Cycling Aberfoyle – Dukes Pass – Loch Katrine on 16/06/22 was a fine route. It has a steep hill climb, a cycle round Loch Katrine and it passes four 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 16/06/22
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.)
Left Glasgow 9.10 / Parked at Riverside Car Park, Aberfoyle 10.10 / Started cycling 10.30 / Top of Dukes Pass 11.0 – 11.05 ( 2.60) / Loch Achray lay-by 11.15 (5.21) / Loch Katrine Pier 11.30 – 11.35 (6.77) / Lunch 12.15 – 12.40 (11.33) / Stronachlachar Pier 1.45 – 2.15 (19.80) / Lay-by on Loch Ard at Ledard Farm 3.05 (26.99) / Back at car 3.40 ( 31.22) / Left 4.10 / Home 5.30.
Computer Readings -
Cycling Aberfoyle - Dukes Pass - Loch Katrine on 16/06/22
At the end of each trip there are a variety of readings on the bike’s computer. Some of them I record for future comparison purposes.
For this route the readings are as follows :
Trip distance 31.20 mls. | Max. speed 28.2 mph | Ave. speed 8.7 mph | Trip time 3 hrs. 36 mins. | Odometer 4,032.80 mls.
Choice of Route -
Cycling Aberfoyle - Dukes Pass - Loch Katrine on 16/06/22
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.
Log -
Cycling Aberfoyle - Dukes Pass - Loch Katrine on 16/06/22
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 dull and overcast and there was a bit of drizzle, but it wasn’t too windy.
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. I had to use the first level of assistance from the electric motor, the ECO mode, to get me up this first stretch.
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. At this centre there is parking, toilets, a cafe and a view point. There is also a Go Ape overhead adventure course.
I normally just cycle past this and that’s what I did today.
After passing by the centre I continued climbing up the Dukes Pass road.
I then used ECO mode on and off, with several stretches unassisted, until I got to the top of Dukes Pass. It had remained dull and heavily overcast on the way up, with a bit of drizzle at times.
I reached the top of the pass at the spot where the second sign for the Three Lochs Forest Drive is. I stopped here for five minutes to admire the fabulous views all around.
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. I had to use the ECO mode to help me get up them.
On the descent from Dukes Pass there was heavy drizzle and I got soaked. It then stayed dry for a while and I soon dried off.
Further down parts of Loch Achray came into view. Then the road continued alongside this loch, where there are fine views all around.
I stopped for a few minutes at the lay-by at the side of Loch Achray and admired the views up and down the loch.
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 it was dull and overcast, but it was dry and it wasn’t too windy.
I only stopped at the Pier for five minutes to go to the toilet, as I had planned to stop for lunch in about 30 minutes or so.
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
After cycling away from Loch Katrine Pier for about 20 minutes it started to drizzle and then this turned to rain. So I stopped and put my rain jacket on.
Previously when I did this route I cycled round the loch and stopped for lunch at Stronachlacher Pier at the top of the loch. However, I now stop at a spot about 4.5 miles from Loch Katrine Pier. Here I know there are some benches overlooking the loch. So today I stopped here for lunch.
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!
It was dry when I stopped for lunch, but then after about 10 minutes it started raining again, quite heavily. So I put on my waterproof trousers.
After lunch I cycled up the steep hills 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.
During the cycle to Stronachlachar the weather was mixed, with intermittent showers. Then it dried up for the last half hour or so.
I stopped at Stronachlachar Pier for about 30 minutes. I bought an ice cream cone from the cafe and sat at one of the tables outside the cafe, admiring the wonderful views down Loch Katrine.
At Stronachlachar Pier there is the Pier Tea Room that serves meals and snacks. There are also public toilets.
The tea room has a conservatory that sits out over the loch and affords fantastic views 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.
Soon after I left Stronachlachar it brightened up a bit and stayed dry.
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 normally just cycle past this road, but if time permits it is worth cycling along to have a look at the village.
It is a nice village that has a large field on the banks of Loch Ard. In good weather the field can be very busy with families and people enjoying themselves in the water.
Today I just cycled past it and continued on the main road.
Kinlochard - Aberfoyle
Further along I stopped at the lay-by across from Ledard Farm to admire the views across Loch Ard. By this time it had actually become quite warm so I took off my gloves and my Buff head gear.
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 good day of cycling, despite the rain earlier on.
Electric Motor Assistance -
Cycling Aberfoyle - Dukes Pass - Loch Katrine on 16/06/22
After I left the car park in Aberfoyle I started off right away on the first level of assistance, the ECO mode, to help me up the immediate steep section leading from the Main Street up to the bowling club.
I continued using ECO mode most of the way up to The Lodge Forest Visitor Centre. After this there were some sections of the climb that were unassisted and others where I used ECO mode.
On the descent from Dukes Pass there are some steep undulating sections and I had to use ECO mode on these.
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 but I managed to get up them only using ECO mode.
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.
The last time I cycled this route I had to use the second level of assistance, the TOUR mode, several times. I was quite pleased, therefore, to complete the route today only using the ECO mode when required.
Consequently, 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. As a result it only took just over an hour to recharge the battery to full capacity.
Summary -
Cycling Aberfoyle - Dukes Pass - Loch Katrine on 16/06/22
Although the weather in the morning wasn’t too good I was pleased that I decided to get out on my bike today.
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!