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Soaring spruces and hidden mining heritage

A mix of landscaped woodland and industrial history means each visit to Blairadam can feel like a completely different experience.

William Adam, the noted Scottish architect, built Blairadam House here in the 1730s and landscaped the surrounding estate. He was also a shrewd businessman, planting trees for timber and extracting coal from the seams that ran through his land. Amongst the lofty trees and tumbling burns you will see plenty of evidence of these mining works which have now been reclaimed by the forest.

Walking trails

Keltyhill glen trail.

A scenic stroll alongside the Drumnagoil Burn that is particularly dramatic after heavy rain.

Firm but uneven gravel surface. Steep slopes down to the glen. Parts may be muddy.

Allow ¼ hours

The Glen Trail

Meander up the Kelty Burn beneath towering spruce trees that were a scenic highlight of the Blairadam estate in its heyday.

Firm, largely wide but uneven gravel surface. Includes some fairly steep slopes and sections that may be muddy.

Allow 1 hour

This trail criss-crosses the Kelty Burn on stone bridges amid spruce, beech, pine and sycamore woods. Look out for the remains of the ‘100 Foot Bridge’, which once carried a railway over The Glen to Blairenbathie coal pit, and spot the dramatic Kiery Crags at The Glen’s eastern end.

Blairenbathie Mine Trail

Explore the colourful broadleaved woods that shroud the sites of the two Blairenbathie coal pits, as well as the handsome Lochornie Burn Bridge.

Largely wide, firm and smooth gravel surface. Some uneven and potentially muddy sections. Long moderate slopes with some steeper sections.

Allow 1 ½ hours

Though hard to believe today, this peaceful forest was once a busy industrial area, now reclaimed by the forest. Pass through mature oaks, beech and birch to the restored Lochornie Burn Bridge, with its distinctive tall narrow arch.

Facilities and access

There are public toilets in Kelty Community Centre, Main Street.

  Christmas trees

This year, we will not be opening the Christmas Tree sales centre at Blairadam. 

With more and more outlets selling trees over the past few years, fewer people have been visiting this sales centre and it has become uneconomical for us to run. We know that this will be a disappointment to some, including those loyal customers who’ve been visiting us for years.  

The good news is a local contractor will be operating the  Kinnoull Hill  sales site this year, so a festive forest visit will still be possible in Perth. Our nearest Christmas Tree sales centre is at  The Lodge Forest Visitor Centre  in Aberfoyle.

Christmas trees at The Lodge

Car parking information

There is no charge to park in this car park. Please park with care and consideration. In particular please park in designated parking areas only and do not block entrances or gates.

More about parking

Getting here

Blairadam is on the north side of the B914, 500 yards west of Kelty and Junction 4 of the M90. There is a small parking area at the entrance just off the B914. The main car park can be found 500m further down the forest road. Please do not use the passing places on the forest road for parking.

Using SatNav?

KY4 0JQ is the nearest postcode.

Public transport

No buses pass Blairadam, although local services do stop in Kelty. There is a pavement along the road from Kelty to Blairadam, although junctions are very busy and may not be suitable for all. Plan your journey at Traveline Scotland .

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Blairadam woodland is full of surprises, from soaring spruces, waterfalls and bridges to a mining ghost and a mysterious beast!

Three enticing trails wind through Blairadam Wood, an attractive mix of mighty spruces and colourful beech woodland. William Adam, the noted Scottish architect, built Blairadam House here in the 1730s and landscaped the surrounding estate. He also built pits to extract coal. Follow the trails to spot red squirrels, lofty trees, elegant bridges and old mine workings. On dark evenings you might even glimpse a ghostly miner, or the fabled beast of Blairadam.

The content of many of our web listings is provided by third party operators and not VisitScotland. VisitScotland accepts no responsibility for (1) any error or misrepresentation contained in third party listings, and (2) the contents of any external links within web listings ((1) and (2) together hereinafter referred to as the "Content"). VisitScotland excludes all liability for loss or damage caused by any reliance placed on the Content. The Content is provided for your information only and is not endorsed by VisitScotland.

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Fife Walking

Find Walking Routes in Fife and Beyond

Blairadam Forest

Blairadam Forest is a popular recreational area on the edge of Kelty. The forest offers facilities for the walker / cyclist in the form of two formal car parks (both free), picnic tables and three waymarked trails. The forest is centred around the Blairadam House and was a designed landscape in the 1700s. Nowadays it is a commercial forest managed by  Forestry and Land Scotland , although the house and estate parkland is still clear of forestry. Being a working forest there may be times when trails are closed due to forestry operations.

As well as the waymarked trails there are many more tracks and informal paths that can be explored. The routes below are only suggestions and many more options are possible. These routes all start from the Forestry Commission Clentry car park at grid ref NT 129 946. This is the lower car park at the forest workshops. From the picnic area and upper car park beside the public road, follow the tarmac road down into the forest for 950m to reach the lower car park.

Blairadam Route Map

Route 1 – Waymarked Trails

It is easily possible to link the three short waymarked trails together into one longer circular route. This route is shown in red on the route map above. This does not reflect the colour coding of the waymarker posts on the ground.

• Distance:   3.8 miles / 6.1 km
• Ascent:   410 feet / 125 m
• Terrain : waymarked paths and tracks – mostly reasonable surfaces

Start the walk from the lower car park by walking back up the road towards the forest entrance. Before the bridge at the corner, leave the road on a path to the left, alongside the burn and waterfall. This is the Blue Keltyhill Glen Trail. The path loops back northwards around the back of the car park. Keep left at a path junction next to a bridge to follow the path to where it meets with the main forest track.

