Lady Mary’s Walk was formed in 1815 by Sir Patrick Murray of Ochtertyre, a local landowner. It was a favourite walk of his daughter, Lady Mary, and was named after her. Sir Patrick gifted the Walk to the people of Crieff.
Parking is available at Taylor Park (N56º 22.640, W3º 51.030). Cross the bridge over the Turret Burn and on the left is a path signposted for Lady Mary’s Walk. This part of the route is not suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs, instead continue up the hill and turn left along Laggan Road. Continue ahead on the narrow road, past the houses and you come to a ‘crossroads’. Turn left for Lady Mary’s Walk. The paths were upgraded a few years ago to make the route accessible to wheelchairs and pushchairs.
The area to the right of the footpath was the site of the Crieff to Lochearnhead railway track.
Alexander Porteous, in ‘The History of Crieff’ (1912), wrote ‘It is to be regretted that the peaceful amenity of the walk has been somewhat spoilt by the close proximity of the Comrie Railway, which runs parallel to it, and the jarring rattle of an occasional train detracts from the true enjoyment of the peaceful surroundings, erstwhile broken only by the gentle murmur of the river.’
The Crieff and Comrie Railway was first proposed in 1888 and was authorised in 1890. The first train ran on 1st June 1893. The line was later extended as far as Balquhidder where it connected with the Callander & Oban line. Despite attempts to promote the line as a tourist route the railway was never profitable. After nationalisation of the railways in 1948 the Balquhidder to Comrie section closed to passengers in 1951 and the section to Crieff finally closed on 6th July 1964.
The path from Turret Bridge passes between the remains of the railway bridge. The track from the Laggan road crosses a wooden bridge over the former railway track.
Tree cover is making it difficult to obtain accurate coordinates at present. The hint should help in finding.