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Tay Ring - Overview
Day 1 - Aberfeldy to Kenmore
3rd Leg
4th Leg
19.2km (12 miles)
450m (1475ft)
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Strath Tay is a typical glaciated valley – U-shaped with a flat bottom and steep sides, where streams flowing off the hills above cascade down high waterfalls. Two of the most impressive falls are visited on this walk. The first is on Moness Burn, which runs through Aberfeldy where it used to power the Watermill, now a bookshop, café and gallery. From the top of the falls, a high-level walk runs along the south side of the strath, offering a panorama over river, woods, loch and mountain. It is known as Queen's Drive, after Queen Victoria who was driven along it in a carriage. The route descends to Loch Tay past the Falls of Acharn, where there is a surprise in store.
This is a moderate walk, with a fair bit of climbing, using generally good paths and tracks. Part of the route is waymarked as the Rob Roy Way. The last 3km/2miles are on the quiet South Loch Tay road, unless you catch a bus from Acharn.
Click on any thumbnail to see slideshow. Photography for the walking rings © Felicity Martin, Catkin Press.
https://www.visitbreadalbane.org/the-tay-ring-overview/tay-ring-day-1#sigProId33a15b73b8
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Birks of Aberfeldy, is a spectacular wooded gorge named after a song by Robert Burn's, Scotland's national poet. He visited in 1787 and was inspired by the towering rock walls of the Moness Burn and its high, foaming waterfall. 'Birks' is Scots for birch trees and delightful birch woodland still grows around the upper part of the gorge.
Kenmore Hill, where Bolfracks Estate have conserved the remnants of an ancient pinewood. Replanting with Scots pines and other native species has restored the tree cover, providing habitat for black grouse.
Falls of Acharn, another high waterfall that cascades down a sheer rock. It is hidden within a wooded gorge and is best viewed from the balcony of the Hermit's Cave.
Scottish Crannog Centre features a unique reconstruction of an early Iron Age loch-dwelling. It is based on the 2,500-year-old Oakbank crannog, on the opposite side of the loch, which was excavated by the Scottish Trust for Underwater Archaeology.
Loch Tay, at over 23km (14 miles) long, is the sixth largest freshwater loch in Scotland. Carved our by a glacier, it is over 150m (490ft) deep in the middle. More than 20, mainly submerged, crannogs have been discovered on the loch.
Taymouth Castle was built in neo-Gothic style by John Campbell, the 2nd Marquess of Breadalbane in the early 1800s and was visited by Queen Victoria in 1842. It has a highly decorated interior and is currently unoccupied since plans to restore and redevelop it have stalled.
Section no.
Aberfeldy to Kenmore
Aberfeldy, the Square: NN856490
Kenmore, the Square NN773454
Moderate: mainly good paths and tracks with the steepest climb in the first 2km (1.25 miles).
340m (1115 ft)
Steep climb beside wooded gorge then tracks and paths contouring through woods and pasture high above Strath Tay.
The route can be shortened by taking the minor road downhill to Kenmore or by getting the bus from Acharn. Alternatively, a shorter walk from Kenmore can be had by going up the road to join the last part of the walk around Acharn.
Driving to the start
Leave the A9 at Ballinluig and drive 9 miles along the A827 to Aberfeldy. Kenmore is a further 6 miles west. Parking in side streets or (time limited) in the Square.
Buses link Aberfeldy and Kenmore several days a week; check www.travelinescotland.com or phone 0871 200 22 33 for times.
The Ring of Breadalbane Explorer bus stops in Aberfeldy, Kenmore and Acharn from 1st June to 19th October on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Sundays.
Good range of shops and cafes in Aberfeldy; Taymouth Marina cafe passed between Acharn and Kenmore; the Kenmore Hotel, Boathouse cafe and Mains of Taymouth shop and restaurant in Kenmore.
Start at: NN856490
From the Square in Aberfeldy walk a short distance westwards, in the direction of Kenmore. Before a bridge, turn left through the war memorial arch. Walk through the Lower Birks and fork right over a footbridge. After going up steps and over a mill lade, keep left to cross the A826 by traffic lights at the road bridge. Walk ahead through the Upper Birks car park.
Take the path ahead at the top of the car park, walking under mature beech trees. Soon turn left over a footbridge to follow the east path all the way to the top. After passing a seated statue of Robert Burns, enter the gorge and go left up steps to cross a bridge over a waterfall. Burn's Seat is on the left before the path zigzags up to a higher level. Come to a viewpoint looking across to the high Falls of Moness.
The path soon bends right to cross a footbridge over the top of the falls, where the water cascades into thin air. Turn left for Urlar on the far side on a path that continues up the gorge before bending right through birch woodland. Come to the Urlar Road and turn right downhill then go left in 75 yards (70m) through a multi-user gate on to a track.
The track runs diagonally downhill through a mix of pasture and open birch woodland. Farragon Hill and Meall Tairneachan are the two summits across the strath. After going through a gate halfway down there is a fine view of conical Schiehallion ahead.
Beyond a gate in a stone wall, join a gravel track above Dunskaig and turn leftuphill on it. After 400m, pass to the left of a house and go through a gate onto a grassy track that continues climbing.
Enter Bolfracks Wood and, after fording a little stream, keep left and head uphill. The track crests a rise then runs downhill to the end of the wood. Continue through open pasture, keeping to the main track, which curves downhill to the right.
At Tullichuil (grid ref. NN808472), which is screened by young trees, turn left through a gate into woodland (not ahead into a field). Follow a track that steadily climbs for 800m. Once you leave the wood, a superb view stretches to the right over the Tay to Schiehallion. Once past three old pine trees, you can see Loch Tay and Ben Lawers ahead. After entering another forest, the track bends right, downhill.
The track bypasses a white tower house and soon leaves the forest. Where it goes through a gate, leave it and continue ahead across the grass with a wall on your right. Join another track and turn left up it. Beyond a house, fork right and cross a burn.
Meet a minor road at Tombuie Cottage. Turn right across the road bridge and walk 750m downhill, ignoring a turn to a woodland walks car park. For a shortcut, stay on the road, which zigzags down to Kenmore.
For the full route, go left on a track and enter the Kenmore Hill wood. Beyond an information board, follow the grassy path that contours along the hillside through young trees. After leaving the wood, keep ahead on a track across pasture. Pass to the left of Balmacnaughton and follow a grassy way across fields.
Cross a footbridge over Remony Burn. (Just beyond, a detour 600m uphill leads to a stone circle with a wall through its middle – a fine viewpoint.) Continue along the contouring track, passing below a wood then curving downhill.
Immediately before a bridge, turn right onto a path beside Acharn Burn. Go down two flights of steps, then turn left over a footbridge where the water cascades over sculpted rocks. Climb back up to the track and go right, downhill.
Look out for the Hermit's Cave on your right. Follow the passageway, which has a step down, and turn right inside to a balcony where the Falls of Acharn are suddenly revealed. After leaving the cave, continue down the track to the South Loch Tay road.
Turn right and cross the road bridge into the pretty village of Acharn. Walk 2.5km along the road, passing the Scottish Crannog Centre. At the junction with the A827, turn left into Kenmore. Walk past the beach at the east end of Loch Tay and continue to the Square in the centre of the village.
The map below is intended for guidance only. You will need a compass and OS Explorer 379 or OS Landranger 52. You can zoom in and move the map around to see the route in more detail.
19.5 km, n/a
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