Day 1 - Loch Katrine Circuit

I've decided to forego Shank's Pony for this trip, leaving the boots behind and adopting two wheeled transport for this adventure. John at Wheels Bike Hire of Callander could not have been more helpful and after allowing me to try it for size yesterday, dropped off the most magnificent Trek Crossrip, drop handlebar bobby dazzler at my B&B for me to commence my latest expedition this morning.

The mean machine!

 'The Lochs and Glens' route will see me putting my thighs and butt through 99 miles of torture as I make my way from Callander to Pitlochry via Killin and Aberfoyle.

4am fire alarms in the B&B (false thankfully, given I was on the third floor of of a very narrow building) do not constitute the best prep for a 36 mile cycle. However, a blockbuster breakfast soon had me raring to go.

Whilst the the scenery promisesd many delights, the weather forecast most certainly did not. Today bore that out in spades! The chosen route for the first day of my trip was a return loop of Loch Katrine, bringing me back to my B&B in Callander for a second night (please God, no fire alarms this time).

Heavy rain and wind however, did not detract from the magnificence of the landscape, and the steamer SS Sir Walter Scott which took me half way up the loch is truly a thing of beauty.  After skirting Lochs Venachar and Achray for 10 miles or so, the distinctive Victorian buildings of the Loch Katrine were a welcome site, and 50 minutes in the warm bar of the 100+ year old vessel (albeit recently refurbished) was the sensible option once on board.

SS Sir Walter Scott

The flag and the weather go hand in hand (more often than not).

After disembarking, I was quickly back in the saddle with 13 miles of perfectly surfaced, traffic free undulating road guiding me round the top to the loch and back to the pier.

Wonderful stuff!

Hungry native eying up my Snickers.

Wondering if I'll see the sun at all on this trip.....

Brightened up a bit for a wee while.

Callander itself is a bustling wee town, bulging at the seams with adrenalin junkie tourists. Great cycling, walking and sailing are available in abundance and there are plenty of choices for evening sustenance. I'm pretty sure however, I made the best choice possible for tonight's meal. The Lewis family are building up an impressive brand for themselves with the Mohr variants, Mohr Fish being my destination for tonight (just along the road from Mohr Bread). With all fish being locally sourced, the freshness is guaranteed and if I have a better meal on this trip than tonight's seafood pasta (smoked haddock, cod and plaice) I'll be both surprised and delighted.

Very Morh-ish!

A nightcap in the Crags Hotel bar, rounded off the day quite nicely.



Couldn't agree more. Make mine a double!


Tomorrow sees me making my way to Killin via Strathyre, Balquidder and Lochearnhead. Forecast is more of the same - in other words, achey thighs and butt!

Today's route (from after the ferry onwards) can be found here.