Is King's Seat a hard climb?

King's Seat is rated 1/5 (easy) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Underfoot: Forestry road for the first 2km, then deep heather and bilberry on the open hill.

What is King's Seat's prominence?

223m of prominence. That's the vertical drop from the summit to the col that links King's Seat to the next higher ground. That drop is what qualifies it as a Marilyn — a hill with at least 150m of descent on every side.

Where do I park for King's Seat?

Most walkers start from NO 218 313. Verify the grid reference on an OS map before you set off — space is tight on busy summer weekends.

When is the best time to climb King's Seat?

March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October give the most reliable conditions on King's Seat. Beyond that window the high ground turns wintry: carry full mountain kit, be confident navigating, and check the SAIS avalanche forecast for the area.

Is King's Seat dog-friendly?

Yes, but dogs must be kept on a lead — there is livestock or ground-nesting bird interest on the route.

By Gary Innes

Photo: thejackrustles / CC BY-SA 2.0 via Geograph

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Marilyn · Ochils

King's Seat

King's Seat is the highest point of the Sidlaws south-west of Craigowl at NO23, a 377m heathery dome above the village of Bandirran and Stormontfield. Less visited than its neighbour, with a quieter approach through Tay-side forestry.

Quick facts

Height: 377m/ 1237ft
Prominence: 223 m
Difficulty: 1 / 5Easy
Grid ref: NO 23061 32999
Parking: NO 218 313
Nearest city: Perth· 15km
Dogs: Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗

Height and prominence cross-checked against the Database of British and Irish Hills (CC BY).

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Standard route

heather moorland 55% · grass slopes 35% · rocky summit 10%

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Elevation profile coming with the GPX track

Park on the minor road above Bandirran and follow the forestry track north onto the open hill. A faint path then climbs north-east through heather to the bouldery summit and cairn looking down on the Carse of Gowrie.

Terrain

Forestry road for the first 2km, then deep heather and bilberry on the open hill. Faint trods reach the summit boulders but expect tussocky going.

In winter

Sidlaw winter conditions are short-lived but the heather plateau holds drifts after east-coast snowfalls. Compass useful on the broad summit in poor visibility.

Best time of year

Best OK Avoid

Getting there

Glasgow3h 2m
Edinburgh1h 23m

Parking: NO 218 313

OS maps: OS Landranger 53, OS Explorer 380W

Mobile signal: Good. Perthshire/Kinross-shire; EE reliable.

Current conditions

Daylight Today

17h 59mwalking daylight

Sunrise: 05:10
Sunset: 21:29
Civil dawn: 04:20
Civil dusk: 22:19

NOAA Solar Calculator · 30 July 2026

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Around King's Seat on the SCOT network

Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.

On TripSCOT

station

Getting there: Perth station

Gateway to Perthshire; Schiehallion, Beinn a Ghlo via bus

15km from the hill

tripscot.co.uk

On TripSCOT

town

Base yourself in Dunkeld

Southern Cairngorms gateway — Hermitage, Loch of the Lowes

23km from the hill

tripscot.co.uk

King's Seat — common questions

Is King's Seat a hard climb?: King's Seat is rated 1/5 (easy) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Underfoot: Forestry road for the first 2km, then deep heather and bilberry on the open hill.
What is King's Seat's prominence?: 223m of prominence. That's the vertical drop from the summit to the col that links King's Seat to the next higher ground. That drop is what qualifies it as a Marilyn — a hill with at least 150m of descent on every side.
Where do I park for King's Seat?: Most walkers start from NO 218 313. Verify the grid reference on an OS map before you set off — space is tight on busy summer weekends.
When is the best time to climb King's Seat?: March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October give the most reliable conditions on King's Seat. Beyond that window the high ground turns wintry: carry full mountain kit, be confident navigating, and check the SAIS avalanche forecast for the area.
Is King's Seat dog-friendly?: Yes, but dogs must be kept on a lead — there is livestock or ground-nesting bird interest on the route.
Is there mobile signal on King's Seat?: Good. Perthshire/Kinross-shire; EE reliable.
Is King's Seat safe in winter?: Sidlaw winter conditions are short-lived but the heather plateau holds drifts after east-coast snowfalls. Compass useful on the broad summit in poor visibility.

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