Explore by bike

Cyclists can follow the standard Trossachs Trail road route for a classic Tour de Trossachs or try out some of the options below on quieter roads and gravel trails for an alternative way to experience this stunning landscape, while still accessing the same great accommodation options and visitor attractions. At the bottom of this page you will find a list of useful links to cycling routes with interactive maps, there are also details for local bike shops and cycle hire services.

Trossachs Trail Route

Choose the most appropriate option for you whether you are looking to cycle round in one day or spend more time getting to know the area.

On the classic on road Trossachs Trail the A84 between Doune and Callander can get quite busy so following the B8032 from Deanston back towards Callander is recommended.

Distance 56 km/ 35 miles, suitable for e-bikes, road bikes, resilient hybrids

From Callander

Starting at the Meadows in Callander there are a couple of options to get to the heart of the Trossachs.

Option 1: 

Follow the cycle path, NCN 7, north to the site of the old Roman Fort at Bochastle before picking up the Great Trossachs Path past Samson’s Stone and Dunmore Hill Fort. You will get spectacular views over Loch Venachar before descending down to the Glen Finglas gateway centre at Brig o Turk.

Distance 10.5 km/ 6.5 miles, suitable for MTB, gravel bikes and robust hybrids

Option 2:

Follow NCN7 along towards Invertrossachs on the south side of Loch Venachar past Wheels of Callander, the sailing club and onto Loch Achray where you can get fabulous wild crafted goats milk ice-cream at Achray Farm before connecting in to Brig o Turk.

Distance 12.5 km/ 7.5 miles, suitable for e-bikes, road bikes, resilient hybrids

Connecting these two options creates a fantastic circular Loch Venachar loop.

Distance 23 km/ 14 miles, suitable for MTB, gravel bikes, e-bikes and resilient hybrids

From Strathyre

Starting from the Broch Café, a favourite stop with cyclists head south on NCN7 to Bochastle passing Strathyre Log Cabins, another great coffee stop, on the way, where you can pick up the Great Trossachs Path detailed in option 1 above.

Distance: 12 km/ 7.5 miles, suitable for e-bikes, road bikes, resilient hybrids

There is also the option for a short circular detour around the Rob Roy Loop follow the quiet rural road into Balquhidder. On entering the village follow the road to the right, past Balquidder Church the burial place of the famous Rob Roy Macgregor and straight on until you reach route 7 close to Mhor 84 another great stop for lunch or coffee. Turn right and follow the cycle path back to Strathyre.

Distance: 12.5 km / 7.8 miles, suitable for e-bikes, road bikes, resilient hybrids

From Trossachs Pier

From Trossachs Pier you can experience one of the best road cycling routes in Scotland around Loch Katrine past the birth place of Rob Roy Macgregor and on to Stronachlachar with it’s popular Pier Café and then onwards to Kinlochard and Aberfoyle before the final classic climb of the Dukes Pass and return to Trossachs Pier.

Distance: 50 km/ 31 miles, suitable for e-bikes, road bikes, resilient hybrids

There is always the shorter option taking the boat from Trossachs Pier to Stronachlachar returning by bike around Loch Katrine. Bike hire available from Katrine Wheelz

Distance: 21 km/ 13 miles, suitable for e-bikes, road bikes, resilient hybrids

From Stronachalacar

You can head onto Inversnaid either on quite roads or gravel trail along the Great Trossachs Path to pick up the waterbus or link to the West Highland Way and explore the wider Loch Lomond area.

Distance: 7.5km / 4.7 miles, suitable for e-bikes, road bikes, resilient hybrids

From Aberfoyle

Aberfoyle is a great base for exploring the wider trail network and is well known for it’s gravel trails and the Dukes Weekender recently launching the #Gravelfoyle trails. Explore the trails around the Lodge Visitor Centre or enjoy the challenge of Go Ape.

