Where do I park for the Reekie Linn?

There is a car park at Bridge of Craigisla, and the falls are about five minutes' walk from it.

Can I visit Forter Castle?

Not as a visitor attraction — it was restored in the 1990s and is a private house let as holiday accommodation. View it from the road.

Can I combine this with the Cateran Trail?

The Cateran Trail long-distance walk passes through Alyth and the surrounding glens. It is a walking route, so check each section before planning to ride it.

How long is the circuit?

This page does not publish a distance. The figures it used to carry were generated rather than measured, so plan and measure your own line on OS Explorer OL53.

Gravel Cycling

Glen Isla Gravel Circuit

Plan-your-own riding up Glen Isla, with the Reekie Linn on the way

Quick facts

Distance: Not published
Ascent: Not published
Difficulty: Moderate
Route type: Linear
Archetype: Estate Circuit
Region: Angus Glens
Start point: Alyth
Grid ref: NO 246 484
Parking: PH11 8AF
Midges: Low
Dogs: On lead only

Best months

Surface breakdown

Tarmac single-track70%
Estate road20%
Double-track10%

Recommended bikes: Gravel bike (ideal), Hardtail MTB· Tyres: 38–45mm gravel

About this route

Glen Isla is the westernmost of the Angus Glens, running north from the farmland around Alyth towards the high ground around Glas Maol and Caenlochan. A single-track road runs up the glen past Kirkton of Glenisla, and estate tracks lead on into the upper glen.

The Reekie Linn — "reekie" is Scots for smoky, after the spray — is a waterfall on the River Isla a short walk from the car park at Bridge of Craigisla. Further up the glen, Forter Castle is a sixteenth-century tower house restored in the 1990s; it is private and let as holiday accommodation, so view it from the road. This page used to carry generated figures and several errors, so it has been reduced to what is fixed: ride the glen road and plan any estate-track extension yourself on OS Explorer OL53.

Highlights

The Reekie Linn, a short walk from the Bridge of Craigisla car park
The single-track road up Glen Isla
Forter Castle, seen from the road (private)

Key waypoints

1. Alyth
2. Bridge of Craigisla (Reekie Linn car park)
3. Kirkton of Glenisla
4. Forter Castle (private)

Deer stalking season

Grouse shooting and deer stalking on the estates — follow estate advice. Most Highland estates stalk red deer stags from August to 20 October and hinds in the legal hind season, 21 October – 15 February. Stags have had no legal close season since October 2023, so a stalk can happen in any month. Access rights still apply during stalking — follow reasonable advice and signs from the estate about where it is safe to go that day. Heading for the Scottish Hills shows where stalking is planned, all year.

Route notes

Not a traced route — no distance, ascent or timings are published. The glen road is public single-track with passing places. Scottish access rights cover responsible cycling on estate tracks; follow estate advice and signs during grouse shooting (from 12 August) and deer stalking. The high ground at Caenlochan is protected for its plants and birds — keep to tracks.

Seasonal conditions

Heather is in flower in August. Autumn colour in the lower glen woodland is good in October. The upper glen is exposed in winter.

Key hazards

Unfenced drops at the Reekie Linn gorge — keep children and dogs under close control
Grouse shooting and deer stalking on the estates — follow estate advice
Fragile protected vegetation on the high ground at Caenlochan — stay on tracks
Sheep and cattle on the glen road and tracks

Water sources on route

River Isla and burns (treat before drinking)

Always filter or treat water from natural sources. Carry at least 1L reserve on remote sections.

OS map sheets

OS OL53

Nearest hill

Glas Maol

1067.7m · cairngorms

View hill

Nearest bothy

Glas-allt-Shiel

Walk-in not published · cairngorms

View bothy

Daylight Today

10h 07mwalking daylight

Sunrise: 07:34
Sunset: 16:19
Civil dawn: 06:53
Civil dusk: 17:00

NOAA Solar Calculator · 7 November 2026

Common questions

Where do I park for the Reekie Linn?: There is a car park at Bridge of Craigisla, and the falls are about five minutes' walk from it.
Can I visit Forter Castle?: Not as a visitor attraction — it was restored in the 1990s and is a private house let as holiday accommodation. View it from the road.
Can I combine this with the Cateran Trail?: The Cateran Trail long-distance walk passes through Alyth and the surrounding glens. It is a walking route, so check each section before planning to ride it.
How long is the circuit?: This page does not publish a distance. The figures it used to carry were generated rather than measured, so plan and measure your own line on OS Explorer OL53.