Route for the East Highland Trail (south section 80 - 85 miles)



Blair Atholl to Drymen



OS Maps

1. OS Explorer 386   –   Pitlochry & Loch Tummel
2. OS Landranger 52 -   Pitlochry & Crief
3. OS Landranger 57 -   Stirling & the Trossachs





Map 7 – Blair Atholl to Grandtully



Departing Blair Atholl station, take the small road south over the railway line past Garryside on your left until you reach a footbridge over the River Garry. Cross the river via this bridge then take the tarmac track left (I assume the remnants of the old single track road north) and follow this along the banks of the river until you pass under the A9. Here you pick up a B road (watch out for the lorries from the quarry) which continues to follow the banks of the River Garry for another 2 miles until it crosses the river north into Killiecrankie.  At the road junction with the B8079 turn right and follow the road until you come to a visitor centre. From here you will find way sighs directing you to Pitlochry via a riverside path. The path is well used and once again follows the route of GWMR.  About a mile down the path you will pass a footbridge on your right, (great photos of the River Garry can be taken from here); continue following the path on the north side of the river until you come to a small loch, Loch Dunmore. Here take the track to the right past Dunmore Hill.  About ½ a mile further on the path exits the woods over a style and onto the A924. Do not take this path; follow a less obvious path to your right down to the banks of the River Garry. This will take you to the Clunie footbridge, which enables you to cross the river once more. On the south bank follow the road under the A9 until you come across a small row of cottages on your left.  Here take the cycle path that runs parallel to the A9 for about ½ a mile until you see a way marker for the Rob Roy Way (be careful, you might miss it!). This way maker directs you across the A9 and up into Ballechin Wood via a farm track past Middleton of Fonab on your right.  Once you enter the deciduous wood the climb becomes quite steep, but eases as the wood changes into coniferous plantations.  Continue to follow the Rob Roy Way markers (look carefully or you might miss them) until you exit the wood.  From here you will have a view of the Tay Valley. Follow the path across a boggy section of open land until you are on the west side of the Tullypowrie Burn. Here the path takes you down into Strathtay via a track past the golf course. In Strathtay take the road bridge over the River Tay into Grandtully. Upriver from the bridge is the Scottish Canoe Association slalom course. Take a right at the junction of the A827 and follow it for about 100-200 metres past the Inn on the Tay until you come across a small road on your left. This takes you up to the Scottish Canoe Association camp site (on your left). Walk past this until you meet a disused railway track. Here, take a right and follow the way marked path under the A827. This path runs parallel with the magnificent River Tay, keep an eye out for heron and many wild flowers such as: Tansy, Pigut, Scabious and Field Cranesbill.