Pitlochry Area Walking & Cycling

Edradynate Loop, by Farragon Hill

This route initially follows the Core Path/Rob Roy Way south out of Pitlochry through Cluniemore (on the Mast Route-see EveryTrail) and over to Strathtay. Lock out your suspension, turn right along the main road and head west on the north side of the Tay for almost two miles. Cross the Edradynate Burn and then turn right at the next cottage on your right to head up the tarmac road. You'll be climbing for some time but the views are worth it. Generally, bear left at main junctions, You leave the leafy farmland behind and then, eventually, burst out of the forest and onto the moor. Now the real climbing starts! To gain the ridge, the best views of the southern Cairngorms in Perthshire and the second major downhill of the day, you have to climb a series of sections that vary from very steep to sadistic. It's all rideable. Pace yourself and catch your breath/eat Haribos at the top of each one. Switching on your rear suspension may give you more traction. The earthworkings that you puff past are associated with the early days of the Barytes mine development nearby. Probably best not to drink or swim in the blue pools. After invoking your Mother, Googling the nearest defibrillator site and sucking your Camelback reservoir into an object infinitely small and now with the same physical properties as a black hole, you will find that you have done it and that view with that downhill lie in front of you. Savour the location, you're over 2000' up and the panorama is reckoned to be the best in Highland Perthshire. Now check brakes, close zips, tighten straps, check that your forks and shock are at full travel and let gravity take you the three and a half miles down to Loch Tummel! Steep, loose, fast, occasional ruts, the odd puddle, patches of bedrock and sharp corners: then you are spat out at the site of the former house at Netherton opposite Ailean House on Loch Tummel. You'll have that grin and those near miss stories to provide enough adrenaline for powering you back to Pitlochry past Clunie Dam (unhelpfully, no access across) along the Foss road (turn right and head east when you hit the road at Loch Tummel). A singletrack return to Pitlochry is available from the Coronation Bridge over the River Tummel through NTS Linn of Tummel via the River Garry and Loch Faskally. Otherwise, stay on the south bank, cycle past that bridge, down the beautiful River Tummel, passing Clunie Power Station, look across to Faskally House and cross Loch Faskally on the metal bridge upstream of the A9 bridge. Turn right to the Boating Station and head up to the main street in Pitlochry. You'll still have a grin on your face!
Tips:
OS Explorer 386 Pitlochry & Loch Tummel shows the whole route.
It can be started on the Pitlochry side or the Strathtay side. Do it clockwise.
Food shops in Pitlochry and Strathtay.
The banter-rich and service-high Escape Route in Pitlochry's main street, across from the Tourist info building, is the local bike shop/coffee stop. http://www.escape-route.co.uk/index.html
At any time of the year: take plenty of nourishment, water and appropriate clothing for Scottish mountains.
There's a good O2 mobile signal virtually all the way round.

Loch Dunmore, Faskally Woods

A lovely, safe cycle route, suitable for families with young children around, Loch Dunmore in Faskally Woods. All credit to the Forestry Commission. Ten mins cycle/two mins drive from Pitlochry, Highland Perthshire. Take the old A9, now the B8019, north out of Pitlochry (signed Killiecrankie and Tummel Bridge) for about one mile. There is plenty of parking and toilets too. The route surfaces are suitable for small wheeled bikes and prams. There's lots to see and plenty of places to stop. The path keeps a discrete distance from the water and only offers a few places for access/getting wet!.
This is also the usual location for the famous Enchanted Forest spectacle each autumn: http://enchantedforest.org.uk/

Tips:
Parking and toilets. Picnic areas and benches. Just outside Pitlochry, the whole area is brilliant for visitors.
Faskally Woods are adjacent to Faskally Caravan Site: http://www.faskally.com/
Look out for kingfishers by the loch. Many types of fishes live in the loch including sticklebacks, carp and tench. Coarse fishing available: http://www.fishingnet.com/fishing_clubs/dunmore.htm
In spring the loch and environs are full of frogs and toads. Good place for newts (salamanders) and slow worms too.
Crossbills feed on the cones high in the trees. There's lots of Red Squirrels in Faskally Woods.
The route is designed to be done as a figure of eight and so can be halted after the first circuit if needs be. Older, more confident children can easily be accommodated by the network of informal routes throughout the forest.
Pitliochry is a major tourist centre with a vast range of visitor facilities. The bike shop is on the main street almost opposite the tourist information centre: http://www.escape-route.co.uk/

Faskally Woods

Older, confident children and adult beginners will find it fun and gently challenging on hybrids or mountain bikes.
Cycle out from Pitlochry or Faskally Caravan Park, it's ten minutes in either direction to the Forestry Commission Faskally Woods car park and toilets.
The route is a circuit around Loch Dunmore through Faskally Woods, starting at the carpark and toilets. The woods are the location for the Enchanted Forest spectacle in autumn

Tips:
The network of informal trails associated with this route offers huge potential to entertain the non-conformist, rebellious yoofs who really don't want to be on holiday with you anyway!
Sensible newcomers will stick to this route until they feel more confident! Over ambitious riders (usually Dads), who haven't been on a bike much recently, will at least find privacy when resting foreheads on handlebars prior to continuing on their chosen alternative trail!

Killiechangie, by Logierait

See the image gallery for close ups of the excellent descriptive signage on site. The mountain bike track can be turned into a loop by following the quiet country road back to your parking.

Ben Vrackie

This walk takes you through a variety of terrain to stunning views. Start from the car park just outside Moulin. The path is good, but some sections are very steep.