ROUTE VARIATIONS
The Way provides the walker with some choice on route at varying
points, this allowing the walker to determine the length of the overall
walk, and the countryside and communities that they wish to visit.
Some options will necessitate the use of local taxi transport to
collect and deliver the walker at the end or start point of a walking
section. There may also be the need for using an alternative option
along forestry or moorland section, this to accommodate temporary
forestry activity or grouse shooting.
The following section cannot be comprehensive in all the options
that exist but is aimed to identify the key variations.
Drymen
Two options exist at the start, the route east onto the
West Highland Way or the route north from the square on the road to Loch
Ard Forest.
For the WHW take the B858 from the square till it joins the A811. At
this point the WHW waymarkers can be seen, and follow the footpath
east for about a quarter of a mile. Turn left up the pathway to the
Garadhban Forest following the WHW till it crosses the minor road
leading to the Muir Park Reservoir. The alternative and main RRW route
starts in the Drymen Square walking north up the side of the Clachan
Inn, past houses, the primary school then into open farmland for
approximately a mile prior to running alongside and then entering the
Garadhban Forest. At the point where the WHW crosses, continue north
east along the minor road.
Alternative route by West Highland Way - Track leading off A811
Main route north past Shandon
Aberfoyle
Two options exist on how to enter the Menteith Hills. The first option is via Dounans Outdoor Centre and round the north side of the Aberfoyle Golf Course, the second by way of the Millennium Cycle Track and the A81 to the forest entrance to the east of the Golf Course.
To access the second, proceed out of Aberfoyle to the east and shortly pick up the walkway and cycle track on the right. This track follows the banks of the Forth River some of the way, ending up at a T junction with the A81. Turn left and walk carefully along the road and at the junction with the A821 at the Rob Roy Motel bear right still on the A81. Pass by Braeval, the side of the golf course and in under a mile enter the forest track on the left. Take the main track north then to the north east where it joins up with the alternative route.
Footpath to the east of Aberfoyle running alongside the River Forth
Callander
The decision to visit Callander impacts the end of day
2. To choose Callander the route carries straight on at Gartehonzie
till turning left at the A81 on the southern edge of Callander. The
alternative option is to turn left at Gartehonzie, over the East
Gobhain River, then right onto the A821. This is the road from
Brig o'Turk and the
road runs east to Kilmahog. Keep on the narrow footpath to the north
side of the road. There are views ahead along the Teith river valley to
Callander. Just prior to the bridge at Kilmahog there is a cycle and
walkway crossing the road. Take the path to the left to continue on the
RRW towards Strathyre.
Lochearnhead
If Lochearnhead is identified as a refreshment or
stop over point a short diversion exists from and back to the main
route along the Kingshouse to Glen Ogle section of the route.
To enter Lochearnhead leave the route shortly after the viaduct
crossing of the Kendrum Burn at the point where the track reaches the
Craggan road bridge. Take the right hand track up to the minor road,
bear right down to the A84, then left along the footpath to the main
village T junction.
To return to the RRW leave from the T junction walking north for
about 100 metres on the A85, turning left into a tarred drive then
almost immeditely right onto a pathway, through a fence gate and them
heading steeply up a grassy path to rejoin the main route high above
the village. Turn right to continue up Glen Ogle.
Junction at the Craggan Bridge
Junction on RRW with the path entering from Lochearnhead
Killin
If Killin is the end of the Strathyre and Glen Ogle days walk
then an extra 60 to 80 minutes needs to be added to the walking day.
The section is almost totally downhill on mainly forestry tracks.
There are many attractive views across Loch Tay to the mountains on
the northern banks.
The Rob Roy Way follows the same route as the cycle path finally running
east along the bed of the former railway line. There are alternatives
but they may be subject to closure due to shooting or forestry. One
such route is accessed at the first "T" junction shortly after the
tarmac cycle track ends.
Killin & Loch Tay looking NE
This route heads off to the right. At the next junction the route is to the left prior to the final
descent to the Falls of Dochart and them the A827 pathway into Killin.
