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 5 - Bridge of Balgie to Tyndrum

  • Summary
  • Highlights
  • Essential Info
  • Route Description

Summary

Distance

30 miles

Total ascent

500ft

Time

4-5 hours

A tough physically demanding route in high and very remote countryside with little in the way of facilities for refreshment. Spectacular mountain scenery at the top of a remote highland glen.

The road from Bridge of Balgie to Pubil is a gentle uphill gradient. From Loch Lyon to Tyndrum there are some steep tracks on a fairly good Land Rover track with a lot of river/stream crossings. Take care during wet conditions. There are no public phone or mobile phone signals between Bridge of Balgie and Tyndrum so this route is only advised for a minimum of two people in the event of emergencies.

Suitable for Mountain bike or Trail bike and only suitable for families experienced at riding in high, remote, bleak mountain country.

Tell us about your Rings of Breadalbane.

Click on any thumbnail to see slideshow.

  • Click to enlarge image waymark69.jpg
  • Click to enlarge image waymark71.jpg
  • Click to enlarge image waymark73.jpg
  • Click to enlarge image waymark85.jpg
  • Click to enlarge image waymark87.jpg
  •  
View the embedded image gallery online at:
https://visitbreadalbane.org/trail5#sigProIdfbc476a35c

Highlights

  • This route demonstrates the dramatic difference over a few miles between an inhabited sparsely) landscape and an uninhabited little visited high altitude Hydro Electric scheme dam. The views of the West Highland Railway line viaducts at the west end of the route are dramatic and engineeringly impressive.

Essential Info

Section no.

5

Section name

Bridge of Balgie to Tyndrum via Loch Lyon

Start

Bridge of Balgie

Finish

Tyndrum Village

Grade

5

Distance

25 miles (approx)

Total ascent

Approx 1000 feet

Time

4-5 hours

Terrain

Approximately 13 miles on C road and 12 miles on estate track.

Getting There

Start from Bridge of Balgie Tearoom in Glen Lyon.

Route Description

After Bridge of Balgie tearoom turn right on road leading to Pubil follow gently ascending road for several miles through beautiful scenery.

Go straight on do not turn right to Lochs Estate.

Turn off road and head to gate.

Go through gate that says No Vehicles beyond this point and dogs must be kept on lead. Go up steep hill on Landrover track

Northern head of loch, bear left follow track round and cross river and head back to Loch again.

Bear right and go up steep hill, this track eventually leads down to Tyndrum.

There is an option here to cycle around the south shore of Loch by following the track to the left at way mark 75 and then heading east around Loch Lyon. At the Dam at the east end of Loch Lyon take the tarred road until it reaches the main road then bear right towards Killin. This is a very poorly surfaced road which ascends steeply to around 1500 foot before dropping down into Glen Lochay and then eventually Killin.


At top of hill there is an impressive hydro intake, this is the highest point on the route at around 1100 feet.

Copse of trees on RHS of track. Follow track to viaduct.

Stream crossing

End of track, turn left onto West Highland Way track over style, heading towards Tyndrum. Steady uphill track on rough surface.

Carry straight on, do not turn left at West Highland Way Post as very steep rough and slippery path. Keep on track until main road is reached.

Turn left onto main road A82 towards Stirling.

Bear left off main road and cross over style onto West Highland Way track again. Follow track downhill to Tyndrum.

End of route. Enjoy the facilities of Tyndrum, shops, hotel, cafes and restaurants.

 

39.3 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