N140 Benedict Pilgrimage Trail: Killin - Strathyre

It goes slightly uphill above the Dochart Valley for approx. 2.2 km, we pass a farm with some ponds behind it and cross a second stream and a high-voltage line after the farm. Attention: About 400m after the stream we turn left uphill. Our nature trail takes us through very mossy terrain with several small watercourses and 'moss figures'. After about 700m we turn left; it now goes flatter on a gravel path; we cross several small channels. The now paved path becomes steeper again, and we leave the Dochart Valley into a side valley. Oncoming cyclists are warned on the narrow path by a ground marking to ride slowly. After about 1.1 km, a branch of the "Rob Roy Way" - the shortcut uphill to Lochan Breaiclaich - branches off left. We continue straight and after about 300m reach a small parking lot and very close to the A85 road. Here we have also passed the highest point of the stage. After another approx. 300m, we cross the A85 road and see on the right-hand side a smaller of the many lakes in the Highlands, it is the "Lochan Lairig Cheile".

Parish Church Killin - Lake "Lochan Lairig Cheile": approx. 6.5 km

From now on, it goes straight on a former rail trail and slightly above the valley floor. The area and valley are called "Glen Ogle" with the typical Highland mountain flanks. We are again in a national park and enjoy the panorama. After about 2 km we walk over the impressive "Glen Ogle Viaduct", and after another approx. 3 km, we already see the next lake "Loch Earn" with the peculiarity that it has something like tides when the wind raises the water on one side of the lake.

Note 1 (Attention not verified on site): About 800 m after crossing the road and before a stream, a path leads right from the railway line to the valley floor. It then runs along the stream bed, crosses it several times at the beginning, and later about halfway under the road and onto the slope on the left of the valley floor. The path crosses again just before the village of Lochearnhead the stream (Ogle Burn) and leads to the road. You can continue left on this road and at the junction after about 200m turn right through the district Auchraw directly to the lake "Loch Earn" with hotels and recreational facilities.

Note 2 (Also not verified on site): After about 5 km on the rail trail, there is a path in the wooded forest area that also leads steeply down to the village entrance of Lochearnhead (approx. 400m and about 100m altitude difference). Here we then go right to the junction and can turn left again directly to the lake. 

For the return route, we take the A84 road left at the junction up to the St. Angus Church and then turn right into the residential street. This leads us slightly uphill after about 500m back onto the "Rob Roy Way".

If we do not make a detour to Lochearnhead, it goes further for about 700m above the village on the former railway route. Then we leave it on the left in 3 switchbacks through sparsely wooded forest downhill, go straight at the crossroads or continue on the lower former rail trail. After about 600m, we cross the "Kendrum Burn" over the cycle and pedestrian bridge with the monument to Nigel Hester and follow the cycle and footpath in the flat valley floor. A colorful, modern "Millennium Milepost 740" and beaver dams are visible at the stream course. After almost 2 km, we reach a recreation center, where there are opportunities to eat and drink (also across the street). Our path makes some bends through the valley floor for about 3 km; here we encounter a cross street with another "Millennium Milepost 739", where there are again dining options in the hamlet "Kingshouse" through the underpass on the other side.

Lake "Lochan Lairig Cheile" - Hamlet Kingshouse with "Millennium Milepost 739": approx. 10.5 km

Note 3 - Detour to Rob Roy's grave: At the cross street with the "Millennium Milepost 739" we turn right onto the village path to Balquhidder. We reach this picturesque village and beyond it also the Loch Voil after approx. 3 km (please also consider the return journey and plan approx. 2h). In the hamlet is the remarkable parish church of Balquhidder, which impresses with its rustic construction using natural stones. Inside, it also houses treasures of art like the baptismal font from the 9th century and the tombstone of St. Angus. In the cemetery with many typical tombstones and the ruin of the old parish church is the grave of the outlaw and at the same time Scottish hero Rob Roy MacGregor, who had his home nearby.

Attention: After the detour, we continue the route on the cycle and footpath 7, left of the A84 road in the walking direction; we leave the "Rob Roy Way" here (it continues on the other side of the road initially up the slope in long serpentine bends for about 120m altitude and then gently downhill for about 4 km to the center of Strathyre, our stage destination). Our path in the valley floor snakes to the right the River Balvaig and leads after approx. 3 km to the center of Strathyre to the monument of the poet and translator Dugald Buchanan.

Hamlet Kingshouse with "Millennium Milepost 739" - Dugald Buchanan Monument, Strathyre: approx. 3.5 km