GUEST AREA
There are a wide range of activities and things to do at Loch Tay. You can walk, cycle and travel around the countryside to your heart’s content. In the winter you can even explore the wilderness and discover the wildlife that inhabit the mountain tops. As well as enjoying your time on land, you can also get on the water and explore the beauty of Loch Tay.
A bit about the midge...
Midges Love ....
Tourists - especially unprepared ones!! They also like cool, shady, calm conditions and are most active early morning and evenings. Wet summers help their breeding cycle, with a resulting increase in numbers. Armed with a little knowledge, you should be able to minimize the inconvenience to your holidays in Scotland and enjoy the "Great Scottish outdoors" relatively free of them. Below are a few tips and precautions you can take to avoid them altogether, or at least to minimize their nuisance factor.
Midges Hate ...
The sun - midges tend to avoid direct strong sunlight, so sit in the sun not shade whenever conditions allow.
Try to find a seat or occupy a place in a breeze - it is surprising how little breeze is required to keep them away. Midges cannot keep up with you at normal walking pace.
As far as possible, try to avoid sitting out early morning and late evening. We realise this is just the time when you DO want to sit out, and most times you will not be bothered by them, but once they find you, you will need to move to get rid of them.
White or light clothing is also not to their liking, so try to avoid dark clothing at high pressure times, though this alone will not deter determined midges.
Midges do not attack you indoors, so if you find them becoming troublesome outside, you will be able to escape by sitting indoors even with the doors and windows open. However, if the lights are on, you will probably need to close windows and doors. For some reason, we have found that they only enter the house when the lights are on.
Repellents available for midges available in chemist shops:
Smidge is a new product on the market which claims to be effective at repelling midges and other beasties. It comes in the form of a lotion, is family friendly and has received good press.
Get the latest midge forecast!
And the local solution in Scotland - Avon Skin So Soft, a great repellent against midges!
LOCAL AMENITIES
Killin
Coop supermarket Open 7am – 10pm everyday | 01567 820255 |
Bank of Scotland with bank autoteller outside Closed Weekends | 01567 820 304 |
Chemist Open weekdays and Saturday morning | 01567 829 006 |
Lix Toll Garage 2 miles west of Killin, heading towards Crianlarich Open 8am-6.30pm, Monday - Saturday Open 9am-6.30pm on Sundays | 01567 820280 |
Outdoor shop Bike and canoe hire Open Mon-Fri – 9-5pm, Sat – 9-5.30pm. | 01567 820652 |
Please note, opening times are listed as a guideline and may vary.
Kenmore, 17 miles
Post Office with bank autoteller inside and convenience food shop Food shop open every day Post Office closed Sundays | 01887 830 200 |
Courtyard gift shop, delicatessen Open every day | 01887 830 756 |
Please note, opening times are listed as a guideline and may vary.
LOCAL WALKS
Name of Walk | Description and link |
Weem Wood, Weem, By Aberfeldy Distance: 1 mile Time: 1 hour | This short circular waymarked trail climbs through Weem Wood to St David's Well which has a good view over Aberfeldy and Strathtay and then descends past crags and through native woods. Terrain Excellent waymarked path; a fair amount of up and downhill. http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/perthshire/weem-wood.shtml |
Ben Lawers Nature Trail Distance: 1.25 mile Time: 45 minutes – 1 hour | This short nature trail begins at the Ben Lawers car park, giving easy access to the mid-level slopes of the mountain, a National Nature Reserve which is renowned for its remarkable arctic-alpine flora. Terrain Rough path on the uphill section of the nature trail; the route then follows an excellent path back downhill. http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/perthshire/lawers-nature-trail.shtml |
Falls of Acharn, near Kenmore Distance: 1.25 miles Time: 1 hour | This very beautiful short walk makes a circuit around the little ravine of the Falls of Acharn above the village of the same name. The falls are very attractive and are viewed through a Victorian 'Hermit's Cave'. Terrain Good tracks and paths; care is needed near the edges of the gorge if the path is left. A fair amount of up and down is involved. http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/perthshire/falls-of-acharn.shtml |
The Birks of Aberfeldy Distance: 2 miles Time: 1-2 hours | This beautiful short walk is extremely popular. Popularised in a song by Robert Burns, the fine walk up the steep gorge of the Moness burn reveals several waterfalls. Terrain Excellent waymarked path; a good amount of up and downhill. The walk passes above steep drops but there are handrails for much of the route. http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/perthshire/birks-of-aberfeldy.shtml |
Auchmore Circuit, Killin Distance: 2 miles Time: 1-1.5 hours | An easy circuit on minor roads and track which explores the countryside surrounding Killin. Terrain Minor roads and tracks, fairly flat. http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/perthshire/auchmore-circuit.shtml |
Loch Tay from Killin Distance: 2.5 miles Time: 1.5-2 hours | This beautiful short walk offers great views over Loch Tay and the Rivers Lochay and Dochart. The walk is level and easy to follow, although some parts may be wet or impassable after very wet and stormy weather. Terrain
Old railway line, good paths on fairly level ground. After very wet weather or storms parts of the walk may be impassable.
