Motorcycle Routes in Perthshire
Lochearn, Sma' Glen, Dunkeld, Pitlochry and Loch Tay
This is a circular route of about 150 miles with a
mixture of good A class roads, dual carriageway and some testing narrow winding roads
where care must be exercised. Description starts at Callander.
Using the blue dotted route via Aberfeldy reduces the route to about 110 miles.
Loch Tay and Central Perthshire
From Callander head north on the A84 through Kilmahog and the pass of Leny. In the pass of Leny you can park in the car-park on the right in order to visit the Falls of Leny. After the pass of Leny loch Lubnaig can be seen on the left and 2 large car parks provide convenient viewpoints. After about 5 miles we pass through -
Strathyre, the first village in the Highlands where on the right hand side we see a memorial to the gaelic poet Dugald Buchanan. Two miles further north, on the left we see Balquhidder Glen and in the distance, the twin peaks of Ben More and Stobinian. At King's house Hotel you can turn off to take a 2 mile detour into Balquhidder Glen and visit Rob Roy's grave at Balquhidder church. Three miles north of Balquhidder on the A84 is -
Lochearnhead at the foot of Glen Ogle where a right turn onto the A85 leads down the scenic north shore of Loch Earn for six miles to St Fillans then a further 4 miles to -
Comrie where you can visit the earthquake house, which was built in
Victorian times to monitor the frequent earthquakes which occur in Comrie due to its
location on the Highland Boundary Fault.
For a little rugged scenery, turn left at the sharp right bend as you enter Comrie and
drive up Glen Lednoch, visiting ‘The Deil’s Cauldron’ (a waterfall in a
gorge) on the way. This road ends after 4 miles forcing a return by the same road to the
A85. Continuing on the A 85 for another seven miles to
Crieff, once famous for its cattle market in the time of Rob Roy MacGregor, but now a popular tourist base. Two miles on from Crieff, and following a sharp right-hand bend at Gilmerton, turn left onto the A822 for the next 20 miles through the Sma' Glen to Dunkeld, passing Amulree and Trochry on the way. An enjoyable 20 miles with only a couple of nasty bends, especially the sharp right at the bridge over the river Almond. Join the A9 just south of -
Dunkeld and turn north then right to detour via the ancient religous centre of Dunkeld. In the town don't miss the cathedral with an efigy of Robert Cambell, 'the wolf of Badenoch' and also the 'L Shop' in the ancient town square with its whitewashed buildings. This was once a weaving community and the 'L' was the ancient unit of length used to measure fabric. Return to the A 9 dual carriageway and after rejoining the A9 visit the Hermitage with its fabulous waterfall and folly before continuing north for 13 miles through Ballinluig to -
Pitlochry to visit the Loch Faskally power-station with its fish ladder and viewing chamber. Continue north on the A 9 for four miles to -
Killiecrankie and the visitor centre at the Pass of Killiecrankie, near the site of the battle of Killiecrankie. A walk down the gorge through the woods is worthwhile, especially in the Autumn. Retrace your tracks south on the A9 for 2 miles then turn west on to the B8019 signposted to -
Tummel Bridge and Rannoch. Three miles along this winding road don't
miss the Queen's view observation point for a fabulous view down the length of loch
Tummel. Queen's view is so named because Queen Victoria stopped there to admire the view
on one of her many visits to Scotland.
Follow this winding road for another 7 miles to Tummel Bridge then another 6 miles to
Kinloch Rannoch for a wonderful view to the West along Loch Rannoch. You can continue here
to the end of the road at Rannoch Station but must return by the same road. At -
Kinloch Rannoch turn south over the river onto an undesignated road for a few miles to pass Schiehallion on your right before joining the B846 and turning right (south) past Glengoulandie deer farm then down a steep winding hill, with a glimpse of Garth Castle on the right, to reach the tiny hamlet of Keltneyburn.
At Keltneyburn turn right towards Fortingal with its famous church and ancient yew tree, claimed to be the birthplace of Pontius Pilate. Just beyond Fortingal, on the right, is Glenlyon House from which the Campbell's left for Glencoe to carry out the massacre of the MacDonalds. The remains of a Roman fort are also visible here on the left hand side of the road.
Take the next road on the right, signposted Glenlyon. Take your time on this narrow road as it twists and winds for 10 miles to Bridge Of Balgie through many a blind bend, but with magnificent scenery. The little tea room at Bridge Of Balgie makes a convenient stopping place.
At Bridge Of Balgie turn south (left) over the hump back bridge to climb the 6 mile mountain road to the Ben Lawers information centre. From the centre, Ben Lawers is a wonderful six-mile hike if you have the time and the weather, but visit the information centre anyway. Continue on this road down to Loch Tayside then turn right for the five-mile drive along Loch Tay, with wonderful views all the way to Killin. Care required just after a small caravan site on the right at the blind bends and narrow bridge at the foot of the hill.
At Killin, find the time to visit: Finlarig Castle (left just after the Maragowan Caravan site) , the Breadalbane Visitors' Centre, the Clan McNab burial ground on Inchbuie, and a wonderful photo opportunity at the falls of Dochart and the ancient bridge over the river Dochart. The pub at the bridge may provide a welcome break at this point.
From Killin follow the A827 west for two or three miles to its junction with the A85 at Lix Toll. Turn left here to climb to the summit of Glen Ogle (ACCIDENT BLACKSPOT) followed by a four mile descent to Lochearnhead. On the way down Glen Ogle, down on the right you will see the remains of the old military road which was built to help control the Scots after the 1745 rebellion. Also up on the hillside to the right, the splendid viaduct which carried the railway line, now a cycle way and foot path from Killin to Callander.
At the foot of Glen Ogle we return to Lochearnhead which now leaves us with a mere 12 miles back to Callander.
UNMARKED POLICE MOTOR CYCLES ON THE A84/A85
SPEED TRAPS SITES AT: CALLANDER, STRATHYRE, LOCHEARNHEAD, A9 DUNKELD TO PITLOCHRY, A85 LIX TOLL TO GLEN OGLE SUMMIT.
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