Do you love walking through the woods in autumn? It can be an exhilarating experience in almost any weather, but especially so on a cold, clear morning, when showers of golden leaves cascade silently on to the forest floor and beams of sunlight play between the trees.
The National Trust for Scotland is responsible for managing two spectacular woodlands in Perthshire: the Hermitage, near Dunkeld, and Killiecrankie, north of Pitlochry.
At the Hermitage, mature stands of beech and birch line the banks of the River Braan where it tumbles and foams over the Black Linn falls.
Even on a dull day, their rich colours of yellow and copper are incandescent against the deep green of the Douglas firs.
In the forest, red squirrels are collecting and storing food supplies with an almost manic energy, and salmon are leaping up the falls as they return to their breeding grounds.
Ben Notley, the trust’s property manager for north Perthshire, said: “The beeches are turning very fast now, and the unseasonably warm weather is producing some beautiful fungi.
“The waterfall is spectacular, especially after heavy rain.”
Overlooking the falls is a charming folly known as Ossian’s Hall. Built in the 18th century, it was designed as a romantic hideaway to delight the guests of the Duke of Atholl; its visitors have included Queen Victoria, poet William Wordsworth and artist J.M.W. Turner.
Farther north, in the Pass of Killiecrankie, the River Garry flows through a steep-sided gorge where woodlands of beech, birch, oak and hazel are being transformed into a vivid tapestry of amber and gold.
Spanning the river is a footbridge, giving breathtaking views that will have you reaching instinctively for your camera.
Killiecrankie’s ancient woodlands have a dark but alluring history. They were the setting for a desperate battle in the Jacobite uprising of 1689, when the Highlanders, led by John Graham of Claverhouse, were victorious.
The government forces found their path of retreat blocked by the river, and a point called Soldier’s Leap still recalls the spot where a fleeing infantryman leapt over the gorge in his bid to escape.
Summer’s haze is truly gone, but in its place are the pleasures of walking through flame-tinted woodland, kicking up the fallen leaves and inhaling the frosty air. Enjoy.
THE HERMITAGE
Where: Two miles west of Dunkeld. Open daily, all year round.
Admission: Free, but there is a pay-and-display car park.
KILLIECRANKIE
Where: Three miles north of Pitlochry. Open daily, all year round.
Admission: Free, but there is a pay-and-display car park.
Contact: For more information on all National Trust for Scotland properties, visit www.nts.org.uk