Trails and Ales, Trail Running Dunkeld

02/09/2026

This Thursday’s Trail and Ale:

Craigvinean River Loop — We will meet at the MUGA and run out to the Hermitage. From there, we will run north along the forestry roads, eventually dropping down a steep path to the start of the Dalguise Road. Then we will head under Jubilee Bridge and run back along the riverside path to the PA for a pint.

Meeting point: Dunkeld and Birnam Sports and Leisure Hub (aka the MUGA).
Time: 6:20 pm for a 6:30 pm start.
Distance: 8.6km
Elevation: 120m
Post-run pint: Perth Arms (PA)

See you there!

Megan and Niall

TrailsandAles planned an outdoor adventure with komoot! Distance: 8.69 km | Duration: 01:04 h

26/08/2026

This Thursday's Trail and Ale:

Birnam Glen to the Hermitage – A bit more of a chilled one this week. The plan is to meet at the Beatrix Potter Garden in Birnam, run up Birnam Glen and head over the bridge into Ladywell. From there we cut across to Rumbling Bridge and head back through the Hermitage to the village. As always, a chill conversational pace and no-drop.

Meeting point: Beatrix Potter Garden, Birnam
Time: 6:20pm for a 6:30pm start
Distance: 9km
Elevation: 170m
Post-run pint: Perth Arms

See you there!
Niall and Megan

TrailsandAles planned an outdoor adventure with komoot! Distance: 9.08 km | Duration: 01:08 h

20/08/2026

This Thursday’s Trail and Ale:

The Rocking Stone - we will run out along the Tay to Dunkeld House and climb our way up to the Rocking Stone on top of Criag Y Barns. There is then some great single track decent back to Cally Car Park and the village. It’s a little more chilly at the moment so lets head to the PA for a drink.

As always, it’ll be a chilled, conversational pace with no one left behind.

Meeting point: The Square, Dunkeld.
Time: 6:20 pm for a 6:30 pm start.
Distance: 9.2km
Elevation: 290m
Post-run pint: PA

See you there!
Megan and Niall

12/08/2026

To mark three months in, we are going back our very first run, Lady Well loop.

Meeting point: Dunkeld and Birnam Sports and Leisure Hub (aka the MUGA).
Time: 6:20pm for 6:30pm start.
Distance: 7.5km
Elevation: 165m
Post run pint: Taybank

If the weather holds there could also be an option for a quick dook at the old oak so bring a towel or swimmies if you fancy it.

As always, a chill conversational pace and time to regroup at junctions.

See you there, Meg and Niall

TrailsandAles planned an outdoor adventure with komoot! Distance: 7.71 km | Duration: 00:57 h

05/08/2026

This Thursday's Trail and Ale:

Birnam Hill – we reckon it's been just long enough since the last one, so it's time to head back up Birnam Hill. A local classic known for cracking views and burning calves. This is always a good challenge, so feel free to take it slow and steady. We'll do something more chilled next week...

The plan is to meet at the Beatrix Potter Garden in Birnam and run along the bottom of the hill first, towards Bankfoot. We will then snake round the back and run up its smoother southern side right to the top. From there, it's a fairly steep descent down the northern side and back to the village for a well-earned b**r. As always, a chill conversational pace and no-drop.

Meeting point: Beatrix Potter Garden, Birnam
Time: 6:20pm for a 6:30pm start
Distance: 6.7km
Elevation: 350m
Post-run pint: Taybank

See you there!

Niall and Megan

29/07/2026

This Thursday's Trail & Ale

Crieff Hill - We'll meet at The Square and head out along the Tay to Dunkeld House. From there, it's a climb up to Polney Loch, before continuing onwards and upwards to Crieff Hill. From the summit, there's some great singletrack descent, and we'll make our way back to the village via the golf course.

As always, a chill conversational pace and no drop.

Meeting point: The Square, Dunkeld
Time: 6:20pm for a 6:30pm start
Distance: 8.6km
Elevation: 211m
Post-run pint: PA

See you there!