As you cross the bridge over the river look out for the gate on the
right onto the island burial ground
of the Clan Macnab.
South Loch Tay Route beyond Ardtalnaig
This is the alternative
to the route through Glen Almond and along Loch Freuchie, and is the option that give the route its 79 mile distance. It is well detailed in the "Walk" section as Ardtalnaig to Aberfeldy and can be accessed by clicking here.
Remaining on the South Loch Tay till you Acharn. The walk then climbs
up the side of the Falls of Acharn. At the top the path travels
parallel to Loch Tay below. At the Kenmore to Amulree road turn to
Tombuie Cottage. Again take an elevated path passing Tulliehuil,
Bolfracks Hill to Dunskaig then join the alternative route at the top of
the Falls of Moness to complete the days walk in Aberfeldy.
Loch Tay from Kenmore
By taking this option you can complete in one full day the journey
from Ardtalnaig to Aberfeldy, saving one day on the route via Amulree.
Click here for more details.
Aberfeldy to Strathtay via north bank of the River Tay
This was the official route up until the start of 2008 and may be still identified as the route on O/S maps. This option leaves Aberfeldy on the north side crossing the Tay at the Weem's Bridge and then immediately proceeds to cross the corner of the Aberfeldy Golf Course before heading east on the Weem to Strathtay road.
The route follows the minor single track road into Strathtay passing the village store on the right hand side, then the golf course on the left. Shortly a road merges from the right and from Grandtully, this being the point where the new official route joins with this now optional alternative.
To return to the section handling the remainder of the walk to Pitlochry click here.
To access another walking section use the drop down menu below.
The decision to visit Callander impacts the end of day 2. To choose Callander the route carries straight on at Gartehonzie till turning left at the A81 on the southern edge of Callander. The alternative option is to turn left at Gartehonzie, over the East Gobhain River, then right onto the A821. This is the road from Brig o'Turk and the road runs east to Kilmahog. Keep on the narrow footpath to the north side of the road. There are views ahead along the Teith river valley to Callander. Just prior to the bridge at Kilmahog there is a cycle and walkway crossing the road. Take the path to the left to continue on the RRW towards Strathyre.
Lochearnhead
If Lochearnhead is identified as a refreshment or
stop over point a short diversion exists from and back to the main
route along the Kingshouse to Glen Ogle section of the route.
To enter Lochearnhead leave the route shortly after the viaduct
crossing of the Kendrum Burn at the point where the track reaches the
Craggan road bridge. Take the right hand track up to the minor road,
bear right down to the A84, then left along the footpath to the main
village T junction.
To return to the RRW leave from the T junction walking north for
about 100 metres on the A85, turning left into a tarred drive then
almost immeditely right onto a pathway, through a fence gate and them
heading steeply up a grassy path to rejoin the main route high above
the village. Turn right to continue up Glen Ogle.
Junction at the Craggan Bridge
Junction on RRW with the path entering from Lochearnhead
Killin
If Killin is the end of the Strathyre and Glen Ogle days walk
then an extra 60 to 80 minutes needs to be added to the walking day.
The section is almost totally downhill on mainly forestry tracks.
There are many attractive views across Loch Tay to the mountains on
the northern banks.
The Rob Roy Way follows the same route as the cycle path finally running
east along the bed of the former railway line. There are alternatives
but they may be subject to closure due to shooting or forestry. One
such route is accessed at the first "T" junction shortly after the
tarmac cycle track ends.
Killin & Loch Tay looking NE
This route heads off to the right. At the next junction the route is to the left prior to the final
descent to the Falls of Dochart and them the A827 pathway into Killin.
As you cross the bridge over the river look out for the gate on the
right onto the island burial ground
of the Clan Macnab.
South Loch Tay Route beyond Ardtalnaig
This is the alternative
to the route through Glen Almond and along Loch Freuchie, and is the option that give the route its 79 mile distance. It is well detailed in the "Walk" section as Ardtalnaig to Aberfeldy and can be accessed by clicking here.
