Great for: Riders wanting more of a challenge and a whole days biking. Steep climbs and fast descents!
Benefits: Conveniently starts and finishes in a town. Challenging climbs for the more adventurous. Mostly on tracks.
Length: Approx. 40km round trip.
From any car park in Pitlochry, find your way to the footbridge by the Festival Theatre and climb up towards the A9. Cross the A9 and head straight on past Middleton of Fonab Farm. The climb carries straight on, past a stone circle to reach a brilliant descent on the Rob Roy Way into Strathtay (via the golf course). Turn right to head down the road until you get to a track leading up to Loch Derchulich. Ride beyond the loch to the highest point of the ride (loose in places, but a steady climb) until it heads down, fast, on a Land Rover track to Loch Tummel. Turn right and follow the road until you can get across the river by a footbridge (Jubilee Bridge). Follow a fast straight down to the River Garry, then head upstream to the Soldier’s Leap in the Pass of Killiecrankie. A minor road then heads under the A9 and leads to a climb onto Ben Vrackie. Follow this road to the Bealach na Searmoin (marked on 1:25000 maps) and then you have a lovely ride back to Pitlochry via Moulin (rewarding beers from Moulin Inn are optional!).
Written by Sally Judd, Blair Atholl Bike Hire www.blairathollbikehire.co.uk