From this point turn right into the forest to reach a totem pole and an obvious path to the left. This is now part of both the Red Glen Trail and Yellow Blairenbathie Mine Trail and follows the line of a mineral railway. On reaching the forest track at the end of this path turn left. There are waymarkers for a short diversion (right) to a viewpoint. This viewpoint is at the site of the old 100 foot railway bridge that crossed over the Glen. Once back on the forest track, continue westwards to reach a red waymarker. Turn right at this waymarker going downhill into the trees. This is the start of the Glen Trail. The path swings round to the right to reach the Kelty Burn and winds its way through the Glen crossing the burn a few times.

At the end of the Glen path turn left onto another forest track and start to go uphill. However, keep left at the next yellow waymarker leaving the track and uphill climb. Follow the yellow markers along the Blairenbathie Mine Trail, past the mine workings and through deciduous forest. At the end of this trail turn left on to a track and cross a burn at the Pieries Burn Bridge followed by the Lochornie Burn Bridge. It is now a short walk back to the main forest track, keeping to the path and ignoring the red waymarker for The Glen.

Once on the track, go left and follow it back to the mine railway and hence the car park.

Route 2 – Blairadam Park and Forest

This short circular route aims to explore the quieter parts of the forest along with the contrasting open parkland of the Blairadam Estate. It is shown in blue on the route map above.

• Distance:  4 miles / 6.5 km
• Ascent:  490 feet / 150 m
• Terrain:  Forest paths and tracks plus mountain bike trails – can be muddy in places

Leave the lower car park heading north downhill into the forest. Pass the totem pole and brickwork with inscriptions (these may refer to big cat sightings that have occured in the area). At the bottom of the hill go through the green gate and leave the main track on a rough path. There are a couple of wooden footbridges on this section. On meeting a forest road turn left, following it round to the right past a house. This track now leads to Blairadam House (a private residence) but keep right at the junction with the private road sign to walk through open fields. There is a walled garden to the right although it is locked and there is no public access. Turn left towards the obvious house to reach the end of the track in a field. From here follow a wall/fence to the edge of the forest where there is a stile.

A rough path connects the stile with the forest track network at a signpost. Go left on to the track which passing through deciduous beech trees as well as the usual conifers. This section can be muddy at times but a new gravel surface is soon reached. Turn left when a track junction is reached, onto a rougher track, initially in an easterly direction. The track bears right and is soon heading south and then west. Approximately 500m beyond the junction a mountain bike trail crosses the track. There are now a couple of options. The first option is shown on the route map in blue. The two alternative options are shown in dark blue.

• Go left on to the MTB which is somewhat rough and muddy in parts. If uncertain of the route follow the tyre marks and footprints. A ditch to the left, and an old wall that needs to be crossed are useful landmarks. After the wall keep straight on (not left along the wall) to cross a more open area (shown as The Rirum on some maps). After crossing this area the trail rejoins the forest track network. Turn left on to the track to go downhill.
• Keep to the forest tracks for the next 2km, turning left at the next two junctions. After about 2km the track goes downhill and reaches a yellow waymarker which should be ignored.
• Leave the track after a further 100m (600m beyond the junction) into a firebreak on the left. After less than 100m at the end of the fire break turn left on to the forest track heading downhill. Ignore a yellow waymarker that points to the right.

Keep to the main track going downhill with views to the left over to Blairadam House. After a crag on the left, turn right at a red waymarker on to a surfaced path. This is part of the The Glen Trail which winds its way alongside the Kelty Burn. Part way along are the remains of the 100 foot bridge that used to carry the mine railway over the Glen. At the end of the Glen the path turns left and goes uphill. Keep left at the junctions to reach the main forest track that runs through the forest. Turn left on to the track for a straightforward walk back to the car park.

A short detour to the site of the 100 foot bridge overlooking the Glen is possible by following the red / yellow waymarker on the left. Return to the track and bear right at an old mining area on to the route of the railway line. Follow this to the totem pole at its end from where it is a short walk back up to the car park.

Route 3 – Blairadam North with Cowden Hill

This circular walk explores the northern edge of Blairadam and includes a detour to the highest point in the forest, Cowden Hill. It is shown in magenta on the route map above.

• Distance:  5.5 miles / 9 km
• Ascent: 730 feet / 225m
• Terrain : Mix of forest tracks and paths, along with a section of rough trodden path. Some paths can be muddy after heavy rain.

Leave the lower car park heading north downhill into the forest. Pass the totem pole and brickwork with inscriptions (these may refer to big cat sightings that have occurred in the area). At the bottom of the hill go through the green gate and leave the main track on a rough path. There are a couple of wooden footbridges on this section. On meeting a forest road turn left, following it round to the right past a house. This track now leads to Blairadam House (a private residence) but keep right at the junction with the private road sign to walk through open fields. There is a walled garden to the right although it is locked and there is no public access. Turn left towards the obvious house to reach the end of the track in a field. From here follow a wall/fence to the edge of the forest where there is a stile.

An unsurfaced path connects the stile with the forest track network at a signpost. Go right towards Lochran to reach the termination of the track. At this point the route uses a rougher path through the forest which can be somewhat indistinct. However navigation is straightforward as the forest boundary can easily be followed down the hill. Cross the burn and start to climb back up the other side, again keeping reasonably close to the boundary wall until the path becomes more obvious. The path becomes more of a track as it turns west and crosses felled woodland. Keep straight on, across a newly planted area, on the track. At a T junction turn right towards the communications mast and follow the track round to the left.

When the track starts to get somewhat muddy there is a gate on the right that provides access to the grassy summit of Cowden Hill. At 285m this is the highest point of the forest. Return to the now muddy track and continue westwards until the next junction is reached. Go left at the T junction uphill to reach one of the main forest tracks. Go left for 600m to reach a crossroads where the communications mast is to the left. Turn right at the crossroads downhill for 200m to reach the next junction.

