Self-Guided Walking - Rob Roy Way

Caerdach is located on the outskirts of Drymen village and as this is day 1 of your trip, you will have your main luggage to carry. We recommend taking a taxi directly to Caerdach.

Caerdach is a lovely b&b situated on the outskirts of the village and easily reached by the Drymen bypass. Please note that Caerdach is a non-smoking establishment. A laundry service is not on offer and drying facilities are available via radiators and heated towel rails in guest rooms. Guests will be welcomed any time between 1300 hrs & 1600 hrs and it is essential that you call in advance if you are going to be any later as Adele (owner) does not live on-site. There is a choice of establishments in the village for an evening meal in Drymen village centre and packed lunches are on offer, please order these upon arrival. Wifi available.

Drymen is a small village in the west of Scotland forming the gateway to East Loch Lomond. In the 1700s Drymen found itself on the route of the military road from Stirling to Dumbarton. The Clachan Inn, on a corner of The Square dates back to this period and carries signs proclaiming that it was first licensed in 1734. The area – steeped in history – is Clan Buchanan country. Rob Roy McGregor was a local and this is the area in which he carried out his famous (or infamous) exploits against the Duke of Montrose.

The Rob Roy Way will lead you along Manse Road and on to the main street of Aberfoyle. Turn right at the T-junction and walk along the main street until you arrive at Mayfield clearly signposted on the right hand side in the village centre.

Mayfield is situated in an ideal position centrally located for all amenities in the small village of Aberfoyle.  This b&b is of a good standard and operates a non-smoking policy.  Drying facilities are on offer but a laundry service is not available.  Guests will be welcomed anytime from 1300 hrs. Packed lunches can be provided but at least 48 hrs notice is required. There are a choice of establishments in the village for an evening meal, all within close proximity of Mayfield.  Wifi available.

A picturesque village in the district of Stirling, situated on the River Forth which rises in nearby Loch Ard and flows eastwards to the sea. The river soon reaches the vast Forth Valley and Stirling where it meanders and becomes tidal before transforming into the magnificent Firth of Forth and the North Sea. In 1885 the Duke of Montrose constructed a road over the eastern shoulder of Craigmore Hill above Aberfoyle to join the older road at the entrance of the Trossachs pass. Famously, the First Duke of Montrose was a benefactor of Rob Roy MacGregor and in 1711advanced him a loan of 1000 pounds. The money was stolen by MacGregor’s head drover and consequently,Montrose seized Rob Roy’s lands and evicted his family. This resulted in Rob Roy unleashing a campaign of revenge against the Duke which lasted for many years. In 1810 Sir Walter Scott published ‘Lady of the Lake’ and asa result.

The Rob Roy Way leads down on to the main street of Callander (down Bridge Street and past the Bridgend House Hotel). When you reach the main street, i.e. A84, turn left and walk along the main street until you reach a turning to the right for Station Road. Turn right and walk up Station Road which leads on to Ancaster Road. Proceed up Ancaster Road, over a bridge and around a bend. Then simply continue along Ancaster Road until you reach Knowe Guest House clearly signposted on the left hand side of the road (steep driveway up to the left).

The Knowe is a lovely guest house built at the beginning of the twentieth Century and still retaining many original Victorian and Edwardian features. Please note that there is a non-smoking policy throughout. A laundry service is on offer as follows. The first kg is £10.00 and then every next kg is £3.00 up to 9 kgs. If over 9kg, pricing starts again at 1st kg £10.00 thereafter £3.00 per kg. This is a wash and dry service with no ironing. Drying facilities for wet walkers jackets etc are available. Guests will be welcomed any time between 1500 hrs & 1800 hrs and please give the Knowe a call if you are going to be later than 1800 hrs (as we specify in our back page instructions in any case). There is a wide choice of establishments in the village for an evening meal all within easy walking distance (advance booking highly recommended). Packed lunches are not on offer since there are so many options available locally. Wifi available.

(Gaelic: Calasraid) is a small town in Stirlingshire and situated on the River Teith. The town serves as the eastern gateway to Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, the first National Park in Scotland. Due to its location itis often referred to as the ‘Gateway to the Highlands.’ The former St. Kessog’s Church is now the Tourist InformationCentre. Saint Kessog was an Irish missionary of the sixth century. Dominating the town to the north are theCallander Crags, a visible part of the Highland Boundary Fault, rising to 343 metres at the summit cairn. The nearby hill to the north-west of Callander is Ben Ledi (879 metres). Callander achieved prominence during the 1960s as the fictional town of ‘Tannochbrae’ in the original BBC television series Dr. Finlay’s Casebook.

