Balloch to Killin

Approaching the Glen Ogle viaduct, built by the Caledonian Railway
Approaching the Glen Ogle viaduct, built by the Caledonian Railway

This was our earliest start yet, at 08:45 with a halt a few minutes later to don our waterproofs before taking the old road to Balloch and on along minor roads to Drymen. It was a misty day, degenerating periodically into drizzle or light rain so we wasted lots of time taking off our overtrousers when a hill climb overheated us, then scrambling for them a few minutes later on resumption of the rain. We continued over an undulating minor road to Gartmore where Christine inspected the nineteenth century grave of some of her ancestors. We lunched on a bench at Aberfoyle while Trossachs crazed pensioners were drawn inexorably into the Edinburgh Wool Shop emporium.

Having consumed our drizzle moistened sandwiches, we climbed up to the start of the off-road forest section, slow going along slippery wet hilly tracks, steep in places with the midges to keep us company. Eventually we came out at Loch Venachar and speeded up along the shore path. This soon joined a minor road where we were dismayed to learn that it had taken us half the afternoon to travel only seven miles from Aberfoyle, with Callander a similar distance ahead. We shopped here, leaving at 16:45 with 33 miles yet to travel, but the weather had improved and the route was easier along former railway lines and minor roads on the western shore of Loch Lubnaig but with a few muddy and steep bits. We crossed the Kendrum viaduct with views across to Loch Earn then traversed the wonderful Glen Ogle pass on a high level railway trackbed high above the road, over the Glen Ogle viaduct and onward, followed by a steep drop into Killin. We stopped for a photo at the Falls of Dochart on the edge of town as another cyclist approached us along the A827 from the west. This turned out to be Steve so we were up late trading experiences since the night at Lochranza.

Day 9 – Killin to Kinloch Rannoch(34 miles)