Continue straight on, down the hill, on the main forest track. Go straight on at the next two junctions, still downhill on the main forest track. Soon, a junction with marker posts is reached. Keep right, now on the yellow waymarked route, continuing downhill over a couple of bridges. Ignore the side routes until an obvious T junction is reached. Now go left on this wide track and follow it to the point where the old railway line branches off to the right. Take the railway path which leads back to the totem pole near the car park.

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Blairadam Forest

The best walks and hikes in Blairadam Forest

Looking for some popular walks and hikes in Blairadam Forest? Then browse our collection of routes around this beautiful forest in Fife below. We present you with many hiking and walking trails in Blairadam Forest — all you’ve got to do is pick your favorite and get going.

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Blairenbathie Mine ruins – Blairadam Forest loop from Kelty

Black loch – dumglow loop from cleish.

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St ninians. tips for this tour loop from kelty, blairadam forest – blairenbathie mine ruins loop from kelty, heights of craigencrow – dumglow loop from cleish, blairadam forest loop from kelty, discover more tours around blairadam forest.

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Popular around Blairadam Forest

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MTB Trails in Blairadam Forest

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Attractions in Blairadam Forest

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9 MIN READ TIME

MIDDLING Walk – Blairadam Forest

Fife walks - blairadam forest.

02 February 22

If you’ve ever driven up or down the M90 you will have passed directly alongside Blairadam Forest, but you might not have been aware of it. It’s one of the largest forests in Fife and, while much of it is conifer plantation it has an undeniably different feel to our other big forests at Tentsmuir, Devilla and Ladybank. This is partly because it has a trail that follows a picturesque meandering burn through a small glen, something the other forests lack, and partly because there are still intriguing visible remnants of its industrial past.

There are three waymarked trails at Blairadam – Blue (the Keltyhill Glen Trail), Red (the Glen Trail) and Yellow (the Blairenbathie Mine Trail). You can try any of these on their own, but the route I’ve put together here uses half of the Red and half of the Yellow in order to give you a longer walk that still takes in the most attractive part of the forest (which is on the shorter Red trail). Blairadam is of course far larger than this route suggests, extending much farther west towards the Kinross-shire border at Loch Glow, and ending within touching distance of Knock Hill.

Time: 1hr 15 mins if you power around. 2hrs if you’re taking your time.

Distance: 4.8km

Ascent: 75m

Path info: Good woodland paths and forest roads, but some stretches along the Yellow trail can be muddy.

Start & finish: Forestry Commission car park west of Kelty, just off Junction 4 of the M90. The entrance to Blairadam Forest is on the B914, but the main car park is located about 1km further along the access road. Google Maps: bit.ly/blairadam OS grid reference: NT129946.

Public transport: None to Blairadam itself, however you could get a bus to Kelty then walk to Dullomuir Avenue, from where a path leads immediately over the M90 via a footbridge and then emerges on the Blairadam access road. It takes 10 - 15 mins to walk from Dullomuir Avenue to Blairadam car park. See this walking route on Google Maps: bit.ly/m90footbridge

Information : Most Forestry Commission woodlands have a dedicated website and Blairadam is no exception - https://scotland.forestry.gov.uk/visit/blairadam .

When you reach the end of the access road, the work sheds are located on the left side of the road, and the car park is on the right. From the car park, with the work sheds on your left, head downhill and walk past the wooden vehicle gate, then head along the wide surfaced path that leads clearly towards the forest.

After a minute or two you reach a totem pole. It is one of three that were carved at the Kelty Community Centre (to which the public could come along and watch) by Canadian First Nations artists and Fife-based wood carver Kenny Grieve back in 2005. The other two were installed in Kelty itself.

At the totem pole, ignore the waymarked path that heads off to the left and instead continue straight ahead on the main path, which heads slightly downhill past a brick façade on your left.

If you look closely at the brick wall you will see a picture of a large cat, with the words ‘Touch not the cat’ inscribed at its rear. This is a nod to the fabled sightings of a big black cat in Blairadam Forest over the years, including one in January 2004 when the secretary of Dunfermline’s Carnegie Harriers, who won a race in the forest that month, attributed his win to having been scared witless by a big cat that ran along the track in front of him. You can soak up the atmosphere by reading Jim Douglas’s poem, the Beastie o’ Blairadam:

https://scotland.forestry.gov.uk/images/pdf/rec_pdfs/JimDouglas_TheBeastofBlairadamtranscript.pdf

After the brick wall the path surface becomes slightly cobbled and then the path forks. Take the left fork and then, almost immediately afterwards you arrive at a crossroad of paths with a green gate on your left and another green gate straight ahead.

Continue straight ahead, crossing over the forest road and going through the green gate on the opposite side. Red/Yellow waymarkers show the way beyond here.

Follow the wide track, which bends to the left and climbs slightly. Ignore the forest road joining from the left, and continue on your track as it veers to the right, still following the Red/Yellow waymarkers.

The track crosses a small burn and then another smaller path, marked by a Red waymarker, joins from the left.

That path on the left is where you will emerge in about an hour’s time, so ignore it for now and instead continue straight ahead on what is now the Yellow waymarked route.

You pass an obvious crag to your right, after which the track bends right and then left before heading into the distance in a long straight section, climbing uphill.

Follow the track all the way along and up the hill. After 0.5km you reach a t-junction of forest roads. Turn left, still following the Yellow waymarkers.

About 100m later, where the track bends to the left, you might notice some ruined buildings in the trees to your right:

This is all that remains of the Blairenbathie coal mine, which was commercially operational between 1949 and 1962. At its peak a workforce of around 130 were removing 120 tonnes of coal per day from here, and it was transported off site by a railway, evidence of which will be seen a bit later on in this walk. The remaining structures are mossy, overgrown and decaying, plus you never know what holes might be lurking underneath it all, so be very careful if you take a closer look.