The Way will lead you over the bridge and on to the main road which runs through the village of Strathyre.  Turn right and walk along the road for a short distance until you arrive at the White Stag Inn clearly signposted on the left hand side of the road.

The White Stag Inn has been fully renovated by the new owners and is situated in the centre of the village serving as a great stopover for those walking The Rob Roy Way. Please note that this is a non-smoking establishment throughout. Drying facilities are available (at an additional cost) but a laundry service is not on offer. Guests will be welcomed after 1600 hrs. An evening meal is available at the White Stag Inn and it is the only place offering evening meals in the village so advance booking is essential. Packed lunches are on offer, please order upon arrival. Wifi available.

Strathyre (Gaelic: Srath Eadhair) is a village in Stirlingshire and is within the bounds of the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. The district of Strathyre extends from east of Balquhidder following the River Balvaig which flows out of Loch Voil almost due south to Loch Lubnaig. The Strath (translation: broad mountain valley) was the route of the former Callander and Oban Railway and an 18th century military road. The village of Strathyre is largely a Victorian creation, having grown up with the arrival of the railway in the 1870s and the establishment of Strathyre railway station. The resident population recorded by the United Kingdom Census 2001 was around 100. Strathyre has a small primary school with 40 pupils on the roll, drawn from a catchment area that includes Balquhidder. Gaelic is taught in the infant school.

The Way takes you down on to the main road which runs through Killin (A827). Turn right when you reach this road and walk past the Falls of Dochart and instead of continuing on the Way turn left over Dochart Bridge. Continue on Main Street (A827) through the village for 350 yards/320 metres and Breadalbane House is on your right hand side clearly signposted.

Note: Directions for day 6 are as follows; tomorrow afternoon Kingshouse Travel will pick you up from Ardtalnaig and transfer you to Breadalbane House in Killin for your second night here. The preferred pick up time by Kingshouse Travel is 1600 hrs so it is suggested that you aim to reach Ardtalnaig by 1600 hrs. You should have a reasonable indication of your walking speed by then and hopefully be able to plan accordingly. The following morning you will be picked up from Breadalbane House by Kingshouse Travel at 0930 hrs and drop you back off in Ardtalnaig where you’ll pick up the trail from where you left it yesterday.

For your information, Kingshouse Travel can be contacted on +44(0)1877 384 768. Mobile Numbers, in the event of an emergency, are Graeme (+44(0)7876 375 982) and George (+44(0)7733 895 903).

Breadalbane House is a family run b&b in the heart of the picturesque village of Killin. It has received a three star grading from VisitScotland and is a non-smoking establishment. A laundry service is not available but drying facilities are available at no extra cost. Guests will be welcomed any time after 1600 hrs (no earlier please because it will take longer to turn around all of the rooms). There is a good choice of establishments in the village for an evening meal (advance booking is essential). Please note that if packed lunches are required then at least 24 hours notice is required. There are also plenty of options locally in the village. Wifi available.

Killin (Cill Fhinn ‘the White, or Fair, Church’ in Gaelic) is at the western end of Loch Tay. The scenic Falls of Dochart, at the west end of the village are formed by the meeting of the rivers Dochart and Lochay. The falls are crossed by a narrow stone bridge. The MacNab Clan were once dominant here and their ancient burial ground is on Inchbuie in the River Dochart, just below the falls. In 1767 the minister of Killin, James Stuart, published the first New Testament in Scottish Gaelic. The Breadalbane Folklore Centre in the Victorian former village mill displays the ‘healing stones’ of Saint Fillan (probably two 8th century monks). The nearby old copper mine at Tomnadashan is sometimes identified as the haunt of the Rabbit of Caerbannog of ‘Monty Python and the Holy Grail’ fame.

The Way takes you down on to the main road which runs through Killin (A827). Turn right when you reach this road and walk past the Falls of Dochart and instead of continuing on the Way turn left over Dochart Bridge. Continue on Main Street (A827) through the village for 350 yards/320 metres and Breadalbane House is on your right hand side clearly signposted.