http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/perthshire/loch-tay-walk.shtml |
Innerwick and Bridge of Balgie, Glen Lyon Distance: 2.75 miles Time: 1.5 miles | Glen Lyon is renowned for its great beauty; this walk gives a chance to explore its middle reaches, climbing through the Ben Meggernie birchwoods to give fine views. Equally important is the opportunity to visit a tea-shop on the route. Terrain Unsurfaced but waymarked woodland paths, clear throughout. The path climbs a fair way above the valley floor. http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/perthshire/bridge-of-balgie.shtml |
Taymouth Castle and Kenmore Distance: 3 miles Time: 1.5-2 miles | This easy and varied walk takes in pretty Kenmore and the banks of Loch Tay. It then follows a good path along the River Tay, a popular salmon fishing river with good views. After crossing Chinese Bridge there is a chance to divert to view Taymouth Castle before returning along the banks of the wide River Tay. Terrain Good, clear paths; no waymarking. Chinese Bridge has a history of closures - at last report (autumn 2012) it was shut so it may not be possible to complete the route http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/perthshire/taymouth-castle.shtml |
Acharn Woods, Killin Distance: 3.75 miles Time: 1.5-2 hours | This easy walk through native woods and forestry plantation is good for spotting wildlife and has pleasant views from the upper section. Terrain Forest track, and path along old railway line, short uphill section. http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/perthshire/acharn-woods.shtml |
Drummond Hill and Black Rock, Kenmore Distance: 4.25 miles Time: 1.2-2 hours | Drummond Hill has two waymarked walks; this route combines both to visit the Black Rock viewpoint over Loch Tay and look out over the enormous Taymouth Castle. Terrain Waymarked forest tracks - one section of path. A fair amount of ascent is included at an easy gradient. http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/perthshire/drummond-hill.shtml |
Sron a'Chlachain and Creag Buidhe, Killin Distance: 2.5 miles Time: 1.5-2 hours
| This short but strenuous walk climbs steeply above Killin through lovely oak woods and then open moorland to give fabulous views the length of Loch Tay and down over Killin itself. Terrain Clear path which is very steep at times, climbing 400 metres. http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/perthshire/sron-a-chlachain.shtml |
Kenmore Hill Distance: 3 miles Time: 1.5-2 hours | An excellent waymarked circuit on and around Kenmore Hill. The hill has been planted with Scots pines and other native trees and offers superb views of Loch Tay and the mountains beyond. Terrain Waymarked path across moorland, mostly dry underfoot with just a couple of muddy patches. http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/perthshire/kenmore-hill.shtml |
Kerrowmore Woods, Glen Lyon Distance: 3 miles Time: 1.5- 2hours | This circular walk on the south side of Glen Lyon mixes forestry tracks and winding paths through woods and moorland. Terrain Paths are marked but are faint in places http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/perthshire/kerrowmore.shtml |
Aberfeldy and Kenmore Hill Circuit
Distance: 13.75 miles Time: 5-7 hours
| This very varied walk takes in the picturesque Birks of Aberfeldy, the bleak moorlands around the Urlar burn and a return route through pastures and forests with good views of Strath Tay. Terrain Good tracks; though following part of the Rob Roy way these are not waymarked and care is needed to stay on route. http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/perthshire/aberfeldy-kenmore.shtml |
Please note that walking times are given as a guideline and may vary according to the capability of the group and weather conditions
LOCAL MUNRO MOUNTAINS
A Munro is a mountain in Scotland with a height over 3,000 ft (914.4 m).
Ben Lawers group of 5 - Meall Greigh, Meall Garbh, An Stuc, Ben Lawers and Beinn Ghlas | Please note: If doing all 5 Munros in one round, it is a good idea to leave a car or bikes at the NTS car park on the road to Bridge of Balgie. Alternatively, do the first three Munros one day from Machuim Farm, and Ben Lawers and Beinn Ghlas another day from the NTS car park. |
Bridge of Balgie Road | Meall nan Tarmachan (from ¼ mile beyond the NTS car park) |
Meall Corranaich and Meall a’Choire Leith | From the summit of the Bridge of Balgie Road, just north of the north end of Lochan na Lairige |
Glen Lyon | Carn Gorm, Meall Garbh, Carn Mairg and Meall nan Aighean (From Inverar in Glen Lyon -- a manageable group of 4) |
Stuchd an Lochan and Meall Buidhe | From the car park below the dam at the east end of Loch an Daimh |
Glen Lochay | Creag Mhor and Beinn Heasgarnich (from the end of the public road just beyond Kenknock Farm in Glen Lochay, west of Killin) |
Meall Glas and Sgiath Chuil | As above for Creag Mhor & Beinn Heasgarnich |
Meall Ghaordaidh | From 330 yards west of Duncroisk, just beyond a small bridge |
Schiehallion | Schiehallion (from the Forestry Commission car park on Schiehallion Road, near Braes of Foss Farm west of the B846 Coshieville to Tummel Bridge road) |
South Loch Earn | Ben Vorlich and Stuc a’Chroin (from Ardvorlich on South Loch Earn Road) |
Crianlarich Hills | Ben More and Stobinnein (from A85, 200 yards east of Ben More Farm) An Caisteal and Beinn a’Chroin (from A82, 3¾ miles south of Crianlarich). |
Beinn Tulaichean and Cruach Ardrain | From Inverlochlarig on the dead- end road west from the A84 near Balquhidder. Allow 40 minutes – twisty road |
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY
Fire / Police / Ambulance | 999 |
Mountain Rescue | 01786 456 000 or 999 |
Please ensure that you are properly equipped for any walk into the mountains in case the weather deteriorates. If you find yourself in difficulty, contact the numbers above. If possible try and have an accurate grid reference of your location when you phone. | |
Doctor Ballechroisk, Killin, FK21 8TQ | 01567 820 213 |
NHS Direct 24 Hour Helpline for Scotland for urgent medical advice | 08454 24 24 24 |
Dentist Anderson Dentistry, Strawberrry Bank, Taybridge Terrace, Aberfeldy, PH15 2BS | 01887 820 441 |
