The following is a brief summary of the key details of the Cycle Routes in Scotland : Ben Lawers / Glen Lyon / Loch Tay.
DISTANCE : 47 miles circular
TERRAIN : Long, steep hills, with hairpin bends at start
TOTAL ASCENT : 4,173 ft.
START & FINISH : Car park in Killin
This route is one of the cycle routes in Scotland that I have cycled over the years. Some of the other routes I have cycled over the years are listed in the page “Cycle Routes in Scotland”. (Click here to go to this page.)
Route Map
Route map for Ben Lawers, Glen Lyon & Loch Tay by E-Bike Cyclist.scot 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.
Route Details -
Cycle Routes in Scotland : Ben Lawers / Glen Lyon / Loch Tay
The route starts in the picturesque, tourist village of Killin in Stirling District. When driving into Killin continue over the river on the old narrow bridge. The bridge passes over rapids that are called the Falls of Dochart.
After crossing over the bridge follow the road round to the right and drive along to the end of the Main Street. Here there is a quiet, free car park that is right on the start of the route.
Across the road and down Station Road there are public toilets. There is also another free car park there.
Killin - Ben Lawers
To start the route turn left out of the car park onto the end of Main Street.
Continue cycling along this road. Once out of Killin this then becomes the A827 road. It is quite a busy road but not too bad. The first section of this road is a long uphill stretch, but it is not very steep.
The road runs alongside Loch Tay and this affords some fine views across the loch.
Cycle along this road for just over four miles. Then turn left at the cut off for the road to Ben Lawers. This road immediately climbs steeply from the A827. It then winds it’s way steeply up through forestry land to the start of the Ben Lawers National Nature Reserve.
Just past the sign for the nature reserve there are two really steep hairpin bends. Once past these bends, continue cycling up the road as it winds it’s way steeply up the glen.
The road eventually passes by a car park for walkers climbing Ben Lawers and other surrounding hills. The car park is normally full. I’ve used or passed by this car park several times over the years. Sometimes for hill walking and a few times for cycling. In all these times, I can’t remember ever seeing this car park when its not busy.
From the car park cycle on steadily upwards. The road continues it’s steep climb all the way up to Lawers Dam.
After passing the top of the pass at the dam the road descends to the loch called Lochan na Lairige. The road then levels off alongside the loch.
This is a really enjoyable stretch of cycling. It is good to cycle on the level after the hard slog previously. It is also spectacular, rugged scenery. The loch is on your left, hills on your right and hills all around – wonderful!
There then follows a bit of a climb. After this the road is undulating for a short stretch. Then there is a long, long steep descent. This continues for at least five miles! So enjoy the free wheeling down the glen whilst admiring the scenery.
There can be a lot of forestry work taking place in this area. There are warning signs that forestry vehicles are operating in this area. Some of these vehicles can be huge, as can be seen from the one shown below.
Ben Lawers - Bridge of Balgie
Eventually at the end of the descent you come to a junction where you turn right.
This takes you to Bridge of Balgie, where there is a cafe/shop/post office. There is also a large grassy area with picnic tables. This is a very popular stop, especially for cyclists.
If you want to stop somewhere a bit quieter then you can cycle on for another ten minutes or so where you will find a picnic area maintained by the Meggernie Estate.
Here there are picnic tables where you can stop for a rest. At the picnic area there are information boards with maps of the area and details of walks that can be done in the area.
Also, there are public toilets here. They are at the back of the information boards and are hidden by a large grassy knoll. The toilets are clean and well kept. They are supplied and maintained by the Meggernie Estate.
When you leave the picnic area you immediately come to a large memorial to those from Glen Lyon who perished in the two world wars.
Just across the road from the War Memorial is the Glen Lyon Church.
Bridge of Balgie - Kenmore
Continue cycling along the road from the picnic area.
The terrain is now a bit more level, with some undulating sections. At times, though, there are some quite steep hills to go up. This means, of course, that there are some quite long descents.
Continue cycling down the long, long glen. The road now mostly runs alongside the River Lyon. This makes for pleasant cycling.
