The Birks of Aberfeldy

I have always had this strange fascination with water. Growing up on the River Tay, I’ve always been used to the views and sunsets over the river. Water, whether it be large lochs, small burns, fast rivers or slow streams, it really doesn’t matter. I love it all: the sounds, the views, the wildlife. Any time I’m upset, stressed or angry, I have this…urge. I just NEED to be by the water.

That’s why when a friend told me all about the Birks of Aberfeldy, I just HAD to make a visit while I was visiting on a romantic weekend away in February (yes it was Valentines Day!). Just on the outskirts of Aberfeldy in Perthshire, situated on a dodgy little corner of the road that would be easy to miss (we drove right past it initially), these natural waterfalls are a hidden gem.

It’s a pleasant short walking trail leading steep up one side of the waterfalls (you can choose which side to start with) and steep down the other. FYI: in case you were interested, we began on the right hand side of the falls. No particular reason why.

On the walk, you’ll pass over various small bridges and walkways, allowing sneaky peaks through the trees, over the falls. The views understandably just keep getting better on the way up. I was actually really surprised at how high the falls really were. Not gonna lie, I wasn’t really at my peak fitness at that time – starting an office job that year had wrecked my fitness completely – so I was panting a fair bit! It’s all worth it though. There is a freedom-feeling and sense of achievement reaching the top, and checking out the view up high amongst the trees.

At the bottom of the falls there is a statue of the famous Scottish poet, Robert Burns. He sits here enjoying the views, as the falls were named after a song he wrote.

When we were on our way down, we actually got very excited over a piece of paper we found, trapped between two rocks. It had very obviously been purposefully left there. Our thoughts immediately turned to the stories we’ve heard of folks leaving items all around Scotland – and when you find one of these, you are supposed to take the item left, and leave something of your own. We opened the piece of paper to find a pencil drawing of a girl and boy standing on a bridge…just as we were…with a riddle on it. Spooky….

But, turns out there was a family doing a treasure hunt around the falls, and we just totally opened one of their clues. Oops.

If you’re passing by Aberfeldy, the Birks are definitely worth the visit. The photos I took definitely do not do it justice! Has anyone been here before? Give me a shout! Share with anyone you know heading up that way too!

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