Enjoy some of Scotland’s finest scenery, following in the footsteps of Rob Roy McGregor, Scotland’s most legendary outlaw. After meandering through the Trossachs we experience wonderful views of the surrounding mountains, and dramatic highland scenery, on our journey to Pitlochry.

Detailed information

	Detailed itinerary
	Dates and prices
	Average temperatures
	Travel Information

Detailed itinerary

79 miles, 7½ to 12 miles per day, with an average daily ascent of 1,200ft.

ITINERARY - 9 nights

Day 1: Arrival day
After the evening meal your leader will give you an introductory briefing to the walk.

Day 2: Drymen to Aberfoyle
Distance: 16km (10 miles) 270m (900ft) of ascent
Leaving Drymen's main square we follow a minor road, which offers fine views to the Campsie Fells with the volcanic plug of Dumgoyne at their southern end. From the highest point of the road we can see the white houses of Aberfoyle contrasting with the dark craggy hill (Meall Ear) just behind the village. We get glimpses of Ben Lomond peak as we walk through Loch Ard forest. Nearing Aberfoyle we can investigate Kirkton Church and the two 'mort safes' - cast iron coffins, made heavy to discourage body snatchers! There is an information board, which provides a detailed explanation of the church's interesting history.

Aberfoyle is described as the true gateway to the Trossachs, situated in the Queen Elizabeth Forest Park - one of the most beautiful and pictureque areas in all Scotland. Sir Walter Scott was a frequent visitor to the Trossachs area, staying in the old Manse house and became a familiar sight as he rode along the forest tracks. It was this wooded location that he used as the backdrop for his Rob Roy and The Lady of the Lake - the 'lake' being Loch Katrine.

Slate mining was also important to Aberfoyle and by the end of the 1800s the four quarries to the north west of Aberfoyle, together, comprised Scotland's third largest source of slates, with 1.4 million being produced each year.

Perhaps the high point of the industry came in the 1930s when slate from Aberfoyle was used for the billiard tables on the luxury liner Queen Mary. Demand for slate declined and the railway to the quarries was closed in 1947, to be followed by the quarries themselves in 1958.

Day 3: Aberfoyle to Callander
Distance: 16km (10 miles) 365m (1,200ft) of ascent
Today includes a splendid open stretch of walking as the terrain becomes rougher across the Menteith Hills. We have our first glimpse of the higher mountains to the far north before descending through a forest to follow the shores of a lochan where we can take the time to enjoy the panoramic views of Loch Venacher and Ben Ledi.

Callander grew to prominence with the Oban Railway which is now disused. Set beneath steep wooded crags the town is flanked on the south side by the River Teith. From almost every point in the town Ben Ledi, the tallest mountain in The Trossachs, can be seen standing proudly at the entrance to the Leny Pass.

Arden House in Callander was the location used for Dr Finlay's Casebook, the popular tales of a Scottish country doctor.

Day 4: Callander to Strathyre
Distance: 14km (9 miles) 100 m (330ft) of ascent
Today is a relatively easy day as we follow the track bed of a dismantled railway first along the River Teith to the foot of Ben Ledi, and then along the shores of Loch Lubnaig to Strathyre.

Strathyre has historically been a stopping off point for travellers. St Columba and St Cuthbert both stayed here on their journeys around Scotland.

Originally located on the route of an old drove road, on the opposite side of the River Balvag, modern Strathyre developed on its present site with the coming of the railway. Strathyre lies in a picturesque location at the head of Loch Lubnaig, overlooked by Beinn-ant-Sithean (Ben Shian). This is Gaelic for 'Mountain of the Fairies or Fairy Hillocks'. Celtic fairies were not seen as the fairies of modern tales, but supposedly looked very much like us and lived in hollow mountains!

Strathyre was the birthplace of the (not so well known) gaelic religious poet Dugald Buchanan. He was famous in his time for his religious poetry and is buried in Little Leny Burial ground at Callander, the burial place of the Buchanans of Leny house.

Day 5 : Strathyre to Killin
Distance: 19km (12 miles ) 300m (1,000ft) of ascent
Three miles into our walk we arrive at Kingshouse and the Rob Roy Bar. From here we have a couple of miles walking parallel to the A84, on a cycle route, before the route swings away from the road crossing a huge viaduct across Glen Kendrum. Our route starts to climb gently at first and then gets steeper through a series of zig zags, with the village of Lochearnhead some 100 metres below. As the views of Loch Earn disappear our path veers west and enters Glen Ogle towards the super long viaduct. Crossing the A84 we pass a memorial to two RAF Tornado pilots killed while flying low here in 1994. We enter Killin past the tumbling Falls of Dochart.

