Loch Venachar & Loch Achray Cycle

Start - Either Callander or small car park east end Loch Venachar

All Options
Leave Callander on the Glasgow road (at the traffic lights), cross the bridge and turn right at the mini roundabout. Follow this narrow winding road ignoring any side roads. In about two miles you will come to Loch Venachar and a viewpoint with a Trossachs mountain indicator. (Alternative tart point)

This road is private from here on but is open for cycling and pedestrians - but watch out for the occasional car belonging to residents and for some rather vicious traffic humps.

Follow the road by the loch for about 2.5 miles past some great views until after a long downhill stretch you come to the notice showing the cycletrack turning right through a narrow gate before the entrance to the Invertrossachs House, at which point turn onto the track to the right. Take care now - this is a good track but you may meet
other cyclists and walkers on the track and there are some blind bends.

Some beautiful stopping places will now be found along the side of the loch.

After about three and a half miles the track leaves the lochside and for about a mile you will follow forestry roads. Don't take any left turns leading uphill into the forest!!!

The track now turns suddenly to the right and up a short hill through trees before dropping again - watch out for highland cattle here and don't upset them if they have young calves with them. (mummy can be very protective).

OPTION 1 - Return this way and the round trip covers about 15 miles.

You will see a track leading off to the right and past some farm buildings - this leads to Brig o' Turk. If you wish, you can join the Trossachs road at Brig o' Turk and return to Callander via the road - which can sometimes be quite busy.

OPTION 2 - add about 8 miles and considerable hills to the above (see 'Drunkie')..

Turn left at the Y junction (above) and passLoch Achray on your right for about a mile before turning off to the right onto a narrower track to cross a narrow footbridge then a few hundred yards to join the public road at the
foot of the Dukes Pass.

At the public road turn left and climb uphill for about 1.5 miles then look for some huge upright stone slabs marking the access to the forest drive. Follow this access road to the viewpoint then take the righthand track to join the cycleway C7 which is clearly signposted. This takes you past Loch Drunkie and through plantations to rejoin the original route between lochs Venachar and Achray.

Either return by south Venachar track you came by or turn left again to return via Brig o' Turk.