Schiehallion from Braes of Foss
Perthshire
Schiehallion stands alone at the heart of Highland Perthshire, and its place in science is as famous as its shape: in 1774 Astronomer Royal Maskelyne used the deflection of a pendulum by the mountain's mass to make the first measurement of the mass of the Earth, and Charles Hutton invented contour lines while calculating its volume. This is open hill grazed by sheep with ground-nesting birds in season, so a fit dog spends much of the climb on the lead. A memorial at the Braes of Foss car park marks it. The route starts through native oak planting and gates, passes old tumbledown sheepfolds, then climbs the east ridge on a path rebuilt by the John Muir Trust, which bought this side of the hill in 1999 and repaired the old eroded line. Stone steps wind up onto the broad ridge with views across Loch Tummel to Beinn a' Ghlo. Higher up, quartzite boulders litter the crest, and the final stretch to the pointed summit is pathless and awkward, with a view west across Rannoch Moor to Glencoe and down to Loch Rannoch. It is 10km there and back with 731 metres of climbing.
This dog friendly Munro is a big day for a fit dog. The lower path is excellent, but the boulder field near the top is hard on paws and legs, so take it slowly. It is open hill where sheep and ground-nesting birds may be met, so keep your dog on a lead in spring and summer. Carry water, as there is little on the ridge.
At a Glance
- Distance
- 10.0 km (6.2 miles)
- Difficulty
- Challenging
- Duration
- 5 hr 30 min
- Walk Type
- Peak, Moorland, Historic
- Route Type
- Out and Back
- Off Lead Potential
- Low
- Livestock Risk
- Moderate
- Facilities
- Car park only (pay); no toilets or cafe at the start. Kinloch Rannoch is the nearest village.
- Parking
- Braes of Foss car park on the Schiehallion road, pay to park; overspill car park 0.5km east.
Dog Friendly Stays Nearby
Make a weekend of it. These are the closest dog friendly places to stay to Schiehallion from Braes of Foss, each one checked for its dog policy before we listed it.
The Old Police Cottage - Lintrathen
Sleeps 6 · 3 dogs · Enclosed garden
from £675 / 7 nights
Mountain View - Kinlochleven
Sleeps 6 · 3 dogs · Enclosed garden
from £1,294 / 7 nights
Booking links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you book through them, at no extra cost to you. Prices are a guide only and change with dates and availability.
All dog friendly stays in PerthshireFrequently Asked Questions
Is Schiehallion from Braes of Foss dog friendly?
Yes, for fit, experienced hill dogs, and it scores 7 out of 10 for dog friendliness. The rebuilt John Muir Trust path makes the lower half straightforward, and there are no deer stalking restrictions on this side of the hill. The score reflects the awkward boulder field near the summit, which is tough on paws, and the open hill where a lead is needed for much of the year.
Can dogs be off lead at Schiehallion from Braes of Foss?
Only with care. This is open hill where sheep and ground-nesting birds may be met, so keep your dog on a lead in spring and early summer and whenever you see livestock. On the upper ridge, a lead can actually be a hazard among the boulders, so keep a steady dog close and let it pick its own line slowly. Stay on the built path rather than cutting corners.
What should I know before visiting Schiehallion from Braes of Foss with my dog?
Park at the Braes of Foss car park, which has a charge and an overspill car park half a kilometre east; there are no toilets. Allow four to six hours. The final section to the summit crosses awkward quartzite boulders with no path, which is slow going for dogs and people, and the ridge is exposed. Carry plenty of water, and check the forecast, as the summit is confusing in mist.
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Braes of Foss Car Park, Schiehallion Road, Kinloch Rannoch, Pitlochry PH16 5NN
56.6758, -4.0360
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