In Scotland, Mountain biking and Cycling in the Trossachs is a great way of seeing the best of the scenery in this part of Scotland. Cycling from Callander will suit all tastes and all levels of fitness. Bikes can be hired on an hourly or daily basis from several cycling centres, two of which are in Callander, and one at Loch Katrine in the heart of the Trossachs.

National Park Cycling ............ example routes

The national park has options for all kinds of cycling; from short hour-long rides to full scale long distance touring; on-road, off-road or on dedicated cycle track.

Passing Tyndrum? try the 'Real Food Cafe'

Waymarked Cycle Routes

Forest Enterprise has way-marked cycle routes in many of it’s woodlands within the park boundary.

Cycling clubs

Squadra Porcini are predominantly a bike racing team based out of Glasgow and Callander

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Here are some fine examples of the varied rides available:

1. Callander, Loch Venachar, Loch Achray: (Medium and undulating)

Leave Callander on the Glasgow road over the bridge and turn right at the mini roundabout. Follow this narrow winding road ignoring any side roads. In about two miles you will come to Loch Venachar and a viewpoint with a Trossachs mountain indicator.

This road is private from here on but is open for cycling and pedestrians.

Follow the road until you come to the entrance to the Invertrossachs Country House Hotel, at which point turn onto the track to the right. Take care now as this is a rough track.
Some beautiful stopping places will now be found along the side of the loch.

After about three and a half miles the track leaves the lochside and for about a mile you will follow forest tracks.

Pass Loch Achray on your right for about a mile before joining the public road at the foot of the Dukes Pass. (This is the half way point and if you don't want to ride on the public road, retrace your track from here)

Turn right now and follow the road back to Callander via Brig - o' - Turk. Round trip about 22 miles.

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2. Callander to Strathyre by the old railway track:
(Easy and level - SUSTRANS7)

Leave Callander to the west and about 200m after the last shop, turn left onto the cycleway where you see the old railway signal, (opposite Tulipan Cresc.). Follow this track over the river, notice the Buchanan graveyard on your left Some remains of the Roman occupation of Scotland will be seen on the right shortly. Continue for about ½mile to the road crossing . Cross the road and follow the track to Strathyre passing the Falls of Leny, Loch Lubnaig and some magnificent scenery. You can't get lost - railway lines don't get lost. The round trip returning by the same route is about 14 miles.

 

Returning by the main road is not recommended for reason of safety.

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3. Ben Ledi forest roads

As for (2) to Stank bridge or by car on A84 to Stank bridge (about 3 mile NW from Callander).
From Stank Bridge car park, follow the cycleway north (by the road with a barrier) for about 3/4 mile and watch for the sigh on the left to 'Ben Ledi'. Go through the opening in the fence then turn right then the left fork forest road rising gently through some zig-zags among plantations. After the zigzags, the forest road turns south and levels out a little.  About 1/2 mile aftr the last zigzag another forest road joins from the right.

(a) If you feel energetic you can take this road on the right and follow for 1/2 mile to a hill track on the left leading to a circuit of Stank Glen.

(b) If less energetic continue past the road on the right until you see the hill track on the right leading to Ben Ledi - and just beyond that on the left a pathway leading down through the trees to return to the Stank car park. Caution - this track becomes very steep near the bottom and if unsure you should walk this last steep part.

Alternative route (about 11 miles)

From Callander either cycle via the Meadows car park and cycleway or drive to Kilmahog 2 miles from Callander.

On the Trossachs road at Kilmahog, about 300 yards beyond the bridge over the river Leny you'll find a car park on the right. A timber road leads up the hill beside the car park. Follow this road - steep at first but getting easier. After about 2 miles the going gets much easier and views over the Pass of Leny and Loch Lubnaig open up on the right. After a short shaded section through the trees a long descent begins with just a brief effort shortly after passing the Ben Ledi track. A little care is required now as the trail has a few stretches with rough gravel and drops through a long series of zigzags to join the lochside trail near to Stank farm. Turn right on the track nearest to the loch to follow the cycleway beside the river and back to Kilmahog.

 

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4. Loch Katrine. Option of Loch Lomond: (Tarmac private road - hilly for first 5 miles.)

Take the bikes in the car or hire a bike at Loch Katrine. Drive out of Callander to the north west and turn left in about one mile at Kilmahog. This road provides some magnificent views over Loch Vennachar, especially if you use the bike instead of the car. Continue through Brig o Turk, past Loch Achray and the little church on the left, past the big mansion with the turrets then turn right to the Loch Katrine car park. Get on your bike and take the track up the right hand side of the loch and cycle until you're half tired. Turn round and return by the same path. Alternatively, get there in time for the morning boat, take the bike with you then cycle back. (check sailing times). 
The print above shows Loch Katrine in the late 19th C.

