LAG Itinerary Title
The Cycling - Introduction
Exploring the Scottish Highlands from the saddle should be on every cyclist's wishlist, and this route ticks all the boxes, which makes for a memorable Lochs and Glens cycle tour. Mountain passes, castles, lochs, and forest tracks are in abundance, so there is never a dull moment while heading to the Highland’s capital, Inverness.
Highlights
• 55 miles of traffic-free cycleway
• Visits the national parks of the Cairngorms, along with Loch Lomond and the Tossochs
• Bustling Scottish tourist towns
• Dalwhinnie’s en route Whisky Distillery
• Pitlochry Dam & Power Station with a 34-chamber salmon ladder
• Blair Castle's nine-acre Georgian gardens
Distance and elevation - Lochs & Glens Cycle Route
Total distance
Total height gain
194 miles or 312km
9908ft or 3220m
Terrain:
The majority of the Lochs and Glens Cycle Route is on quite country roads, with around 55 miles on traffic free, gravel cycleways/forest tracks. Ascents are mainly of a gentle gradient, but there are some steeper sections with a total height gain of 3200m / 10500ft.
Gravel and hybrid bikes are ideal for this ride, or you can use road bikes, provided they are fitted with a slightly treaded 32-38c tire. Some gravel miles can be bypassed, but there are a few sections that only have busy A-road alternatives.
View route
Ride Description
Our tour starts in the Loch side harbour town of Balloch, situated at the southern end of Loch Lomond and the start of the River Leven, where water's surface reflects the floating boats.
Starting outside of Glasgow, the journey takes you straight into the beautiful 200-acre Balloch Castle Country Park on the shores of Loch Lomond. This historic estate, first recognised as a country park in 1980, quickly gives way to the lush countryside as you head northeast through rolling farmland and onward to the charming town of Drymen.
The first proper climb of the ride takes you into the trees of the Queen Elizabeth Forest Park, before a short section of disused railway south of Aberfoyle, which is ideally situated for a well-earned lunch break.
The town is known by the locals as ‘Gravelfoyle’ due to its 200km of forest tracks. You’ll be sampling 14km of the finest tracks while climbing and then descending down to the shores of the impressive Loch Venachar.
Crossing the River Teith into the town of Callander starts your journey on a tour highlight - the disused railway, north to Killin. With mountains towering on either side, this traffic-free, perfectly graded climb takes you loch-side and then over the Glen Ogle Viaduct, which was constructed in 1880. This viaduct was originally a key part of the Callander and Oban Railway. Although the structure is no longer operational as a railway bridge, today it provides a spectacular vantage point as it forms a scenic part of the National Cycle Network Route.
We'll cycle the short distance to the magnificent Falls of Dochart and, after admiring their beauty, the route then undulates along the scenic south shore of Loch Tay, passing a salmon fish farm, toward Kenmore, where the River Tay begins its journey before continuing downstream to Aberfeldy.
Pitlochry, which is approximately 12km south of Blair Atholl, is your next large town. Primarily known as a popular holiday destination, it boasts a vibrant high street home to many a cafe and souvenir shop.
The town is also famous for the Pitlochry Dam and Power Station, which creates Loch Faskally for hydro-electric power and features a 34-chamber Fish Ladder, allowing thousands of Atlantic salmon to migrate upstream annually.
Just a short pedal away in Blair Atholl is Blair Castle and Gardens, the ancient seat of the Dukes and Earls of Atholl. The castle grounds host a beautifully restored nine-acre Georgian walled garden and are historically unique for being the site of the last siege ever recorded on British soil, which took place in March 1746.
Blair Atholl is at the foot of the Drumochter Pass, the largest climb on the tour, which peaks out at 457m. The cycle route follows the path of the A9 on the quiet old road and sections of traffic-free cycleway.
The effort of the pass is soon forgotten, with a 35km descent passing Dalwhinnie’s world-renowned Whisky Distillery (yes, they do tasting sessions!), finishing in the town of Kingussie. ‘Kin-YOO-see’ is a place rich in history. Look out for the old Ruthven Barracks, which were strategically built by the British government following the Jacobite Rising of 1715 to help control the Highlands and maintain law and order. Kingussie is a gateway town for many wanting to enjoy the Cairngorms National Park, along with seeing keen anglers venture onto the River Spey in search of their prized salmon.
Further downstream is Aviemore, the outdoor capital of the Highlands. This town has an amazing buzz about it, with a high street full of restaurants, shops, and cafés, catering for the large number of tourists and locals heading up the mountain road onto the slopes of Cairn Gorm.
The last leg of the ride sees you follow the pristine gravel of the Speyside Way towards the Boat of Garten, which is at the foot of the ride's last mountain pass and one of General Wade's famous military roads.
Climbing back up to 400m via the Slochd Pass will allow you to see glimpses of the Moray Firth and your finish point of Inverness, adjacent to Inverness Castle. After celebratory ice cream, you can collect your bag and leave any hire bikes with the CycleActive member of staff to start your train journey home or jump onto the coach transfer heading back down to your cars at Balloch.