A couple of hundred metres after the ruins, the track bends to the right and heads noticeably uphill.

At the top of the slope the track veers right through an area of mossy green boulders. It then climbs a bit more before arriving at a wooden bench on your right.

Not long after the bench the path veers left, and then you’ll see another more ornate wooden bench in the woodland to your left. Continue along the path, which is now noticeably wider.

When you reach a T-Junction of forest roads, turn left towards a small stone bridge, and note the amazingly mossy green tree just before the bridge!

After you’ve crossed over the bridge, the track heads very straight towards another stone bridge (with green safety railings on either side).

Cross over the bridge and then continue on the track as it veers left. A couple of minutes later, on another straight section of track, a surfaced red gravel path heads off to the left.

Take this path, which first heads downhill towards the glen before bending right through an area of very tall spruce trees.

At a T-Junction marked by red waymarkers, turn left and then follow the path as it bends to the right and heads downhill towards the Kelty Burn. The burn stays on your left until you cross a stone bridge with a bench, after which the burn is on your right.

About 150m after the stone bridge you pass a strange brick structure and metal sculpture on your left. This is all that remains of the bridge that once carried the railway from Blairenbathie Mine over the span of the glen.

The path then snakes its way down the glen, crossing the main burn twice more (via stone bridges) before emerging at the junction you passed an hour or so earlier, opposite the distinctive crags.

At this T-Junction turn right onto the forest track, crossing back over the Kelty Burn one last time. From here you can retrace your steps back to the beginning of the walk, following the Red/Yellow waymarkers back through the green gates and back up the hill to the totem pole and the car park.

Note: this route is for supporting information only. Anyone venturing into the countryside does so at their own risk and should be properly dressed / equipped for the occasion.

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• Nov 18, 2019

Blairadam Forest

Updated: Nov 17, 2022

I've heard many walkers say they find long forest trails monotonous - particularly if it's a managed plantation of ubiquitous pine. I can sympathise with this viewpoint as it's not terribly exciting to trek for miles along Forestry Commission roads. In my opinion, woodland walking is best accompanied by other points of interest, be they historical or geographical. A good example is the Devilla plantation in West Fife where many hidden treasures lurk within the trees and I have already documented my wanderings there. Last weekend I planned a circular tour of Blairadam Forest, near Kelty. Nicole was attending a workshop at RSPB Loch Leven (Vane Farm in old money) and I drove the few miles back to the small village of Keltybridge to begin my excursion.

The crossing of the Kelty Burn marks the boundary between the historic counties of Fife and Kinross-shire. The latter is now administered by the modern council area of Perth & Kinross but the old county retains a strong identity. A historic road sign stands adjacent to the bridge - perhaps left for posterity. I took a farm track towards the forest, actually the small part of the Fife Pilgrim Way lying marginally outside the Kingdom. Under the M90 and into the woods, I walked up to the remains of an old mineral railway bridge. The "Beast of Blairadam" is carved into the brickwork and there is an impressive totem pole nearby, apparently fashioned by a group of first-nation Canadians on a visit to Scotland. I'd been at this point a couple of years back. On that day I followed the railway trackbed from the edge of Kelty to the point where it was severed by the motorway. I picked up the Mine Trail in the forest and found the spot where a 100-foot viaduct once crossed the burn. A toppled chunk of pier is the only evidence remaining. I remember this wander for two reasons. It became dark while I was exploring and I used Google Maps on my newly-acquired smartphone to restore my bearings and guide me back to the car park. That same evening I watched an online broadcast of a remembrance service for rock musician Lemmy Kilmister, who fronted Motorhead for 40 years until his death. A great British band who never deviated from the constant schedule of touring and recording. I raised my glass to him.

Aside from myriad pit lines, Kelty once had a railway station on the Edinburgh to Perth route via Kinross. Yet looking at today's landscape, you have to keep your eyes peeled to spot clues to this former hive of train activity. Passenger services in Kelty ceased as far back as 1930 which appears rather baffling upon first hearing. A slew of station closures did take place in that year but they were mainly minor halts that probably never did any meaningful business. Kelty was a prosperous mining community of thousands and we are talking about a time before car ownership was commonplace. Why did the station bite the dust? The answer lies in the local tram network. Fares to larger settlements such as Cowdenbeath and Dunfermline were cheaper under the wires and services far more frequent. Enough traffic was siphoned off to persuade the railway company to remove Kelty from the national network. Of course, tram systems all over the country were eventually rendered obsolete by buses - although light rail travel has been reintroduced to a handful of major cities. The case of Kelty does underline that railway closures did not begin with infamous axeman Richard Beeching in the 1960s. However, it was rare for a full line to be chopped in the pre-war days.

Back to today's walk, I followed a path paralleling the course of the old railway and once again walked out to the point where the line straddled the gorge. It appears the 100-foot label may have been a tad exaggerated but the bridge must nonetheless have been an impressive sight. The remains of mine workings lurk in the undergrowth in this part of the forest but industrial exploration wasn't the priority today, but rather to complete a circular walk with a small hill climb in the middle. I traversed the burn again but the county boundary actually lay along a small tributary a short walk away. Blairadam has a maze of paths and tracks within its confines and it certainly helps to keep a map handy if you are planning to delve deep into the woodland. I was steadily gaining height and as I followed a road through a particularly dense patch, the sunlight formed an illuminated column ahead of me and presented a wonderful photo opportunity. One for my Instagram feed. I was initially rather sceptical about joining this worldwide picture sharing platform, my reasoning being what does it offer that Facebook doesn't already have? I can only share images? No links or text updates? I decided to give it a whirl but my initial response was lukewarm - until I discovered the power of the hashtag.

