Visit Aberfeldy - Explore Glenlyon and Loch Tay

  • Home
  • The Rings of Breadalbane
    • The Walking Rings
    • The Clan Walking Ring
    • The Tay Walking Ring
    • The Road Cycling Ring
    • Trail Cycling Ring
    • Your Rings of Breadalbane
    • Tell Us About Your Trip
  • Discover
  • Stay
  • See & Do
  • Food & Drink
  • News
  • Find

Visit Aberfeldy - Explore Glenlyon and Loch Tay

  • Home
  • The Rings of Breadalbane
    • The Walking Rings
    • The Clan Walking Ring
    • The Tay Walking Ring
    • The Road Cycling Ring
    • Trail Cycling Ring
    • Your Rings of Breadalbane
    • Tell Us About Your Trip
  • Discover
  • Stay
  • See & Do
  • Food & Drink
  • News
  • Find
  • Bike Trail Ring - Overview
  • Killin to St Fillans
  • St Fillans to Crieff
  • Crieff to Aberfeldy
  • Aberfeldy to Bridge of Balgie
  • Bridge of Balgie to Tyndrum
  • Tyndrum to Killin

Trail Section 4 - Aberfeldy to Bridge of Balgie

  • Summary
  • Essential Info
  • Route Description

Summary

Distance

30 miles

Total ascent

500ft

Time

4-5 hours

A relatively easy route with gentle slopes except Drummond Hill but this could be avoided by cycling along the road.

Appin of Dull has many interesting stops, Drummond hill has beautiful views of Loch Tay and the possibility of Capercaillie sightings, while Glen Lyon is thought by many to be the most beautiful glen in Scotland and is a very special place. The trees in spring and early summer are very special.

Route mainly on quiet roads and Estate tracks with section up forestry track on good surfaces. Suitable for Mountain Bikes and trail Bikes but road sections avoiding trails could be cycled on a road bike. Suitable for families used to cycling this distance.

Tell us about your Rings of Breadalbane.

Click on any thumbnail to see slideshow.

  • Click to enlarge image chesthill.jpg
  • Click to enlarge image chesthillnorth.jpg
  • Click to enlarge image drummondhill.jpg
  • Click to enlarge image dull.jpg
  • Click to enlarge image gardendull.jpg
  • Click to enlarge image lambingsign.jpg
  •  
View the embedded image gallery online at:
https://visitbreadalbane.org/trail4#sigProIde3141dddf0

Essential Info

Section no.

4

Section name

Aberfeldy to Bridge of Balgie via Glen Lyon

Start

Aberfeldy Watermill

Finish

Bridge of Balgie Tearoom

Grade

3

Distance

30 miles (approx)

Total ascent

Approx 500 feet

Time

4-5 hours

Terrain

Approximately 8 miles B road, 3 miles forest track, 6 miles estate track, 13 miles C Road.

Getting There

Start from the Watermill in the Centre of Aberfeldy.

Route Description

Leave Aberfeldy Watermill back entrance and cycle through houses to main road.

Turn right on B846 towards Wades Bridge. Go over bridge. Option here to turn left onto footpath along the river to Kenmore. Although this is cyclable the path is fairly soft and narrow and will cut up badly in wet weather. Views of the river are beautiful, distance approximately 7 miles.

200 yards past bridge go onto small cycle track which takes you to Weem.

House of Menzies shop and cafe.

Very interesting Community Garden, worth a look. Track here down to river route.

Turn right to Dull and interesting Highland Safari centre and cafe. Follow minor road through Dull to main road again.

Turn right back onto B846

Turn left at Comrie bridge onto minor road to Kenmore go over bridge and bear left.

Karelia House wood stove, craft shop and cafe, cycle along quiet road to Drummond Hill.

Option to cycle up and around Drummond Hill here by a number of marked trails. The way marked GPS route is not the best as the track is indistinct and grassy but has fabulous views of Loch Tay and the possibility of sighting and hearing the very rare Capercaillie.

At Auchter gate follow trail down to main road.

Turn right onto unclassified road to Glen Lyon.

Turn left into Glen Lyon, signposted to Bridge of Balgie. There is an option to turn right here to Fortingall a very interesting, pretty village with refreshments, the Fortingail yew (the oldest tree in Britain) and reputed home of Pontius Pilate.

Cycle through beautiful Glen Lyon.

At Inverar take track to left to car park and then down to bridge and upwards to a sign to Inverinain. Bear right through the gate and follow the reasonably good track through a number of gates.

Depending on the time of year this gate may be locked for estate purposes such as lambing. Follow the signs up and around the stone dyke for around 1/2 mile. This is very rough and slippy and will involve some bike carrying. At sign go through gate and down to farm steading and turn left back onto estate track.

Go past white farmhouse to junction. (can take option here to go back to main road.)

Follow signpost to Dalmenoch.

Go through gate

End of track at Meggernie outdoor centre. Turn right onto road to Bridge of Balgie.

End of route and the welcoming Bridge of Balgie tearoom which is very popular with road cyclists.

40 km, n/a

Where to stay

where-to-stay

Food & Drink

eat-drink

Things to See & Do

things-to-do

© 2023 Breadalbane Tourism Cooperative

facebook   instagram