TRANSCOTLAND Self-guided Walking Holidays

Rob Roy Way 2022

Rob Roy Way The Rob Roy Way (78 miles/126km) is a long distance walking route through the southern Highlands which links the Trossachs area with Breadlabane and Atholl in Highland Perthshire. The Trossachs are synonymous with Rob Roy MacGregor (1671-1734), the fearless Highland clansman and cattle reiver. Rob Roy was based in the Trossachs, but his cattle reiving (raiding), trading, and protection activities took him north into Breadalbane and beyond. Nowadays you can enjoy peaceful walks from village to village in this historic and beautiful area of Scotland. Accommodation is limited in some villages and gets booked up, so if you are thinking of coming to Scotland to do this hike in 2022 please contact us early in 2022, so we can be sure to be able to arrange everything, thanks. We offer four versions of the Rob Roy Way, which are summarised below:

Route Start Finish No. of
nights
Description Prices from (per person)
RRW A Drymen Pitlochry 9 Longest day 13 miles £745
RRW B Drymen Pitlochry 8 One long day (18 miles) £655
RRW C Drymen Pitlochry 7 Two long days (16 and 18 miles) £615

Version B:

DrymenDay 1. Arrive in Drymen, an attractive village only 20 miles north of Glasgow. Depending on the time of your arrival, it may be possible to climb Conic Hill which overlooks Loch Lomond, or you can just relax in one of the village's cafes or pubs.

Menteith Hills Day 2. An easy start by following a minor road out of Drymen as it climbs above Strathblane, before descending again to the southern entrance to the extensive Loch Ard Forest. The route then continues through the forest until you reach Aberfoyle the most southerly of the Trossachs villages. (Total 10 miles).

Loch VennacharDay 3. Today's walk follows forest tracks through the Menteith Hills. After the short middle section on open land you re-join a forest track down to Loch Venachar. The last 3 miles are on a very quiet minor road into Callander. (10 miles). With a population of 3200, Callander is the second biggest town on the Rob Roy Way, and has a variety of shops, cafes and pubs.

Loch LubnaigDay 4. Today you make your way into the Highlands by following the route of the old Stirling to Oban railway line, which was closed in the 1960's. This begins by the banks of the River Teith and soon passes the remains of a Roman Fort, before a gentle climb through the Pass of Leny to Loch Lubnaig and into the Highlands. The old railway line/cycle track continues along the west shore of Loch Lubnaig until you reach the small village of Strathyre. (Total 9 miles). If you prefer a longer day, it is also possible to climb Ben Ledi (2883 feet) on this day. This adds about 5 miles to the distance (and takes about 2 hours up, and 1 hour back down to the path).

The Falls of Dochart at KillinDay 5. From Strathyre village, the route continues north by a forest track before re-joining the old railway line. Here you have the option to take a small diversion to visit Rob Roy's Grave at Balquidder. Soon after Balquidder, the old railway line begins to climb above the village of Lochearnhead, and continues up to the head of Glenogle before descending to the village of Killin at the west end of Loch Tay. (13 miles).

Kenmore and Loch TayDay 6. This day starts by following a forest track up into the mountains to the south of Loch Tay, from where you descend again to the tiny village of Ardeonaig. From Ardeonaig, you follow the very quiet and beautiful back road along the south-side of Loch Tay, passing the small settlements at Ardtalnaig and Acharn before your overnight stop in Acharn or Kenmore at the east end of Loch Tay. (Total distance 18 miles).

Aberfeldy and Wade's BridgeDay 7. A shorter walk today, so time to visit the re-constructed crannog before re-joining the Rob Roy Way as it climbs up the hill from Acharn/Kenmore, and continues along forest tracks to the Falls of Moness, and the Birks o' Aberfeldy. The path down the Birks is steep in places but wooden platforms and bridges make the final descent to Aberfeldy easy. It is also possible to visit the Aberfeldy malt whisky distillery, or nearby 16th Century Menzies Castle. (9 miles).

Strathtay Day 8. After crossing Wade's Bridge over the River Tay, the route follows the quiet back road to the village of Strathtay. Here you follow an old track over the hill (250m ascent) between Strathtay and Strathtummel. After passing a small Neolithic Stone circle in the forest, the path descends to cross the River Tummel and enters the town of Pitlochry. (10 miles). Pitlochry is best known for it's Hydro-Electric Dam and 'Fish Ladder', (where if you are lucky you may see salmon swim upstream). The town also has two malt whisky distilleries, and many beautiful walks in the surrounding countryside. From Pitlochry, it is also easy to climb Ben Vrackie (2757 feet, 841m) which takes 3 hours up and 2 down, so it is a good place for an extra day after your Rob Roy walk.
map showing route of Rob Roy Way

Version A (9 nights): This is the same as Version B, except that you either have an additional night at Ardeonaig, roughly half way between Killin and Kenmore.

Version C (7 nights): This is the same as Version B, except that you miss out the overnight stop in Callander. This means you walk from Aberfoyle to Strathyre in one day (total distance only 17 miles as you do not have to walk in and out of Callander).

NOTES:

Terrain - while there are a few sections on rough paths, most of the walks are along good forest tracks and the old railway line (which in recent years has been graded as part of the Sustrans National Cycle Network). There are also a few sections on very quiet back roads: 4 miles on Day 2 (Drymen to Aberfoyle); 3 miles on Day 3 (Aberfoyle to Callander); 9 miles on Day 6 (Killin to Acharn); and 5 miles on Day 8 (Aberfeldy to Pitlochry).

Prices are based on two people sharing (in carefully selected B&B's and guest houses along the route). We book ensuite rooms where possible (usually on all the nights). If you wish to stay in the 16th Century Inn in Kenmore, add a supplement of £30 per person for this option.

Baggage transfer - due to space constraints, note that only one piece of luggage per person can be transferred.

Extra nights - these are recommended in Killin, Aberfeldy and Pitlochry, and cost from £40 per person per night.

Travel information:

Start: Drymen is 20 miles north of Glasgow city centre and can be reached by bus (usually with a change at Balfron, about £6). There are also local buses to Drymen from Stirling.

Finish: From Pitlochry, there are frequent buses and trains south to Edinburgh and Glasgow (2 hours, about £25-30), and north to Inverness (2 hours, £25-35).

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