An all year-round destination, Pitlochry is one of the best locations from which to explore Highland Perthshire

Pitlochry Cycle Routes

Pitlochry Cycling information in and around the Pitlochry area including the towns of Aberfeldy, Blair Atholl, Dunkeld, and Kinloch Rannoch

The specialist Pitlochry cycle shops in the area are:

Pitlochry Boating Station - Mountain & Ebike hire, perfectly located to explore the Faskally Woods and all around Pitlochry

Highland Safaris at Weem offers bikes for hire. An off road circuit for the younger member of the family. A 'drop at the top' service, where you are transported with your bike to the top of the glen. All you do is cycle back, importantly mostly downhill, in the midst of wonderful highland scenery.

Blair Atholl Bike Hire is one of the best areas for off road cycling in Scotland. Atholl Estates has numerous off road routes suitable for all abilities. Blair Castle Caravan Park sells a trail guide which you will find invaluable.

Pitlochry is also home to the Etape Caledonia - Britain’s largest closed road cycle event, mid-May. 2023 Etape will be held on May the 16th.

Bikes

Mountain & E-Ride Bike Hire in Pitlochry

Hire one of our Scott Mountain Bikes, electric or standard - Helmet & Repair Kit Included

Hire E-Ride Bikes

Hire Mountain Bikes

Dunkeld and Birnam:
Route No. 1

The River Tay at Dunkeld and Birnam

  • STARTING POINT(S)
  • PH8 0AQ (alternative - PH8 0AD, car park by tennis courts)
  • SUMMARY
  • Easy route divided into north and south sections. They can be ridden separated or as one longer route.
  • MAX HEIGHT GAINED
  • 10m
  • LENGTH
  • 6km (North Route), 7km (South Route)
Download Cycle Route 1

Dunkeld and Birnam:
Route No.2

Birnam Glen and Rumbling Bridge

  • STARTING POINT(S)
  • PH8 0AQ. Alternative: The Birnam Institute (PH 0DS)
  • SUMMARY
  • A flexible network of paths with a choice of staring points and an attractive mix landscapes. Moderate.
  • MAX HEIGHT GAINED
  • 170m
  • LENGTH
  • Up to 1.05km
Download Cycle Route 2

Dunkeld and Birnam:
Route No.3

Atholl Woods & Loch Ordie

  • STARTING POINT(S)
  • PH8 0AQ. Alternative: Cally Car PArk (PH 0ES)
  • SUMMARY
  • Begining in Dunkled this route takes in loch and beautiful surrounding countryside with opportunity for exploring other technical tracks.
  • MAX HEIGHT GAINED
  • 130m and 200m with extension
  • LENGTH
  • 15km, 25km with extension
Download Cycle Route 3

Aberfeldy:
Route No.4

Castle Dow, Grandtully

  • STARTING POINT(S)
  • PH8 0PX
  • SUMMARY
  • Forestry track leading to fantastic view. Steady climb but not too steep. Option to carry on for a longer ride.
  • MAX HEIGHT GAINED
  • 250m
  • LENGTH
  • 7km
Download Cycle Route 4

Aberfeldy:
Route No.5

The Old Railway Riverside Path

  • STARTING POINT(S)
  • PH15 2AF
  • SUMMARY
  • Road section to start followed by woodland and fields. Sharps downhill at the begining,the rest is relatively flat though bumpy in places.
  • MAX HEIGHT GAINED
  • Negligible
  • LENGTH
  • 12km
Download Cycle Route 5

Aberfeldy:
Route No.6

Wades Bridge to River Lyon

  • STARTING POINT(S)
  • PH15 2JQ
  • SUMMARY
  • Flat single track route along banks of River Tay and Lyon with some main road to access and return (optional return).
  • MAX HEIGHT GAINED
  • Flat
  • LENGTH
  • Up to 12km
Download Cycle Route 6

Aberfeldy:
Route No.7

Dull Wood Routes

  • STARTING POINT(S)
  • PH15 2JQ
  • SUMMARY
  • Easy to medium grade routes on forest tracks with some climbs great views. Blue section with some rough single track.
  • MAX HEIGHT GAINED
  • 120m
  • LENGTH
  • Up to 7km
Download Cycle Route 7

Aberfeldy:
Route No.8

The Glassie Circuit

  • STARTING POINT(S)
  • PH15 2JQ
  • SUMMARY
  • Short road section to start with before a long uphill. Option to connect to Camserney Burn and Dull wood. Hard route.
  • MAX HEIGHT GAINED
  • 330m
  • LENGTH
  • 15km
Download Cycle Route 8