For those still in the dark, an Instagram hashtag - for example #walkingtrails - is a means of attaching a reference to a picture that will group it together with other images bearing the same tag. The software detects your interests and your news feed will sometimes feature photos bearing a hashtag matched to your perceived preferences. Therefore adding relevant hashtags to your posts is a method of attracting new followers, who of course may then browse your other pictures and like some of them too. You can also actively follow a hashtag (as well as other Instagram users). When you insert a tag for the first time, Instagram shows you how many instances currently exist. By way of example, #walking has been used 19 million times whereas #walkingscotland has a count of 16000. Selective hashtagging effectively connects you with people who label their posts in a similar way. I have developed a routine of putting one picture per day on Instagram (either recently taken or from my archives) and - at the time of writing - my last ten images have all broken the 100-likes barrier. I'll soon be classed as an influencer! Move over Kim Kardashian!

The sun was shining and the sky was blue. A beautiful morning for a late-autumn walk. I was heading to the far corner of the forest where much tree felling had taken place and I was now out in the open. The map had shown two summits with a height difference of just 5 metres but no paths were marked. I therefore decided to scale whichever peak looked most accessible. The higher of the two - Cowden Hill - had plain grassy slopes and it was a simple case of hopping over a metal gate and making the short hike to the top. As soon as I emerged over the ridge, a beautiful view opened out. I was looking down upon Loch Leven, flanked by Benarty and Bishop Hills. There was nobody else around and I've always enjoyed the sensation of observing activity from a point of isolation. There wasn't anywhere to sit down so I strolled around taking a few photographs. I had made the correct decision to climb Cowden Hill as the neighbouring peak was covered in young trees and didn't appear to offer any significant views. Rather than retrace my steps, I took a straight path eastwards after descending Cowden Hill and this would lead me back to another tunnel under the M90. I followed the gradually sloping track through woodland then took a public right of way through pastureland - styles and gates helpfully provided. A woman passed on horseback and stopped for a quick chat. I caught glimpses of Blairadam House which has parts dating from the 1730s. Coal was mined on the estate for many years until the closure of the Blairenbathie drift mine in 1962. The Forestry Commission have owned most of the land since 1925 and it's difficult to imagine nowadays that this sprawling area of peaceful woodland was once alive with the clatter of industrial activity.

As I left the estate, I spotted what looked like a large walled garden although there didn't seem to be any way in. Blairadam House is still owned by the Adam family and has guest bedrooms available to rent. No railways remain in the vicinity of Kelty. The main route to Perth was scandalously closed in 1970 and part of the trackbed through Glen Farg was wiped out by the construction of the M90. There have been half-hearted calls to restore this line but it would be a massively expensive project and something of a pipe dream. I wandered through the tiny villages of Maryburgh and Keltybridge before collecting my car and driving up to Kinross. I got myself a cold drink and sat in the car for half an hour listening to Planet Rock radio station. I'm always tuned into PR when driving and it plays a wide selection from the last 50 years. Then it was back to the nature reserve for a wee browse around the shop and to collect Nicole.

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Hollywood Studio Tours

Which are the best.

This post covers the most enjoyable movie studio tours in and around Hollywood.

With so many historic studios in the area, it might be difficult to pick just one to visit.

Taking a studio tour is one of the top things to do in LA .

• Studio Tours
• Celebrity Homes Tours
• Ways to Save on Tours
• LA TV Show Tickets
• Things To Do in Hollywood
• Tips from Locals and Travelers

Disclosure:  While our recommendations are always unbiased, we may receive a small share of sales through some of the links below at no cost to you. See the  full text .

STUDIO TOURS

Interestingly enough, there are quite a few differences between the tours offered at each studio, and that should make it easier to figure out which tour best fits your expectations.

Ticket prices vary from $62 per person to literally thousands of dollars.

However, 3 of the tours, Warner Bros., Sony Pictures, and Universal Studios are included for free or at a lower cost in several tourist attraction passes. 

It's also worth noting that the length of these tours can run from roughly an hour to almost a week.

With all of that said, let's start talking about what each movie studio offers with their tours.

• Warner Bros.
• Sony Pictures
• Universal Studios
• Paramount Pictures
• Adventures by Disney: Disney Backstage

At the bottom of this post , we share some thoughts and opinions from members of our Los Angeles Travel Tips group on Facebook.

Our group comprises roughly 9,000 locals (like our tour guides), tourists, returning visitors, and newbies to LA.

You don't need to be a member to read the posts, comments, and recommendations.

WARNER BROS. STUDIO TOUR

Below is a summary of our post on Warner Brothers Studio tours , where we also provide tips on planning your trip.

If you're in the market for a somewhat normal tour on the backlot, this might be one of your best bets.

In addition to seeing movie sets and sound stages from some of the most notable movies in film history, you'll also have the opportunity to enjoy a few specific activities.

  While on this movie studio tour, you'll be able to re-create a famous scene from the hit television show Friends , climb aboard Harry Potter 's broomstick, and even create your own Batmobile.

Warner Bros. even offers an interactive sound stage that explores the entire process of making a film from start to finish.

At three hours in length, this tour is probably the longest duration of all of the options in Hollywood.

• $70/adult | $60/child
• Availability: Thursday - Monday
• Hours: Every half hour from 9 am - 3:30 pm
• Duration: 3 hours
• Available in both English and Spanish
• Click here for more information .

TIP: This tour is included for free with the purchase of the Go City Los Angeles Explorer Tourist Pass .

You can also combine this tour with the Universal Studios tour using the combo deal below!

With an overall score of 4.5 out of 5 stars , it's fair to say that this Hollywood studio tour is very well rated ( read reviews here ).

Some guests have gone so far as to suggest that this trip is worth every single penny.

Visitors were typically very happy with their tour guides, referring to them as both friendly and informative. 

