Cycling Aberfoyle – Dukes Pass – Loch Katrine on 25/04/21 was a fine route. It has a steep hill climb, a cycle round Loch Katrine and it passes other lochs. Also, it has great views of the beautiful Trossachs area of Scotland.
This is one of many great routes I have cycled in Scotland. Other great routes I have cycled are listed on the page Cycle Routes in Scotland.
Route Map -
Route map for Aberfoyle - Duke's Pass - Loch Katrine by Robert McColl on plotaroute.com
The map above is an interactive map so if you press “Play” (click on the white triangle in the middle of the screen) you can zoom in or out by pressing the buttons that appear in the top left of the screen, and you can move the map by dragging it. Once you press Play the hills profile of the route will appear at the bottom of the map. You can get further comprehensive detailed analysis of the hill profile by clicking on “More Detailed Profile” at the top left of the hills profile section. You can also select full screen mode by clicking on the icon in the top right corner of the map.
Timings and Distances -
Cycling Aberfoyle - Dukes Pass - Loch Katrine on 25/04/21
This section details the times I took for the various parts of the day. It includes the distances cycled, i.e. when I started cycling, how long I cycled for between various points in the route. Also included are the distances (in miles) between various points in the route and how long I rested for, etc
I included this section so that I can look back at the timings and distances to help me plan my day if I decide to do this trip again. This section could also assist others with planning their day if they decide to do this route. Each person, of course, will have to adjust the timings to suit their own circumstances, e.g. cycling speed, rest times, etc.
(Note: The figures in brackets are the cumulative distances in miles from the start of the route.)
Parked at Riverside Car Park, Aberfoyle 9.45 / Started cycling 10.00 / The Lodge Forest Visitors Centre 10.15 – 10.30 (0.77) / Top of Dukes Pass 10.50 – 10.55 ( 3.03) / Loch Katrine Pier 11.35 – 11.50 (7.26) / Lunch 12.30 – 1.00 (11.87) / Clan McGregor burial grounds 1.30 (15.28) / Stronachlachar Pier 2.20 – 2.40 (20.32) / Kinlochard village 3.35 – 3.45 (27.54) / Lay-by on Loch Ard at Ledard Farm 3.50 – 3.55 (28.40) / Back at car 4.25 ( 32.65) / Left 4.40
Choice of Route -
Cycling Aberfoyle - Dukes Pass - Loch Katrine on 25/04/21
This was the first trip I had done since the Covid restrictions in Scotland were eased. You were now allowed travel throughout Scotland. Previously you were restricted to your local authority area. I was desperate therefore to get back up cycling amongst the hills and lochs of Scotland.
I chose this route as it was in the beautiful area of the Trossachs. It was a route I had done many times before so I knew it was a great route.
I also knew that it was quite a demanding route. It has a steep hill climb right from the very beginning, up the Dukes Pass. There are also several other hilly sections along the way. I knew therefore that I would get some good exercise, even with the assistance of my e-bike.
One further bonus was that the private road around Loch Katrine was now open again. A landslide had blocked it in 2019 and it had remained closed until recently.
Log -
Cycling Aberfoyle - Dukes Pass - Loch Katrine on 25/04/21
Start Point
I drove to the popular tourist village of Aberfoyle in the lovely Trossachs area of Scotland. Here the route commences from the Riverside Car Park off the Main Street.
When I arrived at the car park in Aberfoyle it was bright and dry. There were white clouds in the sky and the sun was trying to come out. The car park was very busy as it was forecast to be a bright sunny day. Also, this was only the second week-end when Covid travel restrictions throughout Scotland had been lifted.
Aberfoyle - Dukes Pass
I left the car park and cycled slowly up the steep hill on the Duke’s Pass Road. This climb starts immediately when you leave Aberfoyle. After a short distance there is an exit on the right to a part of the NCN 7 cycle route. This continues through rough forest tracks to Callander. I cycled past this and continued on the road up the hill.
A short distance further on I got to The Lodge Forest Visitor Centre. Today I cycled into the Centre to have a look and take some photos. I hadn’t been in it before as I normally just cycle past it straight up the hill.
After leaving the centre I continued climbing up the Dukes Pass road.
I reached the top of the pass at the spot where the second sign for the Three Lochs Forest Drive is. (The drive was closed due to Covid restrictions.)
I stopped here for five minutes to admire the fabulous views all around. The weather continued to be bright and sunny with a clear blue sky and hardly a cloud to be seen.
Dukes Pass - Loch Achray
Leaving the top of the pass it was good to get some steep descents where I could free-wheel and rest my legs. Some of the sections though were undulating with some climbs.
Further down parts of Loch Achray came into view. Then the road continued alongside this loch, where there are fine views all around.
Further along near the end of the loch, nestled beneath the hills, is the Loch Achray Hotel
Loch Achray - Loch Katrine Pier
I cycled past the hotel and along the shores of the loch. I continued until I came to the spot where the Dukes Pass Road turns sharply to the right. Here there is a side road off to the left.
I followed the side road to the left up the hill and this eventually led to Loch Katrine Pier
At the pier there is the Steamship Cafe. There is also a snack bar, a souvenir shop, bike hire and public toilets.
Tickets for cruises on the loch can be purchased at the ticket office at the pier.
When I arrived at Loch Katrine pier I checked over my bike. I had heard some rattling coming from it over the last half hour or so. I discovered that one of the mudguard stays was flapping loose.
The nut and bolt that had connected it to the frame was gone. It must have come loose and came off earlier on.
Fortunately I had some thin garden wire in my saddle bag. So I cut a small length off it with the wire clippers that I also carry in my saddle bag. I then used this to tie the stay to the frame and it worked a treat.