Distance: various, suitable for e-bikes, road bikes, MTB, gravel bikes, resilient hybrids

The Statute Labour is a popular trail connecting Aberfoyle with Stronachlachar. It was originally built to service the 18th century Inversnaid Garrison. There are regular fingerposts to Inversnaid to help get you on your way as you pass the spectacular Loch Ard and then Loch Chon before arriving in Stronachlachar the Pier Café making a welcome stopping point.

Distance 19 km /12 miles, suitable for e-bikes, MTB, gravel bikes, resilient hybrids

From Port of Menteith

The home of Scotland’s biggest trout fishery the Lake of Menteith Fishery, the Lake Hotel and Inchmahome Priory. Here there is a great opportunity for a slight detour to take in another classic cycling road climb. Follow the road alongside the Lake towards Arnprior passing Lochend Chalets and Nick Nairn Cook School, Cardross Estate home to the annual Doune the Rabbit Hole music festival. At Arnprior start the aptly named “Top of the World” climb before turning towards Kippen and on to Thornhill passing the Woodhouse Café and Flanders Moss National Nature Reserve on the way before arriving back in Port of Menteith.

Distance: 32 km / 20 miles, suitable for e-bikes, road bikes, resilient hybrids

From Thornhill

Follow the quieter B826 over to Deanston where a visit to the Distillery and Coffee Bothy are highly recommended onto Doune with it’s famous Castle before picking up the unclassified quiet country road at Burn o Cambus for a quiet route back to Callander. From Deanston there is the option (2) to follow the B8032 on quiet roads back to Callander.

Distance: 21.5 km / 13.4 miles, suitable for e-bikes, road bikes, resilient hybrids

Distance (2): 20 km / 12.5 miles, suitable for e-bikes, road bikes, resilient hybrids

Getting to/Around the Trossachs

You can embrace the concept of slow tourism and leave the car at home there are several long distance trails and cycle paths that take you to the heart of the Trossachs.

NCN7 Lochs and Glens connects many of the Trossachs villages, as well as Glasgow with Inverness and the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park with the Cairngorms National Park on a dedicated cycle route which is also part of Eurovelo 1 the Atlantic Coast. View the route on Visit Scotland’s interactive map.

The Rob Roy Way which runs from Drymen to Pitlochry. The Great Trossachs Path from Inversnaid to Callander

From Stirling to Thornhill

At Craigforth with its retail park and the Stirling Agricultural Centre you can visit the Old Drip Bridge over the Forth and follow the designated quiet roads of Chalmerston Road to join Kirk Lane turning right towards the Smiddy farmshop and café. A short detour along Sommers Lane takes you to Blairdrummond Safari Park. From the Smiddy take the A873 to Thornhill to join the Trossachs Trail route above. There is the option to take the B8031 and another designated quiet road to Thornhill.

Distance (2): 14.5 km / 9 miles, suitable for e-bikes, road bikes, and resilient hybrids

Follow the Dobbies Meander Routes by Stirling Active Travel Hub to get from the centre of Stirling out to Craigforth.

From Dunblane to Doune

Follow National Cycle Network route 765 to get from Dunblane to Doune.

Distance: 6.5 km / 4 miles, suitable for e-bikes, road bikes, and resilient hybrids

Video Guides

These short video guides will show you some of the routes detailed above.

Getting Around

Superb Cycling Amongst Breathtaking Scenery! Cycling is a fantastic way to explore the stunning beauty of the Trossachs Trail. You can cycle on the road along the whole route taking in the iconic Dukes Pass, or enjoy some off road riding.

One of the highlights is Lochs and Glens North (NCN7). This popular route can be broken down in to shorter sections and the Callander to Aberfoyle part is a real delight. Off-road cycling, past shimmering lochs, magical forests and dramatic mountains. With plenty of café’s along the way, it makes for a fabulous family day out.

There are some stunning mountain biking routes and in Aberfoyle there is an excellent bike park.

This guide was compiled by Jim Riach, Active Travel Office - Loch Lomond & Trossachs Countryside Trust