| Distance (km) | Ascent (metres) | Number of days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 127 (or 154) | 2325 | 6 - 8 | |
| Start: Drymen | Finish: Pitlochry | ||
|
Linked to other Scotland’s Great Trail(s): Great Trossachs Path West Highland Way |
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Guidebook and maps
Below we list printed maps and/or guidebooks in ascending order of cover price: click image or title for more info. To add or alter any items in this list, please Contact us.
Route type and direction
Linear. Preferred direction is heading north-east from Drymen to Pitlochry, to put the prevailing wind at your back. Also, the gradients and terrain are less challenging in the south-west sections.
Overview
The route starts close to Loch Lomond, jointly with the West Highland Way, soon diverging through the Trossachs via Aberfoyle and Callander. It passes three beautiful lochs – Venachar, Lubnaig and Earn – and several lovely lochans on its way through stunning scenery to reach Killin. It then runs the length of Loch Tay to Aberfeldy, before passing a stone circle to end in Pitlochry. A challenging extension (adding 17 miles/27 km to the overall distance) leaves Loch Tay at Ardtalnaig and detours via Glen Almond and Glen Quaich to rejoin above Aberfeldy.
The route begins in the Trossachs where Rob Roy MacGregor spent most of his time, but throughout its length, there are many connections with events in his colourful life.
Highlights
- visible legacy of the Loch Katrine water scheme
- Falls of Leny, near Callander
- railway heritage and the Glen Ogle viaduct
- Falls of Dochart, Killin
- Birks o’ Aberfeldy (celebrated by Robert Burns)
- stone circle in Fonab forest
Be aware
- long section of road-walking between Ardeonaig and Acharn (7.5 miles/12 km)
- limited accommodation in Strathyre and Ardtalnaig
The challenge
The sections vary in length, gradient and also the going underfoot. Long sections are shared with Cycle Route 7 so the walking is mainly on tarmac. There are hilly sections between Strathyre and Ardeonaig (Loch Tay), between Ardtalnaig and Aberfeldy, and also on the optional section between Ardtalnaig and Aberfeldy via Glen Almond. Beyond Killin, the terrain is more varied and on open hillside the path is not always clearly defined, although it is waymarked.
Accommodation
Plentiful in all locations except for Strathyre and Ardtalnaig. As of 2021, Strathyre had the Ben Sheann hotel with camping pods nearby and the White Stag hotel. Ardtalnaig had a total of beds for six people: Kindrochit Garden Flat (jo@wildfoxevents.com tel 01567 829071) or two twin-bed self-contained pods in the garden of Holly Cottage.
The hotel at Amulree has been closed for some years, and we know of no alternatives on the extension route except for The Farmhouse at Corrymuckloch which is 1.4 miles to the south of the route on the A822.
Wild camping is legally allowed in Scotland if practised responsibly under the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.
Support services
In addition to the companies listed below, Kingshouse Travel provides baggage transfer:
Public transport
Bus services between Glasgow and Drymen. Pitlochry is well served by both bus and train. Kingshouse Travel operates the C60 bus route between Callander and Killin via Strathyre and Lochearnhead.
For details, visit Traveline Scotland, or, for the entire UK, Traveline. For travel from anywhere to anywhere, try Rome2Rio.