SONY PICTURES STUDIO TOUR

This might be the most affordable movie studio tour in Hollywood, and it's also one of the most historic. Do note, that is is a walking tour.

While on this tour, you'll see the sound stages where they recorded classics such as The Wizard of Oz and superhero flicks like Spider-man .

Additionally, you'll have the opportunity to see where Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune are recorded.

Although they don't make any promises, there's always a chance that you'll run into someone famous on this active studio back lot!

They also offer a premium tour which includes transportation via golf cart, access to the Sony Museum, a free souvenir photo, a complimentary beverage, and lower prices at the Sony Studio Store.

Tickets 

• $55 per person | $150 for the Premium tour
• Availability: Monday – Friday at 10:30 am, 1:30 pm and 2:30 pm
• Duration: 2 hours

Tip: Admission is usually included for free with the purchase of at least one Los Angeles tourist pass .

With an overall score of 4 out of 5 stars on TripAdvisor, it's clear that this is a pretty popular Hollywood studio tour.

Customers really appreciated the opportunity to see several historic filming locations and learn a lot about the process of making a movie.

Although some reviewers were unhappy that this is a walking tour, others simply appreciated the opportunity to see where film history was made.

UNIVERSAL STUDIOS TOUR

This is where things get interesting, as Universal Studios has essentially made their tour one of the services offered at their amusement park.

In other words, you need to buy a ticket for Universal Studios Hollywood in order to experience this studio tour.

Clocking in at only one hour in length, this is definitely the shortest studio tour available. Check out this video of Stephen Spielberg giving a tour of the site.

In addition to seeing the back lot, you'll also experience attractions such as the Jaws ride, King Kong 360 in 3D, Bates Motel and Fast & The Furious : Supercharged.

Although it will cost more to take this tour, it's worth noting that your ticket lasts all day and guarantees access to all of the rides. 

• $119-$139/adult | $109-$129/child
• Availability: Daily from 8 am - 6 pm
• Duration: 1 hour
• Click here for ticket information .

TIP:   Universal Studios Hollywood is included for free with the purchase of a tourist pass. Read about all the opportunities for deals in our full post .

Despite the higher price tag, this movie studio tour has still received quite excellent ratings ( read reviews here ). The overall Universal Studios Hollywood experience has a score of 4.7 out of 5 stars .

A few visitors have even suggested that this trip around the studio is worth the price of admission.

Although most customers feel that the ticket price is a bit high, even the critics can't deny that they had a blast. 

PARAMOUNT PICTURES STUDIO TOUR

Unlike the other movie studios, Paramount Pictures offers three different studio tours.

The main tour is 2 hours long and covers quite a lot of ground on the backlot.

However, if you want to experience more, their VIP tour lasts for 4 ½ hours and includes access to several additional areas.

The VIP tour also provides a gourmet lunch at a unique location in the studio.

Alternatively, you can also choose a 2 ½ hour night tour that reveals a lot of historic locations such as notable theaters and original film vaults.

No matter which option you choose, you'll learn a lot about the history of Paramount.

• $65 for the studio tour | $215 for the VIP tour
• Availability of Studio tour: Mon-Fri, every half hour from 9 AM - 3:30 PM
• Availability of VIP tour: Mon, Wed, Fri at 9:30 AM
• Duration of Studio tour: 2 hours
• Duration of VIP tour: 4 ½ hours
• Click here for additional information .

Reviews for the Paramount Pictures Studio tours are very positive, averaging a rating of 4 ½ out of 5 stars on TripAdvisor. 

Some visitors referred to the excursion as a movie buff's dream, while others were just impressed with how much they learned and discovered.

Some reviewers indicated that Paramount alters the tour slightly depending on the season, ensuring a nice variety of topics and locations to cover no matter when you decide to buy a ticket.

ADVENTURES BY DISNEY: DISNEY BACKSTAGE

You had to figure that Disney was going to be a little more expensive, but the actual cost of this week-long experience might shock you.

To be fair, the package includes meals and accommodation at both the Loews Hollywood Hotel and Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa.

This Disney backstage adventure includes a tour of the Walt Disney Studios & Archives, an Imagineering tour, a Hollywood walking tour, and a tour of the Jim Henson Company.

Most of these tours are only available via this week-long package. The entire itinerary takes six days to complete, and it will keep you busy with plenty of fun activities from start to finish. 

• $4,999 for Adults | $4,749 for Children
• Availability: 2-4 times per month
• Duration: 6 days
• Hotel accommodation included
• 11 Meals included
• VIP Disneyland ticket included

As you can probably imagine, the testimonials for this experience are quite positive ( read reviews here ).

Some guests even noted that they made friends with their tour guides and continue to stay in touch with them to this very day.

Additionally, customers also appreciated the opportunity to see some behind-the-scenes areas that bring the history of Walt Disney to life.

One visitor even suggested that this trip allowed them to become kids again as they explored secret and wonderful locations at the happiest place on earth.

COMBO DEALS

If you're looking for a better price on these tours and other activities in Hollywood, you might want to consider one of the following combo packages.

Studios like Warner Bros. and Universal often work with tour companies to provide their services at lower prices.

There are several options to mull over, and almost all of them provide additional tours and services.

If you plan on spending more than one day in Hollywood, these combo deals are definitely worth a look.

GO CITY LOS ANGELES ALL-INCLUSIVE PASS

There's a reason that this is one of the premier attraction passes in Los Angeles.

In addition to offering access to a variety of notable locations, they also provide admission to some studio tours.

In particular, you can enjoy the Universal Studios tour, the Warner Bros. Studio tour and (sometimes) the Sony Pictures Studio tour with one version of this pass or another.

The Warner Bros. Studio tour is currently only offered with their Explorer Pass, and you'll need to purchase at least a 3-Day All-Inclusive pass to get admission to the Universal Studios tour .