Remaining on the South Loch Tay till you Acharn. The walk then climbs
up the side of the Falls of Acharn. At the top the path travels
parallel to Loch Tay below. At the Kenmore to Amulree road turn to
Tombuie Cottage. Again take an elevated path passing Tulliehuil,
Bolfracks Hill to Dunskaig then join the alternative route at the top of
the Falls of Moness to complete the days walk in Aberfeldy.
Loch Tay from Kenmore
By taking this option you can complete in one full day the journey
from Ardtalnaig to Aberfeldy, saving one day on the route via Amulree.
Click here for more details.
Aberfeldy to Strathtay via north bank of the River Tay
This was the official route up until the start of 2008 and may be still identified as the route on O/S maps. This option leaves Aberfeldy on the north side crossing the Tay at the Weem's Bridge and then immediately proceeds to cross the corner of the Aberfeldy Golf Course before heading east on the Weem to Strathtay road.
The route follows the minor single track road into Strathtay passing the village store on the right hand side, then the golf course on the left. Shortly a road merges from the right and from Grandtully, this being the point where the new official route joins with this now optional alternative.
To return to the section handling the remainder of the walk to Pitlochry click here.
To access another walking section use the drop down menu below.
If Lochearnhead is identified as a refreshment or
stop over point a short diversion exists from and back to the main
route along the Kingshouse to Glen Ogle section of the route.
To enter Lochearnhead leave the route shortly after the viaduct
crossing of the Kendrum Burn at the point where the track reaches the
Craggan road bridge. Take the right hand track up to the minor road,
bear right down to the A84, then left along the footpath to the main
village T junction.
To return to the RRW leave from the T junction walking north for
about 100 metres on the A85, turning left into a tarred drive then
almost immeditely right onto a pathway, through a fence gate and them
heading steeply up a grassy path to rejoin the main route high above
the village. Turn right to continue up Glen Ogle.
Junction at the Craggan Bridge
Junction on RRW with the path entering from Lochearnhead
Killin
If Killin is the end of the Strathyre and Glen Ogle days walk
then an extra 60 to 80 minutes needs to be added to the walking day.
The section is almost totally downhill on mainly forestry tracks.
There are many attractive views across Loch Tay to the mountains on
the northern banks.
The Rob Roy Way follows the same route as the cycle path finally running
east along the bed of the former railway line. There are alternatives
but they may be subject to closure due to shooting or forestry. One
such route is accessed at the first "T" junction shortly after the
tarmac cycle track ends.
Killin & Loch Tay looking NE
This route heads off to the right. At the next junction the route is to the left prior to the final descent to the Falls of Dochart and them the A827 pathway into Killin. As you cross the bridge over the river look out for the gate on the right onto the island burial ground of the Clan Macnab.
South Loch Tay Route beyond Ardtalnaig
This is the alternative to the route through Glen Almond and along Loch Freuchie, and is the option that give the route its 79 mile distance. It is well detailed in the "Walk" section as Ardtalnaig to Aberfeldy and can be accessed by clicking here.
Remaining on the South Loch Tay till you Acharn. The walk then climbs up the side of the Falls of Acharn. At the top the path travels parallel to Loch Tay below. At the Kenmore to Amulree road turn to Tombuie Cottage. Again take an elevated path passing Tulliehuil, Bolfracks Hill to Dunskaig then join the alternative route at the top of the Falls of Moness to complete the days walk in Aberfeldy.
Loch Tay from Kenmore
By taking this option you can complete in one full day the journey from Ardtalnaig to Aberfeldy, saving one day on the route via Amulree.
Click here for more details.
Aberfeldy to Strathtay via north bank of the River Tay
This was the official route up until the start of 2008 and may be still identified as the route on O/S maps. This option leaves Aberfeldy on the north side crossing the Tay at the Weem's Bridge and then immediately proceeds to cross the corner of the Aberfeldy Golf Course before heading east on the Weem to Strathtay road.
The route follows the minor single track road into Strathtay passing the village store on the right hand side, then the golf course on the left. Shortly a road merges from the right and from Grandtully, this being the point where the new official route joins with this now optional alternative.
To return to the section handling the remainder of the walk to Pitlochry click here.