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Linn Of Tummel
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Enjoy a beautiful circular woodland walk alongside the contrasting rivers of the slow flowing gentle Garry and the fast-flowing Tummel, rushing over rapids.
Admire the early example (1910) of a fish pass, built to bypass the previously larger Falls of Tummel.
Extend your walk by linking into the Pitlochry walks network.
Linn of Tummel through the seasons
Spring
Beneath the oak trees where the woodland is fairly open a beautiful display of spring flowers emerges, with dog’s mercury, wood anemone and lesser celandine carpeting the woodland floor. The delicate white flowers of blackthorn burst into flower early in the spring, followed later by the more robust flowers of both wild and bird cherry.
Many of the migrant birds begin to arrive back in the spring, wood warblers, willow warblers and redstarts are some of those that return here. Spring is the only time when the solitary mole makes contact with another of its own kind, to mate. Molehills and fortresses (extra-large molehills) are easily spotted in the field, where they are numerous.
On the river goosanders may be spotted in courtship displays, tree nest boxes are provided for them along the riverbanks. In the still pools at the edge of the river Tummel tadpoles can be found grazing away on the algae coated rocks.
Summer
The field edges turn into stunning wildflower meadows, with species such as meadow cranes-bill, yarrow, field scabious, knapweed, and ox-eye daisy growing amongst a range of grasses. With all the nectar on offer, insects are also abundant. In the sunny open rides between the trees on warm days butterflies can be frequent with Scotch Argus, orange tips, and several of the fritillaries commonly seen.
Birds are busy hunting for food for their fledglings, a bright flash of colour above the river marks a kingfisher, diving for fish. High overhead buzzards circle eyeing up small mammals on the ground before plunging down and catching their prey in their vice like talons. Swallows swoop low over the fields snatching insects in mid-air and in the woods, the summer migrant flycatchers dart out from branches to take insects as they fly past.
Autumn
Perthshire’s ‘Big Tree Country’ is famed for its autumn colours; a walk around the Linn of Tummel takes you through the heart of such countryside. Beech, larch, birch, rowan and oak are just some of the trees that contribute so well to the autumn gold. A walk onto the Garry Bridge lets you look down on to the tree tops!, an unusual experience at any time of year, but looking through the autumn colours to the fallen leaves swirling in the River Garry far below is something never to be forgotten.
From the banks of the River Tummel on a still day listen out for the distance roar of red deer on the hills opposite, or skeins of geese overhead.
Winter
A quite peaceful time at the Linn of Tummel, when you might have the place to almost to yourself, just being accompanied by a some woodland birds or perhaps a few goldeneye and mallard on Loch Faskally.
A hard frost can transform the not only the woodland and grassland, but the single banks along side the slow flowing River Garry can become huge sheets of ice.
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