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Rob Roy Way: Drymen to Pitlochry Walking Guide

79 miles through the Trossachs to Pitlochry — stages, accommodation, distillery stops and the sections worth walking as weekends.

OutdoorSCOT 24 April 2026 7 min read

Quick Summary

  • 79 miles from Drymen to Pitlochry through the Trossachs and Highland Perthshire — proper mountain scenery, good accommodation, moderate terrain
  • 5-7 days end to end, or walkable as 2-3 weekend sections with good transport links
  • B&B accommodation every 10-15 miles — no wild camping required, though it is legal throughout
  • Compare it — our Route Compare tool shows the Rob Roy Way alongside the WHW, John Muir Way and other Scottish trails

The Rob Roy Way occupies an interesting space in Scottish long-distance walking: harder than the John Muir Way, easier than the West Highland Way, and almost completely unknown outside Scotland. It crosses the Trossachs — the landscape that inspired Walter Scott and launched Scottish tourism — then pushes north through Highland Perthshire to Pitlochry, passing lochs, forests, distilleries and the territory of Rob Roy MacGregor himself.

Nobody walks it. That is the selling point.

Quick Answer: The Rob Roy Way is a 79-mile (127km) waymarked trail from Drymen (where the West Highland Way starts) to Pitlochry in Highland Perthshire. It takes 5-7 days, crossing the Trossachs via Aberfoyle, Callander, Strathyre, Lochearnhead, Killin and Aberfeldy. Cumulative ascent is approximately 2,800m. Accommodation is available every 10-15 miles. The trail is well-waymarked with the Rob Roy logo. Terrain is a mix of forest tracks, lochside paths and old drove roads — moderate difficulty throughout. May-June and September are the best months.

The route

Seven stages, west to east, with accommodation at each stop.

Stage 1: Drymen to Aberfoyle (13 miles) Through the Loch Ard Forest. Gentle start on forest tracks and quiet roads. The Trossachs begin to reveal themselves — oak woodland, lochs appearing through gaps in the trees. Good cafés in Aberfoyle.

Stage 2: Aberfoyle to Callander (14 miles) Past the Lake of Menteith (Scotland's only lake — everything else is a loch) and through the forest to Callander. The path follows old railway lines for sections — flat, fast, easy walking. Callander is a proper town with pubs, shops and accommodation choice.

Stage 3: Callander to Strathyre (10 miles) Along the shore of Loch Lubnaig through the Pass of Leny. This is the first section that feels properly Highland — steep forested slopes rising from the loch, the sound of the Falls of Leny in the gorge. Short stage, time for a pub afternoon.

Stage 4: Strathyre to Killin (14 miles) Through Glen Ogle — a dramatic pass on an old railway viaduct high above the glen floor. The best section of the trail for scenery. The descent into Killin passes the Falls of Dochart, which crash through the village over broad rock slabs.

Stage 5: Killin to Aberfeldy (15 miles) The longest stage. Forest tracks and moorland paths through increasingly open country. The terrain lifts above the tree line in sections with views north to the Lawers range. Aberfeldy has the Dewar's Distillery for a well-earned dram.

Stage 6: Aberfeldy to Grandtully (7 miles) A short day along the River Tay through farmland and riverside paths. Grandtully has a pub and a few B&Bs. Use the spare afternoon to visit the Aberfeldy distillery or swim in the Tay (cold but traditional).

Stage 7: Grandtully to Pitlochry (8 miles) The final day. Riverside paths and quiet roads to Pitlochry — a proper Highland town with the Edradour Distillery (Scotland's smallest), the Pitlochry Festival Theatre, and a direct train back to Glasgow or Edinburgh.

Try it yourself

Our free Route Compare

puts the Rob Roy Way alongside the West Highland Way, John Muir Way and other Scottish trails in a side-by-side comparison.

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Why walk it

Three reasons the Rob Roy Way deserves more walkers:

1. Accommodation without advance booking panic. The WHW in summer requires booking 2-3 months ahead. The Rob Roy Way's B&Bs and hotels are available 2-3 weeks ahead, often less. Callander, Killin, Aberfeldy and Pitlochry all have multiple options.

2. Transport for section-walking. Callander and Pitlochry have direct bus services from Glasgow and Edinburgh. Killin is accessible by postbus. Section-walking over 2-3 weekends is straightforward.

3. Distilleries as rest stops. Deanston (near Doune), Dewar's (Aberfeldy) and Edradour (Pitlochry) are all on or very near the route. A long-distance walk with legitimate whisky stops is a proposition unique to Scotland.

Practicalities

When to walk: May-June (long days, quiet, few midges) and September-October (autumn colour in the Trossachs, cooling but dry). July-August is fine but busier in Callander and Pitlochry.

Maps: Harvey Rob Roy Way (one waterproof sheet) or OS Explorer 365, 366, 377, 378, 379.

Accommodation: B&Bs and hotels at Drymen, Aberfoyle, Callander, Strathyre, Killin, Aberfeldy, Grandtully and Pitlochry. Budget £60-100/night. Wild camping is legal throughout.

Baggage transfer: AMS Scotland and Rob Roy Way Baggage Transfer operate on the route. £10-15 per bag per day.

Getting there: Drymen — bus from Glasgow (45 min). Getting home: Pitlochry — ScotRail to Edinburgh (1h 40min) or Glasgow (1h 50min).

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Try it yourself

Our free Naismith's Rule Calculator

estimates walking time per stage — useful for planning arrival at accommodation and timing the distillery visits.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How hard is the Rob Roy Way?

Moderate. The terrain is mostly forest tracks, lochside paths and old drove roads. Total ascent is 2,800m over 79 miles — less than the WHW (3,600m over 96 miles). There are no scrambles, no exposed ridges and no sections requiring technical skills. Any reasonably fit walker can complete it.

How does the Rob Roy Way compare to the West Highland Way?

The RRW is 17 miles shorter, has less ascent, quieter trails, easier accommodation booking and better transport links for section-walking. The WHW has more dramatic scenery (Rannoch Moor, the Devil's Staircase) and more mountaineering atmosphere. The RRW is the better choice for walkers who want a multi-day trail without the WHW's crowds and booking stress.

Can I section-walk the Rob Roy Way?

Yes — it splits naturally into 2-3 weekend sections. Drymen to Callander (27 miles, 2 days) and Callander to Killin (24 miles, 2 days) are the obvious splits. Both ends have bus connections to Glasgow/Edinburgh. Killin to Pitlochry (30 miles, 2 days) completes it.

Is the Rob Roy Way waymarked?

Yes — consistently waymarked with the Rob Roy Way logo (a figure with a broadsword). Navigation is straightforward throughout. Carry a map for context but you are unlikely to need compass bearings on this trail.

Are there distilleries on the Rob Roy Way?

Yes — Deanston Distillery is near Doune (a short detour from Stage 1-2), Dewar's World of Whisky is in Aberfeldy (Stage 5-6), and Edradour Distillery is just outside Pitlochry (Stage 7). All welcome walkers and offer tours.

Related Articles

This article is for informational purposes only. Trail conditions and accommodation availability change — verify before travelling. Carry appropriate equipment for the season. OutdoorSCOT is not liable for any incidents arising from the use of this information.

Sources

Tagsrob roy waylong distancetrossachsperthshirescotland