Megan and Niall

TrailsandAles planned an outdoor adventure with komoot! Distance: 8.66 km | Duration: 01:07 h

22/07/2026

This Thursday's Trail and Ale

Hermitage Loop - We will run out to the Hermitage along the Bran and enjoy the scenic trail up past Ossian's Hall to the Pine Cone (optional techy climb if you are so inclined). From there we can rip down a long flowing descent back down to Inver and over to the Taybank for a well-earned pint. As always, a chill conversational pace and no drop.

Meeting point: Dunkeld and Birnam Sports and Leisure Hub (aka the MUGA).

Time: 6:20pm for 6:30pm start.
Distance: 8km
Elevation: 211m
Post run pint: Taybank

See you there!

Megan and Niall

TrailsandAles planned an outdoor adventure with komoot! Distance: 7.89 km | Duration: 00:59 h

15/07/2026

This Thursday: a Trail, a Dook and an Ale.

Craig Y Barns Loop — We’ll meet in the Square this week and head up to Craig Y Barns via Cally Car Park. We’ll enjoy a lovely view over the valley from the lookout before dropping down to the River Tay via some fun singletrack. Once we reach the river, there’s a brilliant spot for a refreshing dip if anyone fancies it. Last week, most people just jumped in wearing their running gear (we were dry by the time we got to the pub), but feel free to bring a running pack with swim gear and a towel if you prefer. If you don’t fancy a swim, no worries - you can chill/chat for a bit or head back along the riverside path to the Taybank, where we’ll meet for a pint. As always, it’ll be a chilled, conversational pace with no one left behind.

Meeting point: The Square, Dunkeld.
Time: 6:20 pm for a 6:30 pm start.
Distance: 8.9km
Elevation: 210m
Post-run pint: Taybank

See you there!

Megan and Niall

TrailsandAles planned an outdoor adventure with komoot! Distance: 8.97 km | Duration: 01:16 h

08/07/2026

This Thursday: a Trail, a Dook and an Ale.

It’s going to be a scorcher again this week so the plan is to enjoy an optional swim in the river at the end of the run before heading over for a pint at the Taybank. BYO swim stuff!

Ladywell to Hermitage Loop — We will meet at the MUGA, run over to Birnam and up Birnam Glen. The route then goes up through Ladywell before dropping down to Rumbling Bridge. From there it’s a cruise down the Braan past the Hermitage and back to the MUGA for a refreshing dip. As always, a chilled conversational pace and no drop (we will regroup at junctions).

We can swim at the confluence of the Braan and the Tay, so swim kit can be stashed at the MUGA before the run and picked up at the end. If you don’t fancy a swim, no worries; head over to the Taybank, grab some seats and we will meet you there.

Meeting point: Dunkeld and Birnam Sports and Leisure Hub (aka the MUGA).
Time: 6:20 pm for a 6:30 pm start.
Distance: 9.8km
Elevation: 170m
Post-run pint: Taybank

See you there!

Megan and Niall

01/07/2026

This Thursday’s Trail and Ale:

Newtyle Hill — we’re getting a bit more elevation in this week and finally ticking off Newtyle Hill. There are a couple of steep climbs but it’s a good chance to challenge yourself and it will (hopefully) be worth it for a cracking descent.

We will meet in the Square, a warm up beforehand might not be a bad idea as we start climbing right off the bat. We will head up to the golf course and follow the path across to the junction with the Loch of the Lowes Path. We then turn right and the climb up to Newtyle starts. We will regroup at the mast then hike up the steep double track round the back to the top of the mountain bike trails. From the top, it’s a brilliant descent (with one small climb) back to the village via the Craig Wood Path.

The weather is looking great so a cold one at the Taybank will no doubt be the order of the day.

As always, a chill pace and no drop. Feel free to walk some of the steeper sections of this run - we know we will be.

Meeting point: The Square, Dunkeld
Time: 6:20 pm for a 6:30 pm start.
Distance: 7.8km
Elevation: 270m
Post-run pint: Taybank

See you there!

Megan and Niall