One of the benefits of carrying a saddlebag with some miscellaneous items in it!
I then started cycling along the private road that winds it’s way around the loch.
Just past the start of this road there is a small discreet site where there are Eco Lodges and some camping spots.
Loch Katrine Pier - Clan McGregor Burial Grounds
Normally when I do this route I cycle round the loch and stop for lunch at Stronachlacher Pier at the top of the loch. However, I was running a bit late today so I stopped at a spot about 4.5 miles from Loch Katrine Pier. Here I knew there were some benches overlooking the loch.
It was now an absolutely beautiful day with a clear blue sky and with the sun directly above me. I sat at the bench and ate my sandwiches and drank my juice. Whilst having lunch I admired the fabulous views up and down the loch and across to Ben Venue. Ben Venue is a high hill overlooking both Loch Arklet and Loch Katrine. Wonderful!
After lunch I cycled up the steep hill just after where the two benches are. At the top of the hill there is a grassy area with seating that would be an alternative spot for a break.
The road alongside the loch was very much up and down, with some quite steep short climbs and sharp bends. There are warning signs in this respect at intervals along the road.
Further along the loch side, on a piece of land jutting out into the loch, are burial grounds of the Clan McGregor.
Clan McGregor Burial Grounds - Stronachlachar Pier
I continued cycling towards the top of the loch and soon the area around Stronachlachar Pier came into view.
It didn’t seem so far away from here. However, the loch branches round to the right and there is still a good bit to go to get to Stronachlachar Pier.
After cycling up to the top of the loch I then looped round and back along the other shore of the loch. Eventually I arrived at Stronachlachar Pier.
Unfortunately the Pier Cafe was closed. The Covid restrictions on hospitality venues in Scotland were not being lifted until tomorrow. This was disappointing as I had hoped that at least a takeaway service would have been available. It was not for food but so that I could buy an ice cream! This prospect is what had kept me going during the afternoon.
Instead I lay down on a grassy area and ate a choc bar and drank some juice. I soaked up the lovely sunshine and watched a group of people swimming and paddle boarding in the loch.
From the pier there were fine views back down the loch.
Adjacent to the pier there is a small island in the loch called Factors Island. It is so called as this is where the folklore hero Rob Roy McGregor imprisoned the factor of the Duke of Montrose. It was part of his long running feud with the Duke.
Stronachlachar - Kinlochard
The route from Stronachlachar Pier back to Aberfoyle continues on a public road. I cycled up the hill on this road to the junction at the top. Cycling straight ahead at this junction would take you down alongside Loch Arklet to the Inversnaid Hotel on the banks of Loch Lomond, but I turned left here to get back to Aberfoyle.
Just at this junction I came across some roadkill in the form of a small snake.
After I turned left onto the road to Aberfoyle there was quite a long and quite a steep climb, but then there was a very welcome steep descent all the way down to the start of Loch Chon.
After Loch Chon the route was undulating with some hills to climb until I got to the cut-off for the village of Kinlochard.
I turned right off the road to Aberfoyle onto this road and cycled along to the village to have a look, as I hadn’t visited this village in all the previous occasions I had cycled this route.
It was a nice village that had a large field on the banks of Loch Ard. Today the field was very busy with families and people enjoying themselves in the water.
Kinlochard - Aberfoyle
I cycled back along to the road to Aberfoyle and turned right to rejoin the return route.
Further along I stopped at the lay-by across from Ledard Farm to admire the views across Loch Ard.
From the lay-by I cycled along past the McDonald Resort & Hotel and then continued on the road as it closely hugged the edge of Loch Ard.
This was a fine section of the route and it continued like this until near to the start of the route in Aberfoyle, where I returned to the car park after a great day of cycling.
Electric Motor Assistance -
Cycling Aberfoyle - Dukes Pass - Loch Katrine on 25/04/21
When I left Aberfoyle I started off on the first level of assistance, the ECO mode, to help me up the immediate steep section leading from the Main Street. That only lasted for a short distance and then I had to go onto the second level of assistance, the TOUR mode, as the hill became so much steeper.
I was then in TOUR mode most of the way up to The Lodge Forest Visitor Centre. After this there were some sections of the climb that were unassisted, others where I used ECO mode and others where I used TOUR mode.
When cycling round the undulating terrain on the private road alongside Loch Katrine I used ECO mode when required up to when I stopped for lunch. After lunch there were some quite steep hills and I had to use TOUR mode to help me get up them.
On the public road on the return journey to Aberfoyle from Stronachlachar I used the ECO mode to help me up the hill at the start of that road. I then used it when required a couple of times in the undulating section that followed after Loch Chon.
I felt that I had used the battery assistance quite a lot during the day due to the steep hills that had to be climbed throughout the course of this route. However, when I got home and put the battery on charge I discovered that I had only used just under one bar of the five bars on the battery level indicator. Consequently it only took just over an hour to recharge the battery to full capacity
Summary -
Cycling Aberfoyle - Dukes Pass - Loch Katrine on 25/04/21
It was fantastic to get back up to the Trossachs area of Scotland and to cycle this route, which is one of my favourite routes as it is in amongst beautiful scenery with breathtaking views.
As well as being in amongst the wonderful hills of the Trossachs the route also passes by or goes alongside five different lochs – Loch Achray, Loch Katrine, Loch Arklet, Loch Chon and Loch Ard.
The hilly nature of the route also provides a good level of exercise, even when using the battery assistance when required. Thanks to my e-bike I can continue cycling on routes like this and get out and about in such wonderful scenery. A great advert for e-bike cycling!
I had planned this trip for a day when the weather forecast was good, which is one of the benefits of being retired. Consequently the trip was even better on a beautiful sunny day.