recommended route
Ardtalnaig to Aberfeldy - Digital Delivery
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Falls of MonessPhoto: Craig Dickson, Macs Adventure
Today starts with the continuation of the South Loch Tay Road trek. While the pavement might be arduous, the views down to the water and across to Ben Lawers, along with the secluded woodland feel of this side of the loch, go a long way to ease sore feet.
At Acharn, turn upward and follow a gravel track to the Falls, detouring into Hermit’s Cave and a viewpoint. Then continue ahead into open farmland and a lovely ridgeline stretch of trail. Kenmore can be seen below, and you can detour further along the trail if you wish.
Continue on through stretches of forest (taking care of any active forestry works), then continue toward Aberfeldy, finishing with a favourite haunt of Robert Burns and the highlight of the day’s walk – The Birks of Aberfeldy.
Author’s recommendation
Track types
Show elevation profileRest stops
Scottish Crannog CentreThe Upstairs Restaurant at The Townhouse
Kenmore
Aberfeldy
Safety information
There are several stretches where you must walk on the road as there is no pavement or verge. Walk on the right side facing the oncoming traffic unless there is a right-hand turn, in which case you should cross to the outside edge to allow drivers the maximum chance to see you.
Be aware that some of the way may pass through active forestry sites. Continue on as normal, though maintain extra awareness of your surroundings here and follow guidance on signs displayed by the forestry works.
Maps
You may wish to print the daily maps directly from our app.
Guidebook
If you wish to bring a guidebook, we would recommend The Rob Roy Way: From Drymen to Pitlochry (Rucksack Readers).
Macs Adventure Blogs
Using our decades of experience we have written several blogs containing helpful tips, daily wildlife information, lunch stops, where to eat, FAQ and more. Please follow the link below to read our Rob Roy Way insights:
https://www.macsadventure.com/walking-holidays/rob-roy-way-alternate-west-highland-way/
https://www.macsadventure.com/walking-holidays/adventure-week-rob-roy-way/
Tips and hints
Points of Interest
Falls of Acharn
You'll follow this path partially before it diverts back down to the Loch Tay Road. Take in the view of the Falls and detour into an old hermit's cave before continuing on.
For more information: https://www.visitaberfeldy.co.uk/see-do/384-falls-of-acharn
Scottish Crannog Centre
A crannog is a type of ancient loch-dwelling found throughout Scotland and Ireland and dating from as much as 5,000 years ago. Many crannogs were built out on the water as defensive homesteads and represented symbols of power and wealth. The Scottish Crannog Centre features a unique reconstruction of an early Iron Age loch-dwelling, built by the Scottish Trust for Underwater Archaeology. This authentic recreation is based on the excavation evidence from the 2,600-year-old site of 'Oakbank Crannog', one of the 18 crannogs preserved in Loch Tay, Scotland. The STUA continues to explore other underwater sites in Loch Tay and further afield, regularly adding new discoveries to its award-winning centre at Kenmore, Perthshire.
For more information: https://www.crannog.co.uk/
Aberfeldy
A small market town, Aberfeldy has a population of about 2,000. Robert Burns mentioned Aberfeldy in his poem The Birks of Aberfeldy. Wade's Bridge over the Tay was built in 1733 and designed by architect William Adam, father of the more famous Robert Adam. General Wade considered this bridge to be his greatest accomplishment. In 2002, Aberfeldy was the first town in Scotland to be granted fairtrade status. The Aberfeldy Footbridge over the River Tay was the world's first bridge constructed entirely of composite materials. It connects two holes of the town's golf course on either side of the River Tay.
For more information: https://www.visitscotland.com/info/towns-villages/birks-of-aberfeldy-p249371
Food and Drink
There is nowhere to get food or drink along this walk, so be sure to bring enough provisions.
Alternative Transport
If you are unable to walk this section, a local taxi will provide the best option to travel to Aberfeldy.
