Lochs Galore by Bike

Arrive in Callander

Today’s ride is all about the fabulous Scottish scenery. You shall head out towards Loch Katrine cycling with Loch Venachar to your left side and with beautiful hill scenery all around you.  Cycling through a couple of little hamlets you will reach Loch Katrine. At Loch Katrine, if time permits, you can take a ride on the 100-year-old steamer boat.  The boat Sir Walter Scott shall depart from the Trossachs Pier where you shall see the atmospheric Ben Venue and Ellen’s Isle and not forgetting the historic site of Queen Victoria’s Royal Cottage.

After you disembark at Stronachlachar and cycle back towards the Trossachs Pier on the private road. This private road is very secluded with wildlife in abundance.   The route back then takes in the forest tracks of the Queen Elizabeth forest park on the opposite side of Loch Venachar to this morning’s ride.  Should you miss the boat trip or it is fully booked you can cycle as far as you wish along the wonderful private road before returning to Callander.

Setting off south along the quiet country roads to Doune, home of a famous Castle sitting directly on the River Teith. Before reaching Doune you shall cycle past Deanston Whisky distillery, where you can take a guided tour (own expense).  Doune Castle is a medieval castle, built as a home of Scotlands’s uncrowned King Regent Albany. During your visit, you can trace the footsteps of rulers fictional and real, as the castle has been a filming location for famous films such as Game of Thrones, Outlander and Monty Python and the Holy Grail!

After exploring the Castle and the little town of Doune, you can either take a circular route back or continue onto Dunblane and visit the wonderful Cathedral. Dunblane Cathedral, established by Saint Blane around the year 600, is one of the few surviving medieval churches in Scotland. It is a very impressive church with its riverside setting.

Today you are cycling north leaving Callander on the cycle path.  A few miles outside Callander make sure to stop off and visit the Falls of Leny. Using mainly cycle trails and quiet roads you will cycle passed the stunning lochs of Loch Lubnaig and Oich, before having the chance to see Rob Roy’s grave.  Rob Roy was chief of the McGregor clan in the late 17th century and was a Scottish version of Robin Hood.  His grave is in the tiny hamlet of Balquhidder where he was buried in 1734. After your visit, you then continue towards Killin. Where you will begin climbing gently over the Glen Ogle pass to Killin,  where you will have the chance to sit and watch the day or evening go by beside the Falls of Dochart.  Killin is a pretty village on the river Dochart and Lochay.

Today you have various cycling options. You can cycle the undulating lane south around Loch Tay and the possibility to visit the Scottish Crannog Centre. A crannog is a river house and these were used on the Scottish Lochs during the bronze age. The centre shows the life and skills of the people who lived in a crannog. You shall also have the chance to visit the pretty village of Kenmore.

The other option is to cycle over a mountain range to the next Glen (valley) before descending what is said to be Scotland’s longest enclosed Glen; Glen Lyon. On both routes, you shall pass through Fortingall which is famous for having the world’s oldest Yew tree sitting within the tiny historic village. A few more miles and you shall have the chance to visit Castle Menzies, home of the Menzies Clan before arriving in your destination Aberfeldy by crossing the famous bridge across the Tay River built for General Wades between 1726 and 1735. It was part of General Wades network of military roads.

If you did not have time today you can visit Dewers World of Whisky distillery and Menzies Castle. Castle Menzies was the home of the Menzies Chiefs from 1488 to 1910. Records show that the Menzies has been in the region of Highland Perthshire from the middle of the 12th century. The castle is now owned by the Menzies Charitable Trust and has been well renovated. Today on your ride you shall set out along the National Cycle Network along the river valley East.

The shorter route will take you straight to Pitlochry, while the longer route will pass through Dunkeld; a lovely preserved historic village dating back to the 6th century when a monastery was built there.  The whole village was burned down during the Battle of Dunkeld in 1689! In the 1700’s, the pretty village was rebuilt and in 1950’s the houses were renovated to provide homes for local people. After your visit, you head north to Pitlochry.

A day to explore the tourist attractions in the wonderful Highland town or take a day’s cycle ride around this great area. Visit the Fish and Dam ladder and if lucky and in the season you will see the salmon jumping the ladder. The Festival open-air theatre is worth a visit or you could try one of the two distilleries nearby; the Bells and Edradour Scotland’s smallest. Cycle north and visit the Killiecrankie visitor centre the centre point of the Jacobite risings. Further north a few miles is Blair Atholl with Scotland’s most visited Castle; Blair Castle, home of the Atholl family. The picturesque route around Loch Tummel will provide some breathtaking scenery to make this day stopover truly unforgettable.

Depart after breakfast.

5 Night Tour Schedule, depends on availability

Day 1 Callander

Day 2 Callander – Lochs Katrine

Day 3 Callander to Killin

Day 4 Killin to Aberfeldy

Day 5 Aberfeldy to Pitlochry

Day 6 Departure

OR

Day 1 Callander

Day 2 Callander to Killin

Day 3 Killin to Aberfeldy

Day 4 Aberfeldy to Pitlochry

Day 5 Pitlochry Loop – Blair Castle and Tummel Valley

Day 6 Departure