Weem Wood Walk
Park in the Forestry Commission car park at Weem Wood Walk Picnic tables with public art designed elements form an attractive start point to the walk route. Sufficient car parking with cycle stands. It is very steep in places, so it is advisable to wear proper walking boots.
Leave the car park and take the steadily climbing zig-zagging track to where it reaches a T-intersection and turn right. The path leads along above Weem village to join a circular track that climbs steeply to the bluff high above to follow its ledge past the well and on to descend almost as steeply before swinging back to the original track.
There is also a open plateau where you will see rocks at your feet with carved Cup Marks and circles about 3-4 inches in diameter.
This a good vantage point for Castle Menzies to your right. The path now descends steeply eventually bringing you back to the T junction and back to the car park. The walk takes about an hour and a half but is worth every minute of it.
See how many of the forest sculptures you can count and don't forget to drop a coin in the pot for the Sleeping Dragon. There is a clue on your left, a rock has been marked with a dragon symbol.
This ancient woodland is home to legends of dragons and demons in the many caves in the rocky bluffs of Weem Wood. In fact the name "Weem" developed from the Gaelic word "uamh" for cave..
St. David's Well is a natural spring at the back of a shallow cave on a bluff high on a hill above the village of Weem and deep within Weem Wood. The first recorded inhabitant of the caves was St. Cuthbert who built the stone pool and used to immerse himself in it at night to pray. Unfortunately, a local Princess accused Cuthbert of seducing her so he prayed and the earth swallowed her up. St.Cuthbert had to leave his well and flee the wrath of her father. The next recorded inhabitant, whose name the well now carries, was David, a 15th century chief of Clan Menzies and owner of nearby Castle Menzies. He gave his lands, including Weem Wood, to the church, took up an austere religious life and lived out his years as a hermit on the bluff by the well.
The circular walk rises steeply culminating with a fine view at St David's Well. Turn around and experience the splendid panoramic view over the town of Aberfeldy. Below, to the right of the Parish church is the old parish church of Weem, home to the Menzies Mausoleum.
St. David the laird's son from nearby Castle Menzies. occupied it later when he took on an austere religious life in the fifteenth century.
The wood itself has many specimen trees which were planted by the Menzies family during the nineteenth century to create a suitably impressive backdrop to their castle. The wood contains many fine specimen trees planted by the Menzies family in the nineteenth century to provide a spectacular backdrop to the castle and gardens. Two local men were pre-eminent in plant collecting at this time - David Douglas from Scone and Archibald Menzies from near Aberfeldy.
Weem Wood Walk: 1 mile Allows 45 minutes.
Distance: 1 mile/1.5km
Approximate Time: 45 minutes and can be visit any time of year.
Height Gain: 180 metres
Further Info: `A Guide to Tay Forest Park` from Aberfeldy TIC or OS Landranger Map 52
For more information about Weem Wood Walk and the surrounding area go to Historical Weem. Access the Gallery page for photos of the Weem Wood walk.
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