Dewar's Aberfeldy Distillery
Walks with Buses - Aberfeldy to Pitlochry
Richard Davison • December 16, 2022
A view westwards over Strath Tay
Many of us use our cars to get around and to get somewhere to go for a walk in the countryside. But there are a number of good “one-way” walks in Highland Perthshire which you can do by using public transport. A great example of this is a walk between Aberfeldy and Pitlochry. It can be done either way. The most scenic way is probably to head westwards from Pitlochry to Aberfeldy as this direction offers some great views westwards to Schiehallion and Ben Lawers.
The route is part of the Rob Roy Way and is well-signposted. The stretch from Aberfeldy to Grandtully is also part of the new River Tay Way which runs from Kenmore to Perth.
In early December, we walked it from Aberfeldy to Pitlochry. The walk starts with a bus journey from Pitlochry to Aberfeldy via Ballinluig (local bus timetables). When you arrive in Aberfeldy, there are a number of cafes as well as public toilets. From the town square, walk down Dunkeld Street (the A827). In a few minutes, you’ll see
Dewar’s Aberfeldy Distillery on your right. The distillery started production in 1898.
Shortly after the distillery (at
Beyond Adventure), the path leaves the roadside and follows the banks of the River Tay. Rising on the slopes of Ben Lui, which is about 25 miles from the west coast, the river runs for 120 miles long. It is the seventh longest river in the UK but the largest in terms of mean flow, and is famed for its salmon fishing. If you look carefully, there are signs of beaver activity along this stretch of the river. The fields by the river are often used for sheep pasture, so please keep your dogs under control and follow the
Scottish Outdoor Access Code.
The path follows the River Tay.
The path then follows the line of the old railway track to Grandtully. The railway, which was a branch line from Ballinluig, was opened in 1865 and closed in 1965. The line supported the further development of the area (rich industrialists from Dundee and further afield building weekend and holiday houses in the area), particularly in the village of Strathtay.
Signs of beaver activity along the banks of the River Tay.
Grandtully is an ideal place for refreshments and you’re spoilt for choice. You can choose between the Tully Inn, the Inn on the Tay and the Highland Chocolatier! It’s also a great place for a picnic by the River Tay and, if you’re lucky, you can watch canoeists taking part in practice or competitions down the rapids and it is quite possible you may even be watching a future Olympic champion!
The next village, Strathtay, is just over the River Tay. From here, the path goes up the hill and across a moor giving it a different feel from the first half of the walk. The path follows a wonderful old route up through the trees and fields. On the way, you pass the remains of St Mary’s Chapel and the Tullypowrie Cross (small and a bit weathered but still evocative).
The old route above Strathtay village.
The route from here can be a bit muddy, particularly after wet weather. As you climb, the view over the Strath and to the high hills of Perthshire open up. At the top of the moor, you enter the forest. Shortly after, you pass the atmospheric Clachan an Diridh (the “stones of the ascent”). This is off the track but is well worth the short detour. It’s an example of a “four poster” bronze age stone circle. Just 3 of the original 4 stones now remain but, although it is now partly surrounded by plantation trees, they would have once stood proudly in open moorland.
Local tradition has it that the stones were visited on the first day of May, when a procession was made around them in a deiseil (clockwise) direction. And in 1925, John Dixon wrote: "Another theory about the "Clachan an Diridh" is that the stones marked the scene of some periodical religious meeting or ceremonial of which nothing is now known."
Clachan an Diridh - the "stones of the ascent".
From here, the path goes down the hill towards Pitlochry. This route is an old right of way. The path can get very muddy in one or two places due to poor drainage and maintenance. Towards the bottom of the hill you have to cross the A9 – please take care and wait for a safe opportunity to cross.
The route drops into Port-na-Craig and you cross the River Tummel over the “bouncy bridge”. There used to be a ferry here, which was established by the monks of Coupar Angus Abbey. The suspension bridge was built in 1913 for the costly sum of £850! Once in Pitlochry, there are plenty of places to go for a well-earned drink or bite to eat.
The walk is 15km (9 miles) with a total ascent of 500m (1,600 ft). It should take 6-7 hours, including a good lunch stop in Grandtully.
Richard & Brenda on the summit of Tour de Moyen in Switzerland As we wind down Perthshire Treks over the coming winter, we have had time to look back over the last 6 years and all the lovely people we have walked with and the great adventures we have had. One of our very first adventures was for a lovely group of women from the Netherlands organised through Schottland op Maat . They came to Pitlochry on one of the wettest weekends of the year! Plans were quickly changed from the proposed walk up Schiehallion to a walk along the Rob Roy Way followed by a walk around Pitlochry the following day – and they were amazed at the waterfalls – they don’t have many in the Netherlands! The same year saw Richard do his fastest ascent ever of Ben Vrackie with a young Russian couple who were into marathon running and we also provided some self-guided walking for a corporate group from Baillie Gifford . This first year, as it turned out, was fairly typical with some clients booking directly with us and others via travel agents or travel curators.
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