Note: Directions for day 6 are as follows; this afternoon Kingshouse Travel will pick you up from Ardtalnaig and transfer you to Breadalbane House in Killin for your second night here. The preferred pick up time by Kingshouse Travel is 1600 hrs so it is suggested that you aim to reach Ardtalnaig by 1600 hrs. You should have a reasonable indication of your walking speed by then and hopefully be able to plan accordingly. The following morning you will be picked up from Breadalbane House by Kingshouse Travel at 0930 hrs and drop you back off in Ardtalnaig where you’ll pick up the trail from where you left it yesterday.

For your information, Kingshouse Travel can be contacted on +44(0)1877 384 768. Mobile Numbers, in the event of an emergency, are Graeme (+44(0)7876 375 982) and George (+44(0)7733 895 903).

Breadalbane House is a family run b&b in the heart of the picturesque village of Killin. It has received a three star grading from VisitScotland and is a non-smoking establishment. A laundry service is not available but drying facilities are available at no extra cost. Guests will be welcomed any time after 1600 hrs (no earlier please because it will take longer to turn around all of the rooms). There is a good choice of establishments in the village for an evening meal (advance booking is essential). Please note that if packed lunches are required then at least 24 hours notice is required. There are also plenty of options locally in the village. Wifi available.

The Way will lead you downhill (Crieff Road) and on to the main street of Aberfeldy. At the T- junction turn right and walk towards the central square. Continue along the main road (Dunkeld Street) and you will pass a garage on the right hand side. You will then reach a crossroads and the Townhouse is situated on the left hand side of the road.

Built originally in the late 1890s The Townhouse is ideally situated within easy walking distance of all amenities.  Please note that there is a non-smoking policy throughout.  Drying and laundry facilities are not on offer but note that there is a laundrette locally (the Aberfeldy Steamie!). Guests will be welcomed any time after 1500 hrs. There is a wide choice of establishments in Aberfeldy for an evening meal and advance is highly recommended. Packed lunches are available with at least 24 hours’ notice. Wifi available.

Aberfeldy (Gaelic: Obar Pheallaidh) is a small market town located in Highland Perthshire with a population of 2000.The Falls of Moness are featured in a well-known poem by Robert Burns ‘The Birks of Aberfeldy.’ The town is known for ‘Wade’s Bridge’ built in 1733 and designed by architect William Adam, father of the more famous Robert Adam.General Wade, and later Major Caulfield was tasked with building roads and bridges across the Highlands to allowthe suppression of the Jacobites following the rebellions of 1715 and 1745, the latter led by Bonnie Prince Charlie.Wade & Caulfield built some 1200 miles of road and 700 bridges between 1725 and 1767 and in doing so transformed the Highlands. General Wade considered this bridge to be his greatest accomplishment. Aberfeldy is also mentioned in the traditional Loch Tay Boat Song and the River Tay is a famous Salmon fishing river. Aberfeldy has a Distillery, a memorial to the Black Watch and in 2002 the town was granted Fairtrade status.

The Way will take you over the bridge at Port na Craig and eventually leads on to the main road which runs straight through the village of Pitlochry. At this point you should be on Ferry road. Just before you reach the junction which leads to the main road you will arrive at Rosehill clearly signposted on the right hand side of Ferry Road (just after you cross the railway).

This b&b is ideally situated within easy walking distance of the village centre and all amenities. Please note that Rosehill is a non-smoking establishment.  Drying facilities are available but a laundry service is not on offer (there is a laundrette locally). Guests will be welcomed any time between 1500 hrs & 1800 hrs. There is a wide choice of establishments in the village for an evening meal (advance booking highly recommended). Packed lunches can be provided if ordered by 1500 hrs the day beforehand. Wifi available.

Pitlochry Baile Chloichridh or Baile Chloichrigh in Gaelic, is a burgh in the council area of Perth and Kinross inScotland, lying on the River Tummel. Pitlochry dates largely from Victorian times, although the areas known as Moulin and Port-na-Craig are much older. History records that Moulin Kirk was granted by the Earl of Atholl toDunfermline Abbey in 1180 and Moulin became a burgh of barony in 1511. Port-na-Craig was the site of the original ferry over the River Tummel which operated until the suspension footbridge was built in 1913. The building between these two separate communities followed the construction of the military road north in the 18th century which followed the line of the present main street. After the railway station was built in 1863, Pitlochry became a favoured destination for tourists. In 1947 Pitlochry became a burgh. That year also saw the beginning of the construction of a dam as part of the Tummel hydro-electric power scheme. The dam and its fish ladder are a popular tourist attraction today.