One way trip about 12m.

If you feel like staying on the bike a little longer, when you reach Stronachlachar pier, carry on westward for a further 5 miles or so to Inversnaid for some fine views down Loch Lomond. When at Inversnaid, you might like to park your bike and walk up the rough track beside Loch Lomond to have a look at Rob Roy's cave beside the loch. It's a hard bit of cycling on the haul back up from Loch Lomond but it's worth the effort.

Views over the Trossachs on the way back are also noteworthy but if you want to return by boat, remember that only the morning cruise comes to Stronachlachar! Miss the boat to find out that Scotland is a bit big!

 

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5. Glen Finglas.
About 8 miles round trip from Brig o Turk - Challenging! (Landrover track - mountain bikes only)

From Callander, Cycle north on the A84 to Kilmahog and take the Aberfoyle Rd to Brig-o'-Turk. At Brig o' Turk turn right at the tea room and follow the narrow road past a little graveyard and the school on the right until you come to a fork in the road. Take the right fork then get off and push for 10 minutes! At the top, look forward to a long downhill with great views of the Loch on the left. After a couple of miles the bike track becomes rough and drops right down to the Loch. Keep to the left at every fork in the road and eventually the track becomes very rough and now climbs away from the loch and approaches 2000 ft before veering to the right. 

At this point, pause and take a well deserved look to the south over a huge chunk of Scotland. You can see all the way over to Stirling and the river Forth if the weather is kind.

You now experience a bit of challenging descent through some rough downgrades before rejoining the original track at the lochside for the return trip.

This route may be varied for a longer and much rougher route by turning off the main route about 1 mile past the right fork. A narrow footpath leads to Balquhidder via Glenbuckie.

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6.The Callander to Glen Dochart and Killin 'Sustrans' Cycleway:(purpose built long distance route providing easy cycling without severe climbs)

The Cycleway starts just east of Callander at Keltie bridge and follows the old Stirling to Oban railbed to Glendochart near Killin. Being an old railway line, cycling is easy as the route is fairly level although there are some very long inclines typical of those which were negotiable by the 'Iron Horse'.

Here are some noteable features which are encountered along the way :

Safe return is by the same route!

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7.    The Queen Elizabeth Forest Park

The Forest Park information centre is on the Duke's Pass between Callander and Aberfoyle about half a mile east of Aberfoyle.

The centre provides details of the forest tracks suitable for cycling.

A word of warning - one or two forest roads are open to motor vehicles and you should be aware that cars may sometimes share access with cyclists and walkers.

 

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8. Callander to Comrie via Glenartney
Difficult 30 mile by return route (or Very difficult 55 miles* via Glean an Dubh Choirean and Glen Vorlich, south Loch Earn and A84 from Lochearnhead)

This route is fairly hilly with steep sections over very rough track with lots of traps for the unwary. It is about 28 miles return of which about 19 miles are tarmac and the only realistic return is by the same route unless you wish to return by the main roads.

Leave Callander by the Bracklinn falls road near the east end post office, following signs for 'Bracklinn Falls'. At the top[ of a steep climb, pass the falls car park on your right, staying on the tarmac road. the road soon levels out then decends gently via a gate on the road to Braeleny farm. Take the right fork leading to Braeleny farm then through the gate beyond the farm yard to begin the rough section.

Following this unmade farm track, Stuc a Chroin comes into view on the front left. Continue past the stone building on the right (now used by the water board) then down a very stony section to cross the Bracklinn water via a bridge (spectacular new bridge due for completion early October 2010).

Note the 'stalking' warning at the bridge. Continue towards the abandoned farm buildings noting the reservoir on the left which once supplied water to Callander (Arie dam), and take a break at the top of the hill.

The track now becomes very difficult, wet in places and with many a trap for the 'bottom pedal'. Undulating now for a mile or so before decending to a bridge at 'Allt an Dubh Choirean' hill burn. Stop a moment to get your wind back and admire the pools and waterfall among rocks stained red by the peat.

Ascending again for a short way after the bridge you pass through a gate in the deer fence before having the luxury of a longish, mainly downhill section down towards Auchinner farms at the start of the tarmac road which now leads to Comrie.

Return by the same route or get collected at Comrie.

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Another word of warning! The A84 - (main road through Callander to Crianlarich) is a very busy trunk road carrying heavy goods vehicles and fast traffic. It is therefor not suitable for cycling by novices or children!

Cycle hire from Wheels Cycling Centre just outside town or Mounter's Bikes in Callander