Eventually a junction is reached at the end of Glen Lyon. Here turn right. Continue on this country road until it reaches the A827 road. Turn left onto the A827 and cycle the three miles or so into the village of Kenmore.
As you cycle into Kenmore there is a large visitors centre with a cafe, public toilets, etc. on the left hand side. Cycle past this and continue on the main road and cross the river on the old bridge. The road then veers round to the left to where the Kenmore Hotel is.
After this the road continues round to the right. It then leads down to the bay at the top of Loch Tay.
This is a very popular spot, especially on warm, sunny days when people lie on the grassy verge or on the beach, and have fun in the water.
There is a boating centre here at the side of the loch, where there is a cafe and picnic tables.
Kenmore - Killin
Leave Kenmore and cycle along the A827 for a few minutes. At the other end of the loch turn right onto a narrow country road. This road is signposted as being a “Walking & cycling friendly road”.
A short distance along this road you came to the Scottish Crannog Centre.
Crannogs are a type of ancient loch dwelling found throughout Scotland. Full details can be found on the Scottish Crannog Centre website. (Click here.)
Next to the Crannog Centre is the Taymouth Marina. It provides luxury self-catering accommodation and it has a cafe bar and restaurant.
The road from Kenmore continues alongside the loch. It is part of the NCN 7 cycle route.
The road from Kenmore to Killin is undulating and this requires a bit of effort at times. However, the first six miles or so of this section weren’t too bad as the hills were longer.
Once you climb up to the headlands along the side of the loch there are fantastic views all the way up and down Loch Tay.
After reaching the top of the headlands there are some welcome steep descents. After this there are some steep hills on the rest of the way back to Killin. Consequently the last section is a bit harder going.
The road comes out at the Falls of Dochart in Killin. Here turn right and cycle over the old bridge and along the Main Street and back to the car.
Route Alternatives -
Cycle Routes in Scotland ; Ben Lawers / Glen Lyon / Loch Tay
One alternative would be to cycle the route in an anti-clockwise direction. Starting from Killin cycle along the south shore of Loch Tay to Kenmore. Then cycle up through Glen Lyon to Bridge of Balgie. From Bridge of Balgie cycle up to Lawers Dam and then free wheel all the way back to Killin.
Another alternative would be to start the route in Kenmore. This would result in the difficult climbing up to the headlands overlooking Loch Tay being done first rather than at the end. The final section, therefore, would be an easy cycle back to Kenmore.
The route could be shortened to a linear route between Killin and Bridge of Balgie and back. This would suit those who are ultra-fit and want to get good hill-climbing exercise.
For those who are not ultra-fit a shortened alternative would be to cycle the south side of Loch tay, from Killin to Kenmore, or vice versa. This would be a fine ride with spectacular views over Loch Tay.
Cafe / Toilet Stops -
Cycle Routes in Scotland : Ben Lawers / Glen Lyon / Loch Tay
There are many bar / restaurants in the busy tourist village of Killin. Also, there are cafes, shops and hotels in the village. There are public toilets at the end of Main Street.
At Bridge of Balgie there is the cafe/shop/post office that serves food and drink and that has toilets. Just ten minutes past this there are also public toilets at the Meggernie Estate picnic area.
In the busy tourist village of Kenmore there is a large visitors centre that has shops and a restaurant. There are also public toilets at the back of the centre. On the village Main Street there is the Kenmore Hotel. There is also a cafe at the boating centre on the bay round from the hotel.
Train Options -
Cycle Routes in Scotland : Ben Lawers / Glen Lyon / Loch Tay
Unfortunately there are no train stations in either Killin or Kenmore.
The nearest train station to Killin is in Crianlarich, which is about 13 miles from Killin. The nearest train station to Kenmore is in Pitlochry, which is about 21 miles from Kenmore.
However, if you do want to access the start of the route by train your options to do so will of course depend on where you live and what train lines are nearby and where they run to, which each person will need to investigate for themselves. For a website that can help with this click on the following website address : https://www.thetrainline.com.