Start
Destination
Turn-by-turn directions
*** To help you follow the route with confidence we have provided full written turn by turns to aid you on your walk from Ardtalnaig to Aberfeldy. We strongly suggest that you follow the GPS tracks in the Macs Adventure smartphone app to ensure you have a safe, enjoyable and problem-free day. The daily maps can also be printed from the web version of the app should you wish to take paper copies with you. ***
0.00 km – Upon returning by taxi to Ardtalnaig, stand at the junction with the red telephone box to your left and a side road turning off to your right. CONTINUE STRAIGHT ON, resuming your journey along the South Loch Tay road with the loch on your left for the next 8.30 kms.
8.20 km – As you reach the hamlet of Acharn, TURN RIGHT after a large stone house to join an ascending dirt track, following signs on your right for the Falls of Acharn Circular Walk and the Rob Roy Way. CONTINUE STRAIGHT ON along the track for 700 metres, ignoring any smaller footpaths off to your left and right.
8.90 km – At a sign for the Hermit’s Cave, make a quick diversion to explore the cave then CONTINUE STRAIGHT ON along the gravel track as it winds uphill to the left. After 300 metres, you’ll reach another short diversion to a viewing platform, then CONTINUE STRAIGHT ON to follow the gravel track.
9.20 km – Cross a bridge over the falls and CONTINUE STRAIGHT ON through a wooden fence to follow signs for Queen’s Drive and Aberfeldy, ignoring a small track and sign pointing to Acharn on your left. BEAR RIGHT immediately at the fork, and BEAR RIGHT again at the next fork to follow the path and a wooden signpost with the green arrow on your left.
9.90 km – Pass through a wooden and then a metal gate and CONTINUE STRAIGHT ON along the dirt and gravel track. After 300 metres, pass through another wooden gate and CONTINUE STRAIGHT ON.
10.30 km – At a crossroads with a sign for a stone circle and a metal gate on your left, CONTINUE STRAIGHT ON through a wooden gate and over a wooden bridge, following the green arrow. Then BEAR LEFT at the fork, following a signpost on your right with a green arrow.
10.40 km – Cross through a wooden gate and CONTINUE STRAIGHT ON. After 200 metres, BEAR RIGHT to pass through another wooden gate marked with a green arrow and CONTINUE STRAIGHT ON, ignoring a faint path off to your right.
11.10 km – BEAR RIGHT at a fork in the road with a stone house on your left, following the green arrow and sign for the Rob Roy Way. After 200 metres, BEAR RIGHT slightly to pass through a metal gate and CONTINUE STRAIGHT ON, following a sign for the Rob Roy Way.
11.90 km – CONTINUE STRAIGHT ON through a metal gate with a green arrow to follow a narrow grassy path (overgrown at times.) After 100 metres, you’ll reach a sign on your right for the Bolfracks Estate. CONTINUE STRAIGHT ON along the same main track for 1 km until you reach the end of the Estate.
12.90 km – With another Bolfracks Estate sign on your right, CONTINUE STRAIGHT ON through a metal gate with a green arrow. After 100 metres, CONTINUE STRAIGHT ON to join the paved single-track road, following a sign on your left reading ‘Path to Aberfeldy’.
(If you are detouring to Kenmore, you’ll follow the paved road in the opposite direction here.)
13.50 km – Pass a junction with a gravel road to your right and CONTINUE STRAIGHT ON along the paved single-track road.
13.70 km – Cross a stone bridge over a stream with a stone house in front of you and TURN LEFT to pass through a metal gate, following a sign on your left for the Path to Aberfeldy.
14.20 km – When you reach a junction with a road bearing to the right and behind you, CONTINUE STRAIGHT ON along the gravel track downhill.
14.50 km – Before reaching a metal gate with a cattle grid, TURN RIGHT to leave the gravel road, following a green arrow and a Bolfracks Estate sign for the Rob Roy Way on your left. Then pass through a metal gate and CONTINUE STRAIGHT ON along the faint grassy path.
14.70 km - TURN RIGHT at a T-junction onto an uphill gravel road, following a sign on your right for the Rob Roy Way. After 300 metres, CONTINUE STRAIGHT ON through a metal gate in a stone wall, taking care as you enter a forest operations area.
