Glen Vale Waterfalls and John Knox's Pulpit Walk
This walk takes you through the beautiful Glen Vale in the Lomond Hills near Kinross.
You can start your walk from the parking area at the western end of the glen. From here you can pick up trails heading east along the pretty Glen Burn towards Harperleas Reservoir and Ballo Reservoir.
Along the way you'll pass picturesque waterfalls while enjoy some splendid views over the surrounding mountains.
A key highlight of this route is the renowned John Knox’s Pulpit, a striking natural rock outcrop steeped in local legend. According to tradition, the famed Scottish reformer John Knox once used this elevated, weathered formation as a pulpit, delivering impassioned sermons that echoed through the glen. The feature’s dramatic position provides panoramic vistas of the glen below, allowing visitors to not only reflect on its historical significance but also to appreciate the rugged beauty of the landscape from a commanding viewpoint.
To continue your walking in the area head into Kinross to visit the wonderful Loch Leven.
Glen Vale Waterfalls and John Knox's Pulpit Ordnance Survey Map 
- view and print off detailed OS map
Glen Vale Waterfalls and John Knox's Pulpit Open Street Map 
- view and print off detailed map
Glen Vale Waterfalls and John Knox's Pulpit OS Map 
- Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking
Glen Vale Waterfalls and John Knox's Pulpit Open Street Map 
- Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking
Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby
Photos
Waterfall in Glen Vale. Along the route, you will encounter picturesque waterfalls cascading over smooth rock faces, adding a dynamic element to the serene landscape. The walk offers a mix of natural beauty and gentle engineering, as the reservoirs blend seamlessly with the surrounding countryside, hinting at a rich history of water management in the area. The setting not only delights with its visual splendour but also invites moments of quiet contemplation amid the interplay of natural elements and the soft murmur of Glen Burn as it winds its way through the glen.
Footbridge on Glenvale path, Lomond Hills. The flora in Glen Vale is typical of central Scottish uplands, where hardy heather, bilberry and gorse blanket the open moorland, while pockets of ancient woodland reveal carpets of bluebells and primroses in the spring. Along the banks of the burn and around the reservoir edges, reeds, water lilies and other aquatic plants thrive, creating a vibrant habitat for a variety of insects and amphibians. Birdlife is abundant in this diverse environment, with species such as skylarks, kestrels, and finches flitting overhead, and the occasional glimpse of small mammals like rabbits and voles adding to the natural charm of the area.
Waterfall at head of Glenvale, Lomond Hills
Harperleas
John Knox's Pulpit
Path east of John Knox's Pulpit