Kirkmichael is surrounded with beautiful scenery sitting peacefully in the Strathardle glen.
In walking terms Kirkmichael is best known as the intersection on the Cateran Trail between Bridge of Cally and Spittal of Glenshee or the Cateran Mini trail, which cuts out the Spittal of Glenshee and runs between Kirkmichael and Cray.
But what many that pass through don’t realise is that Kirkmichael has an additional four loop trails all starting and finishing in the village.
Download the Kirkmichael Walks leaflet
As you’ll see from the map route (which is also displayed just outside the school at the other side of the bridge in the village) that the routes range from a gentle 0.5 mile stroll along the side of the river Ardle up to the 9 miles Kindrogan Loop.
If those are too extreme then there’s the village loop at 1.2 miles and the stunning Pitcarmick loop at 3.5 miles. Walking the Pitcarmick loop you’ll get to see some bronze aged hut circles and stories of how human habitation of the glen has changed over the centuries.
What is not mentioned on the map is a very gentle stroll around The Bannerfield, which is just over the bridge in the village at the carpark down to the left.
This place not only hosts the Strathardle Gathering it was where the Jacobites gathered at the start of the 1715 rising. The feather blew off the clan chiefs headwear, which a bad luck omen and of course history goes on to tell that the Jacobites didn’t fair too well in the 1715 rising. You can get the full story from the Common Culture blog.