Aberfeldy:
Route No.9

Camserney and Dull Wood

  • STARTING POINT(S)
  • PH15 2JQ
  • SUMMARY
  • After a mile of uphill on rough track the views are a great reward. Quite a hard Route
  • MAX HEIGHT GAINED
  • 330m
  • LENGTH
  • 15km
Download Cycle Route 9

Aberfeldy:
Route No.10

Drummond Hill

  • STARTING POINT(S)
  • PH15 2HN
  • SUMMARY
  • Initial steep ascent to Black Rock viewpoint, then undulating descent through forest to the pictureque 'gallops' track back to Kenmore
  • MAX HEIGHT GAINED
  • 450m
  • LENGTH
  • 10km
Download Cycle Route 10

Rannoch & Tummel:
Route No.11

Blck Wood of Rannoch (Allt Na Bogair)

  • STARTING POINT(S)
  • PH17 2Qj
  • SUMMARY
  • Native Broadleaved woodland and Scots pine with panoramic views.
  • MAX HEIGHT GAINED
  • 175m
  • LENGTH
  • 8km / 16km
Download Cycle Route 11

Blair Atholl:
Route No.12

The Banvie Circuit

  • STARTING POINT(S)
  • PH18 5TZ - Glen Tilt Car Park
  • SUMMARY
  • A circular route graded as moderate by Atholl Estates, with a mixture of woodland, moorland and great views.
  • MAX HEIGHT GAINED
  • 250m
  • LENGTH
  • 14.5km
Download Cycle Route 12

Blair Atholl:
Route No.13

Fall of Bruar from Blair Castle

  • STARTING POINT(S)
  • PH18 5TZ - Glen Tilt Car Park
  • SUMMARY
  • Partly circular route taking you to the stunning Falls of Bruar, which you will need to explore on foot.
  • MAX HEIGHT GAINED
  • 90m
  • LENGTH
  • 14.5km
Download Cycle Route 13

Blair Atholl:
Route No.14

Glen Tilt

  • STARTING POINT(S)
  • PH18 5TZ - Glen Tilt Car Park
  • SUMMARY
  • A moderate circular route following the River Tilt, with the option to carry on up the glen for longer rides or the more experienced.
  • MAX HEIGHT GAINED
  • 150m
  • LENGTH
  • 13km
Download Cycle Route 14

Pitlochry:
Route No.15

Loch Faskally to Killiecrankie

  • STARTING POINT(S)
  • PH16 5BX - Atholl Road Car Park, Pitlochry
  • SUMMARY
  • Low level route with no hard climbs. Beautiful scenery. Beware there is an 'experts only' section alongside the river (marked black).
  • MAX HEIGHT GAINED
  • 30m
  • LENGTH
  • 13km one way
Download Cycle Route 15

Pitlochry:
Route No.16

Killiechangie (by Logierait)

  • STARTING POINT(S)
  • PH9 0LH
  • SUMMARY
  • A short purpose built trait - not flat but no enormous hills. Parking and information at the start of the trail, at the Logierait end.
  • MAX HEIGHT GAINED
  • 100m
  • LENGTH
  • 13km (circular route)
Download Cycle Route 16

The known benefits of cycling:-

Cycling improves mental well-being - cycling releases adrenalin and endorphins, from the outdoor physical exercise.

Cycling can promote weight loss - cycling burns calories: between 400 and 1000 an hour, depending on intensity and ride. If you’re serious about burning fat, you could do a morning ride fasted.Pitlochry cycle shops

Cycling builds muscle, particularly around the glutes, hamstrings, quads, and calves. Muscle is leaner than fat, and people with a higher percentage of muscle burn more calories even when sedentary. You will develop a nice toned derriere.

Cuts heart disease and cancer risk - researchers studied over 260,000 individuals over the course of five years. They found that cycling to work reduces the risk of developing heart disease or cancer in half.

Cycling is low impact - when compared to jogging, cycling is not weight bearing. Whilst cycling is less likely to result in an overuse injury, they can still crop up. The lack of weight bearing means it’s a good idea to add a little strength training in to your programme.

Better sleep - tiring yourself out on the bike will improve your sleep. Researchers found that a drop in fitness of 2 per cent for men and 4 per cent for women resulted in sleep problems.

Boost your brain power - during exercise, cyclists’ blood flow in the brain rose by 28 per cent, and up to 70 per cent in specific areas. Interestingly some the areas, the blood flow remained up by 40 per cent even after exercise. A study concluded that we should cycle four times a week, for 45-60 minutes, at 75-85 per cent of max ‘heart rate reserve’ (max heart rate minus resting heart rate).

Strengthen your immune system - a study of 1000 adults up to the age of 85, found that exercise had huge benefits on the health of the upper respiratory system. It reducing instances of the common cold.