Day 6: Killin to Ardeonaig
Distance: 14km (9 miles) 525m (1,750ft) of ascent
Today's route is a splendid cross country section past Lochan Breaclaich offering fine views over Loch Tay. The large proportion of the ascent is done on a utility road, which climbs through the forest. As the road levels out there are splendid views along Loch Tay and behind the twin mountains of Ben More and Stob Binnein, possibly snowcapped until early summer. Soon we reach the impressive Breacliach Dam, which turned a small lochan into a major power source, providing electricity to drive three separate power stations. From the lochan the track continues to climb as a huge dogleg brings us to a second higher mast, the highest part of the walk. This is countryside that was traversed by the Macnab brothers on the Christmas raid on the Neish Clan in 1612. Initially we descend on a faint path through pasture towards Loch Tay and finally a road which leads down to Ardeonaig.

Day 7: Ardeonaig to Kenmore
Distance: 17km (10 miles) 400 m (1,320ft) of ascent
We follow the South Loch Tay road uphill (3 miles) for the first 8 miles this morning. At Acharn we take the steep track up beside Acharn Burn. Half a mile ahead is the Hermit's Cave, a theatrical folly built by John Campbell, third Earl of Breadalbane in the 1760s. There is an observation platform providing views over the cascades and sculputured shapes in the smooth hard rocks below. Across the falls is a path known as the Queen's Drive ever since Queen Victoria admired the view here. There are fine views of Schiehallion as we descend to Kenmore. Next to Kenmore is the Scottish Crannog Centre. Crannogs are an ancient type of loch dwelling found throughout Scotland and Ireland, there are 18 crannogs in Loch Tay. People went on occupying them periodically between 3000BC and the 17th century AD. Crannogs were built out in the water to be secure from invaders and wild animals. Some were symbols of status or power. Many were originally timber built round houses, supported on stilts driven into the loch bed.

Day 8: Kenmore to Aberfeldy
Distance: 12km (7½ miles) 380m (1,250ft) of ascent
Retracing our steps up the Glen Quaich Road we reach Tombuie Cottage. From here we enjoy a fine open section with views again over Loch Tay and Taymouth Castle. The castle dates from 1810 and was the work of several famous architects. Its interior is one of Scotland's finest neo-gothic examples. The descent into Aberfeldy is via the Birks o'Aberfeldy a splendid wooded gorge formed over several millennia by the action of ice and water. Robert Burns made it famous in 1787 when he wrote his song 'The Birks of Aberfeldy'. Look out for the Robert Burns seat on your right where he supposedly wrote this song.

Whisky connoisseurs may be interested to know that Aberfeldy is home to the award winning Dewar's Distillery.

Day 9: Aberfeldy to Pitlochry
Distance: 18km (11 miles) 250m (825ft) of ascent
We leave Aberfeldy across the Tay Bridge built for General Wade after the 1715 Jacobite uprising. Following a minor road alongside the River Tay for about five miles we pass many grand residences, signs of a resplendent Victorian heyday. In Strathtay village we take the public footpath to Pitlochry. Climbing steadily we walk through overhanging beach and oak trees to arrive at a splendid open heather section with views back to Ben Lawers to the South East. Entering a forest we start our descent into Pitlochry and have the opportunity to see the intriguing Clachan an Diridh stone circle standing within the forest. We arrive into Pitlochry via one its cultural highlights, the Festival Theatre, and cross the great salmon River Tummel by means of the swaying suspension bridge built in 1913.

Day 10: depart after breakfast

Fitness: We want you to be confident that you can meet the demands of this walk and get the most out of your holiday. A sustained effort is required to complete this walk and provision cannot be made for anyone who opts out. Please be sure you can manage the daily mileage and ascent as listed below. The walking day is normally 6-7 hours and it is important for your own enjoyment, and that of your fellow guests that you can maintain the pace.

Standard Itinerary

It makes a lot of sense to spend time getting some additional exercise before your holiday. We suggest that you try to fit in a number of longer walks, including some in hilly terrain. Other exercises such as cycling, jogging and swimming are also excellent for developing increased stamina.

Luggage Transport
Transport of your luggage will be arranged by us through local operators and is of course, included in your holiday price. It would be appreciated if you limited your luggage to one medium sized bag, rucksack or suitcase. Daily arrangements will be finalised by your leader at each hotel. As the final hotel is located close to the rail station a final transfer is not included.

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Dates and prices

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Travel Information

Travel by rail: Travelling by train is a convenient method of travel. For further information and train times visit www.nationalrail.co.uk or call 08457 48 49 50 (from overseas call ++44 020 7278 5240).

Holiday Start: There are Inter-city trains to Glasgow Central from around the UK which take around 5½ hours from London and 4 hours from Manchester. Milngavie is the final station on a branch line which has a very regular service (at least every 30 minutes) from both Glasgow Central and Glasgow Queen Street. Journey time from Glasgow is approximately 25 minutes. A transfer is provided in the late afternoon between Milngavie station and the first hotel in Drymen, a 20 minute drive away (times to be advised in your final despatch).

Holiday Finish: Our last hotel is approximately one mile from Pitlochry railway station. The hotel staff well be happy to arrange a taxi for you and your luggage for this journey. Pitlochry has a good service with trains taking around 2 hours to reach either Glasgow or Edinburgh, from where there are onward connections to the rest of the UK. There are also a limited number of direct trains to London which take around 9 hours.

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Average temperatures

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