Glen Lyon

Glen Lyon runs west from Fortingall for 56 kilometres, gradually narrowing from a broad agricultural valley into a tight defile before ending at the Loch Lyon dam. It is the longest enclosed glen in Scotland. The diversity of landscape along its length is striking: the lower glen is green and farmed, with the famous Fortingall Yew in its churchyard and the wide River Lyon winding through flood meadows; the middle glen tightens around Bridge of Balgie; the upper glen becomes moorland, reservoir and high deer forest.

The Munros on the north side of the glen — Stuchd an Lochain, Meall Buidhe — are rarely busy. Ben Lawers (1214m), the highest Munro in the southern Highlands, is technically accessed from the south via the A827, but the Lyon gives access to its quieter flanks. The glen road is single-track throughout and becomes very narrow beyond Bridge of Balgie — the inner glen in particular is unsuitable for anything larger than a standard car. There is no through-route: you must return the way you came, or take the single high pass road over to Killin.