.5 to 2 hours to complete the walk, which includes some steep climbs on the path up slopes and up and down wooden stairways. The quality of the path is good, but you’ll still require good outdoor shoes. In places it skirts the edge of the very steep gorge, so children and dogs should be kept under control.

The path begins just beyond the upper section of the Birks car park. If you are taking the clockwise walk which provides better views of the gorge, the burn and the falls, bear left to cross the large bridge over the Moness burn shortly after the car park.

After about half a mile, you’ll find Robert Burns seated on a wooden bench, notepad in hand. [The bronzed fibreglass statue was badly damaged by vandals in 2021 and 2022 but has recently been repaired and restored to his seat.]

Further on, you’ll come across a plaque recording the spot where Burns is reputed to have written his poem. This spot is sometimes referred to as Burns’ Cave.

The walk then gets a bit more arduous, with the first of the smaller hanging waterfalls. There are a series of wooden steps taking you up the side of the gorge. The gorge narrows as you climb, before opening up with a view of the Upper Falls of Moness. These falls are 380 feet (115m) in height and descend in 3 tiers.