| Choose from cycle routes through beautiful forests or around peaceful lochs |
Many of Scotland’s cycle paths offer views of unforgettable scenery. For those who like the challenge, there are the gradients that come with any mountainous country; for others there are plenty of more manageable routes, often following dismantled railway lines.
There are now many outlets from which you can hire bikes, so you don’t even need to take yours on holiday with you - great if space is at a premium. It’s with these thoughts in mind that we show you some of the best cycling routes in the Trossachs, showing Scotland at its best.
• CALLENDAR BIKE HIRE
Drive from Stirling on the A84 to Callendar. In Callendar, turn left onto the A81, signposted Glasgow. Head up this road to the mini-roundabout and turn right. Follow this road for 0.9 miles, then turn left into Wheels Cycle Centre and hostel.
Wheels Cycle Hire in Callendar is an ideal place to hire bikes for the first two of our three routes. It is also a youth hostel and remains open throughout the winter, though it’s a good idea to call in advance during the week. A wide range of cycles and equipment is available, and the husband and wife who run it (Janet and Peter) are friendly and helpful. Bicycle hire charges are reasonable, too: adults £7.50 per half day or £12.50 per day; children from £3 per half day and £5 per day. Mountain bikes, with front or full suspension, cost £15 per half day or £25 per day.
1. FOREST RIDE TO STRATHYRE
If you have chosen to hire your bikes from Wheels Cycle Centre, turn right out of the Centre, left at the
mini-roundabout and left again at the end of the road. In a few hundred yards you can pick up the cycle path on your left.
This cycle path was once the Callendar to Oban railway line, passing through the village of Strathyre. It was built in the 1850s originally to transport herring from the west-coast port to Glasgow. At Balquidder another branch was added in the 1900s to Crieff via St Fillans and Comrie for passenger and freight transport, but it was closed in the 1950s.
Nowadays, as Route 7 on the National Cycle Network, the old line passes through some wonderful scenery and a number of interesting features on the way to Strathyre.
First on the list is the site of a Roman fort, which sits on the banks of the river Garbh Uisge. As you climb away from Callendar you’ll enter a little gorge and later pass the beautiful Falls of Leny.
Cycle on through the Pass of Leny into the forest and out onto the banks of Loch Lubnaig. Almost all of this side of the Loch is forest, and its dark hues provide a beautiful contrast to the light greens of the surrounding mountains and to the still waters of the loch itself.
You’ll leave the forest for a while before the descent into the picturesque village of Strathyre. From here you have the option of returning or carrying on for a few miles to Balquidder at the eastern end of Loch Voil, the site of Rob Roy’s grave.
2. LOCHSIDE REVERIE
This second cycle route is a pleasant, quiet journey, taking you along the south side of the peaceful Loch Venachar. There is an excellent pub called the Byre at the end of this loch which it serves tasty food and comes recommended by Janet at Wheels, too.
Head west, through the tiny hamlet of Invertrossachs, then cut south and follow the route around the small Loch Drunkie. The track carries on over the Forest Drive, around Creag Gownam and into Aberfoyle.
If you don’t fancy visiting Aberfoyle you can carry on westwards to Loch Achray where there are several routes through the Achray Forest. Or, you can persevere and head for Loch Katrine, some miles further up, where our next cycle route begins.
Whichever way you choose you’ll be assured of good cycling surfaces, the smell of fresh pine and other woodland scents as well as lots of fresh air and the unique sight of Scottish light bouncing off the pure waters of the lochs. There are plenty of quiet places at which to stop along the way so take a picnic and do as
little or as much as you like.
3. LOCH KATRINE
The beautiful Loch Katrine is probably the purest of all Scotland’s lochs. You can reach it either from the cycle route which runs alongside Loch Venachar (pictured, below) or you can drive there directly.
To drive from Stirling, take the A84 road towards Callendar then, just outside the town, turn left onto the A821, signposted Aberfoyle.
Carry on along the A821 through Brig o’ Turk. A little way outside Brig o’ Turk follow the signs for Loch Katrine and the steamer SS Sir Walter Scott. Park your motorhome and walk to the pier at the foot of the loch to hire a bicycle from Katrine Wheels (open weekends throughout the winter, but call in advance) or to take a trip on the SS Sir Walter Scott. Like Wheels in Callendar, Katrine Wheels will let you hire bikes for either a half or a full day, and hourly if you’re pushed for time. Adult bikes cost £3.50 per hour, £8 for half a day, or £12 for the day. Under-16s’ bikes cost £2.50 per hour, £6 for the half day or £8 for a full day’s hire.
All the roads around Loch Katrine are private so the only traffic you will encounter is the occasional timber lorry. Along the way look out for notice-boards pointing out features of interest. Among these are the ‘drove roads’ once used by Rob Roy McGregor and other Highlanders as they moved cattle around the country. You may also glimpse signs of ancient Iron Age settlements or the sites of ancient, illegal stills where strong whisky was once brewed. More commonplace are the ornate edifices of water inlets and outlets built by the Victorians to provide Glasgow with fresh water supplies. Today the water is still piped daily to thousands of Glaswegian homes.
You could easily take a full day to complete this route as it almost entirely circles the loch. Alternatively, you could take advantage of a one-way trip to Stonachlachar on the Sir Walter Scott and cycle back from there.
For scenic cycling routes, Scotland offers some of Europe’s best, so mount up and make the most of it.
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Callendar - Strathyre
9 miles; 2 hours; suitable for all the family
Callendar - Loch Katrine
13 miles; 3 hours; suitable for fitter and more experienced cyclists
Loch Katrine
14 miles (Loch Katrine pier to Stonachlachar, one way); 3 hours; suitable for all the family
CYCLE HIRE
Wheels Cycling Centre
01877 331100
Katrine Wheels
01877 376316
REFRESHMENTS
The Byre Inn, Brig o’ Turk.
01877 376292
(telephone in advance for opening times)
The Captain’s Rest,
Loch Katrine Pier.
01877 376 275
INFORMATION
Callendar
01877 330342
TIP
There are no motorways north of Perth in Scotland, so don’t attempt to estimate your arrival times based
on motorway speeds.
Allow more time for your journey - and take your time to enjoy the fabulous scenery along the way.
SUGGESTED PARK
Linnhe Lochside Holidays, Corpach, Fort William.
Tel 01397 772376. Open
all year except 1 Nov to 19 Dec. Charges: adults £11.50-£14.50; extra guests £1; awning £1.50; dogs 50p. |
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