Given that this tourist pass also supplies tickets to Six Flags Magic Mountain and Knott's Berry Farm, it's fair to say that the Go City Los Angeles All-Inclusive Pass could be a real bargain.

• $109 for 1-day pass
• $164 for 2-day pass
• $284 for 3-day pass
• $344 for 4-day pass
• $374 for 5-day pass
• $434 for 7-day pass
• $99 for 2 choices
• $119 for 3 choices
• $144 for 4 choices
• $154 for 5 choices
• $189 for 7 choices
• This attraction pass is available every day of the week
• Includes up to 3 movie studio tours

Read our post comparing the different tourist attraction passes available in Los Angeles.

TRANSPORTATION COMBO PACKAGES

If you're looking for transportation to and from each movie studio tour, the following services are available.

The advantage of these combo deals is that you won't have to pay for parking, gas, or car rental in order to visit each location.

Hotel pickup and drop-off are included with each package.

Take your time and enjoy the studio tour without having to worry about anything else!

• Not currently available as of January 2024

CELEBRITY HOMES TOUR COMBO PACKAGES

These combo deals provide both a celebrity home tour and a movie studio tour.

Each option includes transportation not only around Hollywood but also to and from the studios.

While some of these services use a mini-bus, others drive you around town in a luxury sedan or an SUV.

Each company offers both hotel pickup and drop-off.

Expect these outings to last for between 6-8 hours on average.

• Warner Bros. Studio Tour & Movie Star Homes Tour (Starline Tours) - $119/Adults | $99/Children
• Alternatively, we offer our own self-guided celebrity homes tour .

This might be a good way to save even more money if you don't mind doing a bit of driving around Hollywood and Beverly Hills.

TIPS FROM LOCALS AND TRAVELERS

While we provide the details of what each tour offers, costs, and other information, here you can see what members of our Los Angeles Travel Tips group on Facebook have to say.

There are plenty of fans of the Warner Brothers tour.

And some enjoyed Paramount as well.

If you have to choose only one, between Warners or Paramount, these members’ insight may help.

Universal Studios received mixed reviews. Some people felt it was a waste of time and money.

On the other hand, Issa had a fantastic time, so much so that she wrote a very long post detailing her time there and how to make the most of your visit.

Take a look at our Los Angeles Travel Tips group for more recommendations, opinions and advice.

You don't need to join to read comments, but if you do join you can post a question regarding the studios!

RELATED POSTS

• Top Things to Do in LA
• TV Show Tapings in LA
• Things to Do in Hollywood

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I took the tour again recently, because I had been told that it had improved since my last visit.

The result?  Yes, it is improved.

They addressed all of my earlier complaints about the  tour guides:

• I had complained that it was sometimes hard to hear them speak, so they now pass out individual headphones that allow guests to easily hear the guide under all conditions.
• I had noted that it was strictly a walking tour, and that all that walking could be a bit tiring for some members of the group.  So now they shuttle guests around in golf carts that hold about six people each - making for small, intimate tour groups, and making it easy for the less hardy to easily traverse the lot.
• I had also complained that the tour guides' training seemed lacking, when it came to knowing the history of the studio.  But if the guide on my latest tour was typical, they have solved that problem as well.  Our guide, Travis, seemed well-versed on both the history and current activities of the studio, as well as being personable & professional.  He couldn't have done a much better job, given the natural limitations of the tour.  They have also outfitted the guides with iPads, which allow them to show guests photos and short videos illustrating the subjects under discussion.

And unless I'm imagining it, the studio lot itself (or at least its southern edge, around the Paseo) seems to look better, more gentrified, than on my previous trips - almost resembling a college campus in spots.

All in all, those are some nice improvements, and make for a much better tour than what I experienced in my earlier visits to the studio.

However, what they couldn't fix are the problems inherent to the Paramount lot itself.

Don't get me wrong, Paramount Studios is one of the most historic studio lots in town (and in fact, the only major studio still officially inside the Hollywood borders).  They made the very first movie to win an Academy Award ("Wings"), and on this lot they have shot such classics as  "The Godfather", "Forrest Gump", "Titanic", "Raiders of the Lost Ark", "Going My Way", "Sunset Blvd", "Breakfast at Tiffany's", "King Kong", "Braveheart", "Grease" and the "Star Trek" series, to name just a few.

But what it lacks is a traditional big back lot, full of permanent standing outdoor sets.  This was a staple of the major studios back in the Golden Age, filled with faux residential neighborhoods, jungles, mock railroads, Western towns, and Paris streets.  These big back lots were always the most colorful and interesting aspects of any movie studio, at least from the standpoint of a visitor.  MGM had a huge back lot, before they tore it down in the '70s.  Warner Bros. still has theirs.  As does Universal, of course.

To the average tour guest, all sound stages look more or less the same: distinguished only by the large numbers painted on their sides.  When they're in use, they are usually off-limits to tours.  When they are not in use, they are usually empty or filled with folded flats and lighting equipment.  So the guides are mostly limited to driving past these faceless barns, and telling us the history of each one, with tour guests catching an occasional glimpse of their dark, mostly empty interiors through the occasional open door.

( I noticed that they have added plaques to the outside of each sound stage, listing the notable movies & TV shows made inside.  That's great, except that the tour tram usually doesn't get close enough, or stop long enough for guests to read them. )

I realize that they can't, in practical terms, let the guests watch while movies are being made.  But they could (and should) show us more of the behind-the-scenes process.  Guests need to see things like the costume department, the prop houses, the recording studios, the dressing rooms, the mini-factories where they build the sets - and it sure wouldn't hurt to show guests at least one movie camera somewhere along the tour.

In short, they keep guests on the outside far too often, looking at exterior walls passing by, and listening to the guide's spiel.  Granted, the general buzz of the studio (its streets cluttered with white production trailers, and buzzing with the bikes and golf carts used to get around the lot) can be interesting in its own right, but a little of that goes a long way.

