Aberfeldy, Loch Tay & Glen Lyon 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.

Drummond Hill

Any visit to Kenmore is worthwhile so this late winter trip was even better with a bike ride too! If you look at the profile then you'll see that this route has a steep climb in the first mile or two followed by a steady descent and a flat return along the River Tay to The Courtyard for coffee and cakes. The long,steep climb at the beginning really makes it unsuitable for children under the ages of 12 or 13. The long, fast downhill may also bring problems of bike control to very young children. Of course, these are general remarks and certain individual youngsters on either side of the line will perform differently. I have based the remark on the opinions of my thirteen year-old son and my wife, who rode it with me. Nevertheless, the views from Black Rock Point are worth the effort, as are the views onto Fortingall and Glen Lyon. Thanks to the Forestry Commission and Perth and Kinross Big Tree Country!

There's much potential within the route for opening it up and allowing more of the surrounding countryside to be seen. It is sometimes a little like cycling in a green canyon! Perhaps the Forestry Commission has plans for this? When you finish the descent and come out at the Peeler Gate entrance cross the road to the quarry entrance and turn immediately right onto the path running parallel to the road. This is safer than cycling along to the cottage and then joining the path. Although it isn't a busy road this just makes better sense.

The route doesn't take long to do and we just sauntered around it. Drummond Hill offers even more routes for the intrepid cyclist. Just follow your nose! Parking and bike parking facilities were excellent at The Courtyard. Delicious coffees, cakes and ice creams soon replaced those lost calories! You will not regret visiting Kenmore. It has something for everyone: prehistory, history, romance, fishing, cycling, walking, bird watching, good food and all of the attractions of beautiful Loch Tay.

Tips: Park at the Forestry Commission Car Park or, better still, at The Courtyard in Kenmore. When heading north out of Kenmore, Drummond Hill is signposted to your right from the north side of the bridge over the Tay, just after The Courtyard. From The Courtyard, turn right out and immediately right again. The cyclists and horse riders' path climbs into the forest soon after on your left, marked by a big stone. Alternatively, continue on until you come to the formal entrance and make your way up the slightly less steep fire road. The initial climb to the viewpoint and beyond is steep and long. On the descent, bear left at any turn offs to take you to the Peeler Gate entrance. A track goes off to your left down to a fishing bothy, bear right to remain on the riverside trail. I expect that the fallen Beech tree on the riverside trail will be cleared soon. Otherwise, it's not too difficult lifting the bikes over.

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.

Camserney & Dull Wood

A circular route which includes a steep climb, but rewarding views - for full details, see the route card pdf below.

Dull Wood

A 10km mountain bike circuit comprising a steep climb and fast descent on farm/forest 4WD tracks. Lovely, elevated views of Aberfeldy, the Tay and Appin of Dull. Most suitable for fit and confident teenage and adult riders.
If you have carried your bikes by car or need to hire bikes then there is ample free parking and a wide range of visitor facilities at Highland Safaris, less than three miles west of Aberfeldy on the B846 Fortingall /Glen Lyon road (leave Aberfeldy by the famous Wade's Bridge over the Tay). Start the circuit by turning left out of the entrance and head down to the main road. Turn left and cycle back towards Aberfeldy for nearly half a mile to the Camserney turn off. Turn left to the bonny hamlet, passing the bus shelter and phone box at the road end. You now start climbing for just under two miles. Remain on the main track, it keeps heading up! The circuit is partially signed, with green core path indicators, as the Dull Wood Circular. At a point, close to the top of the climb, you will be confronted by a range of gates. A track continues ungated off to your right to Lurgan. Instead, pass through the gate straight ahead and continue uphill. Shortly afterwards you will encounter the main hill gate which has a small gate beside it, conveniently allowing cyclists and walkers to pass. Turn next left, down a seriously muddy and rutted track towards the burn and the footbridge, The latter is perched incongruously above the burn just upstream of a ford that is best ridden only in very low water. Head on up the track for a short distance and you'll encounter another gate (often there are ponies here). After that, turn left onto the forest track and continue to the unmarked but obvious viewpoint of the Rock of Dull. The views here are worth every bit of effort to get there! To your left is Aberfeldy, below are Dull and Camserney and to your right is Loch Tay and Drummond Hill (route on EveryTrail). The downhill on this well made forest track is fast and exhilarating. On my descent, I heard Chiffchaff just arrived from Africa, green woodpecker laughing on the slopes and scattered roe deer back into the woods! Near the bottom of the final descent just take care to take the left trail off to Dull. Otherwise, you'll have another gate to go through and a return along the main road. The return trail heads off level to your left on a very tight right hand bend before a gate by a house. This is a lovely trail that takes you back into Dull, bear left and downhill into Highland Safaris. You'll get a warm welcome and food or a cup of tea and cake inside!
Tips:
The pink (Landranger) OS map 52 Pitlochry, Crieff and Aberfeldy would be useful and offers a range of alternative routes in the area.
During office hours, parking is free and convenient at Highland Safaris . If the gates are closed, usually after 5pm, then park in Camserney.
Highland Safaris have a lot to offer visitors to the area including a cafe, food shop, excursions, a bike skills loop next to the car park and bike hire. www.highlandsafaris.net
Between Aberfeldy and Dull is the House of Menzies tearoom and shop, well worth a visit.
Aberfeldy is the nearest small town and offers accommodation, food and lovely walks. Camserney is linked by cycle path to Aberfeldy.
To the west, Kenmore is also nearby and The Courtyard is a delightful location for coffee, food etc. There's an EveryTrail route up Drummond Hill nearby.
The nearest bike shop is the fabulous Escape Route in Pitlochry http://www.escape-route.co.uk/