 Callander to Killin on Cycleway 7
[ Katrine ] [ Ben Ledi ] [ Strathyre ] [ Venachar ] [ Drunkie ] [ Glenartney ] [ Glenfinglas ] [ Killin ] [ Aberfoyle Forest ]
Start: Meadows Car Park Callander
Finish: Dochart Falls Bridge, Killin.
Distance: 23 miles one-way, but may be tackled in 'easy' parcels. Car
parking is available at beginning and end of the following sections:
- Callander - Strathyre.
- Strathyre - Lochearnhead
- Lochearnhead - Killin
The whole route:
From Callander meadows follow the pathway by the river then join the cycleway close to
the old railway signal. proceed to the road crossing at the A821( about 1.5 miles) then
continue past Bridgend cottage (a B&B) on your right and pedal your way along the easy
level track, passing Leny Falls until you reach a car park at Stank bridge,
At Stank bridge take the right hand track by the river and continue past the forest
lodges. A sudden sharp ramp takes you to a higher lever with good views over loch Lubnaig
to Strathyre.
Now a right turn takes you down a short slope (care at the gate) to continue at a lower
level for a few hundred yards before another sharp climb through zig-zags to regain the
higher level which now leads down to a public road, past a school, and to a junction.
Detour right into Strathyre for refreshments!
 CARE required now as motor vehicles share this next part.
At the junction take the left and climb slowly to a vantage point looking over the
river valley and Strathyre before dropping again almost to river level and swinging west
for a couple of miles to cross the river into Balquhidder village at the T junction.
Here you can get a cuppie tea and visit Rob Roy's Grave.
Pass the church on your right and head back east, passing the mausoleum of the
MacGregor Chiefs at Auchthub (achtoo), and a lovely old long house restored as a charming
dwelling.
Just before the main road crossing, notice the cycleway sign on the left and climb back
up to the level of the old rail trackbed.
Continue north where the track leaves the old rail line to meander through woods before
crossing a gorge on a re-constructed viaduct.
Now the track descends fairly steeply towards Lochearnhead before a sudden sharp haul
back to the old rail track via a horrible series of zig-zags.
 The views from here on are spectacular as the track
climbs easily up Glenogle with views back over Loch Earn and down into the glen. In This
Glen - Queen Victoria called it Scotland's Khyber Pass - you can see the old military
road, the 19th century road and the modern road all passing up the glen using the routes
which were viable in their day before modern machinery mad the road builders job easy!
Pause for a short time on the railway viaduct halfway up the glen - enjoy the
view and think about the men who laboured to build this line in the 19th century -  their
camp was at the falls just below the viaduct.
At the top of the glen the track crosses the main road and passes a mobile tea/burgers
stall - very handy and recommended!
 Past the Burger stall you will see on the right a memorial to 2
airmen who were killed when their jet fighter crashed here on a training mission.
Through a gate now and the long descent into Glendochart begins.
Some care is required as some of the corners are a little sharp and the surface
gravelly. At the foot of the long downhill the track levels out again and now a 2
mile flat section takes you to Killin at the Dochart Falls.
The railway line used to continue all the way to the shores of Loch Tay where the
traveller could continue by steamer to Kenmore at the east end of the loch
Unless you have a car waiting you can now look forward to the long 23 mile haul
back!
Cycle hire from Wheels Cycling Centre
just outside town or Mounter's Bikes in
Callander
|