During my most recent tour, we only went inside twice: once to step into a tiny, empty, corner space in the New York set (that was once used for filming a scene from "Breakfast at Tiffany's"), and a second time to visit the empty set of "The Doctors" (a daytime TV talk show that I honestly never heard of).

Still, the tour is indeed better than it used to be, and I have to give them high marks for making an effort. And it remains superior to the Sony studio tour , which is just downright boring.  However, it still doesn't measure up to the Warner Bros. tour , with its huge back lot and more comprehensive tour.

But there are legitimate reasons why someone might opt for the Paramount tour.

As the photo on the left shows, Paramount is the only major studio where you have a view of the Hollywood Sign from inside the lot. OK, let's get into the details of what you'll see:

The Paramount tour takes a full two hours, and barely scratches the surface of the numerous buildings and sound stages that make up the 65-acre studio.

When he does, your first stop will be the Paramount gift shop, where they will give you some time to wander around the small store (where they no doubt hope you will spend your money on one of their t-shirts or coffee mugs, all bearing the familiar Paramount mountain logo).  You can also get a cup of coffee here, and relax for a moment under an umbrella at a patio table just outside.

They will then head east along the south edge of the studio lot, along the Paseo, the tiled walkway that runs parallel to Melrose, inside the studio.  On the right (south) edge of this broad walkway is a small strip of lawn, called Marathon Park, that is often also used for filming (due to its convenient location and relatively low cost), and the guide will tell you about a few of those productions.

Then it is on to the iconic Bronson gate (the one featured in "Sunset Blvd", "The Artist", and many other films), where you'll be given the chance to pose for photos near that famous arch.  (It is indeed a very photogenic spot.)

This brief history lecture (visually aided by the guide's iPad) seems to replace the short film about Paramount that used to be shown to tour guests before the start of the tour.  That's a mixed blessing, since its hard for a single person, no matter how talented, to compete with a professionally-made documentary film featuring the highlights of the studio's 100-year history.

Back outside on the Paseo, you'll be shown the original bench from "Forrest Gump", and regaled with stories about how Tom Hanks showed up one day to sit on the bench and pass out chocolates to passersby.

Then it's back on the tram, and through the Bronson gate into the actual working studio.

From here on in, the tours are somewhat played by ear.

As an example, on my visit, the guide ran into an unexpected problem.  While taking us to see the New York set (usually the highlight of the tour), he found his way blocked by a giant white tent, erected for some special event (you can rent the New York set for just such events, if you have the $10,000 a day it costs).  As a result, we ended up having to take a roundabout route and ended up seeing only a small section of the large New York set (portions of which mimic several East Coast cities).

We got out and were allowed to step inside the empty shell of a small storefront that our guide told us was used as the interior for Alex's boutique, called "Xela" on the TV sitcom "Happy Endings".  Since I never watched the show, that didn't mean much to me.

We were shown clips (via the guide's iPad) of a scene shot there from "Breakfast at Tiffany's".

We were also shown a very small alleyway just outside with fake bricks, and with fake sewers that could be rigged to emit steam, to add to that east coast ambiance.

Along the way, there was a lot of talk of the current TV shows filming on the lot: "NCIS", "Glee" "Happy Endings" and "Rizzoli & Isles".  There are also a lot of Nickelodeon kid shows filming at the studio, with names like "Big Time Rush" and "Marvin Marvin", which didn't ring a bell with most of the adults on this tour.

Tourists always hope to see a celebrity on a tour like this, but that is always a longshot chance.

We also saw a number of little kids spill out of a bus, and were told they were the cast of an upcoming Nickelodeon show called "Haunted Hathaways".  But since the show hasn't aired yet, that didn't mean much.

Likewise, our guide later pointed out a tween girl in a colorful dress, and identified her as Ryan Newman, an up-&-coming star (according to our guide) appearing with Tony Danza on his latest sitcom, "See Dad Run".

But, as expected, the better-known stars of "NCIS", "Glee" or even "Happy Endings" were nowhere in sight.

Finally, we headed to the southwest corner of the Paramount lot, which used to be RKO Studios, and later DesiLu (before Paramount absorbed it).

Our guide showed us Lucy Park (and an adjacent childcare center built by Lucille Ball for her employees).

We took a look at (the exterior) of Stage 21, where RKO filmed the original "King Kong", and then it was back to the studio cafe (seen on "Glee" as "Breadsticks"), where we disembarked and dispersed (after more encouragement to spend money in the studio gift shop).

The bottom line?  The studio tour is better than it used to be, and well worth the time, when you're in Hollywood.  But it could still be better.  And the historic Paramount lot, while it has a lot to offer, isn't the ideal movie studio for a tour.

Parking : Parking is available across the street from the famous Bronson gate, in a paid lot at the corner of Bronson & Melrose. (The cost for parking was a flat $10.00 on my last visit.)

Admission Price : $53 for the two-hour guided tour. (No one under age 10 is allowed on the tour.) Advance reservations are required (at 323-956-1777, or online at www.paramountstudiotour.com ).

(They also offer a special  4 1/2 hour VIP tour, once per week – on weekday mornings at 9:30 AM, and weekday afternoons at 1 PM. The cost is $178, and reservations are necessary .)

 [ Prices are current as of December 2014.]

You enter through the new double-arch Paramount gate on Melrose, just west of the older Bronson gate. There is a pedestrian walkway on the right (east) side of this entrance. Stop at the booth there.

Hours : Guided tours of the studio are given every day (except some holidays), every half hour from 9:30 AM to 2 PM.  (Weekend schedule may vary.) The tours last two hours.

[For more information on this subject, you can access Paramount's official website at: http://www.paramount.com .]