Heritage Path of the Month
Muchty Road is our Heritage Path of the Month for January 2024, click here to view the details
More about Muchty Road
This old route leaves the B936 (Newburgh Road) in Auchtermuchty at NO235121, following a minor road Mourniepea northwest. Pass turnings for Newton and Reediehill, then soon after Newhill the route becomes a forestry road with a gravel surface. Circa NO193136, the older route and the forestry track diverge – the latter is more accessible, but both lead to the minor road through Abernethy Glen between Glenfoot and Strathmiglo.
OS Landranger 58 (Perth & Alloa, Auchterarder)
Muchty Road is an old drove road that would have been used by people taking cattle and sheep to market in Auchtermuchty, and possibly Cupar or, in the other direction, to the big Trysts at Crieff. It must have seen a great deal of traffic in the past. That said, the parish of Abernethy’s entry in the Old Statistical Account (1793) reported that the road which strikes off Abernethy Glen to Auchtermuchty is in winter almost impassable – statute labour and associated compensation being totally inadequate to keep it in repair. Where the route crosses the current local authority boundary at NO203137 is an older border also. Here, there is the Thirl Stone, a large boulder with a hollow in the centre of its top surface, said to be where there would have been a pole and weighing device, presumably for wool sacks or produce for the markets.
More about Heritage Paths
Learn about the history of some of the oldest transport routes in Scotland. Heritage Paths records the history of over 400 routes that criss-cross the Scottish landscape. From Roman Roads to Military Roads, find out how the route you are following came into being.
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