15.40 km – Pass through a metal gate that marks the end of the forest operations area and CONTINUE STRAIGHT ON along the gravel track for 2.30 kms. You will pass through 4 more metal or wooden gates before reaching a T-Junction.
17.70 km –TURN RIGHT at the T-junction to join the uphill path, following a sign on your left for the Path to Aberfeldy and a stone wall on your right.
18.40 km – Pass through a metal gate and BEAR RIGHT to continue along the gravel track, soon crossing a cattle grid.
18.80 km – BEAR LEFT at a fork in the road to follow the level gravel track and a signpost on your left with a green arrow.
20.10 km – At a fork where a rough logging road continues on ahead, BEAR LEFT to leave the road and join a small grassy path downhill, following a signpost with a green arrow on your right. After 200 metres, pass through a metal gate and CONTINUE STRAIGHT ON along the grass path.
20.60 km – BEAR RIGHT to continue along the path downhill, following the Rob Roy Way signpost on your right. After 300 metres, pass through a metal gate and CONTINUE STRAIGHT ON along the grassy track.
21.00 km –BEAR LEFT to continue along the grassy path as it winds downhill toward a stone wall ahead then BEAR RIGHT to follow the stone wall on your left.
21.20 km – Pass through a metal gate and CONTINUE STRAIGHT ON along a gravel drive with a house on your left, following a green arrow and sign for the Rob Roy Way. After 100 metres, cross a cattle grid and CONTINUE STRAIGHT ON as the grave track winds downhill.
21.70 km – TURN RIGHT to leave the gravel track at a junction, following a signpost on your right for the Birks of Aberfeldy and the Rob Roy Way. After 200 metres, pass through a metal gate and CONTINUE STRAIGHT ON along the grassy track uphill.
22.20 km – At a junction with a turn off to your left, CONTINUE STRAIGHT ON along the grass and gravel track, passing through a wooden gate ahead.
23.00 km – At a crossroads, pass through a metal gate and TURN RIGHT to follow the single-track road, ignoring a faint grassy path leading into the forest. After 100 metres, TURN LEFT onto a wide gravel path into the forest, with a signpost and green arrow in the middle of the path.
23.20 km – At a T-junction, TURN LEFT to follow the path downhill with the Falls of Moness below on your right. After 100 metres, BEAR RIGHT at a fork to follow the steps down and cross a wooden bridge over the falls.
23.40 km – BEAR LEFT at a fork after the bridge to follow the steps upward. Then CONTINUE STRAIGHT ON for 1.70 kms to follow the main path through the gorge over sections of boardwalk, stone and wooden steps, ignoring any small tracks to your left or right.
25.00 km – Cross a wooden bridge and TURN RIGHT to join the path on the other side of the Moness Burn. After 100 metres, with a Rob Roy Way signpost on your left, cross through a car park and CONTINUE STRAIGHT ON to follow the single-track road.
25.40 km – At a T-junction with a traffic light, TURN LEFT along the pavement to a crosswalk. Then TURN RIGHT to cross the road and CONTINUE STRAIGHT ON along a wooded path, with a sign for the Rob Roy Way on your left. Follow the wooded path for 400 metres, crossing over two bridges.
25.80 km – Finish your walk under the Aberfeldy War Memorial with the main road straight ahead.
*** This is the end of our Ardtalnaig to Aberfeldy route, use your included documentation to find your overnight accommodation. ***
Note
Coordinates
Equipment
Such is the way of British hiking, that you need to be prepared for all seasons and weather; sturdy hiking boots, warm clothes and a waterproof/wind-break layer are all required, as is plenty of sun-cream and a healthy respect for the sun.
Walking poles are not necessary on this walk with only minor ascents and descents, but you can bring them along if they are part of your standard walking equipment.
Ensure your phone is fully charged; if you doubt the battery will last throughout the hike, it might be beneficial to bring a power bank.
This walk is isolated with limited opportunity to buy food or water so be sure to bring enough with you.
Statistics
- 6 Waypoints
- 6 Waypoints
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