Loch Tay Circuit

About this route

Loch Tay is about 23 km long and is Scotland's sixth-largest loch, running from Killin in the west to Kenmore in the east, with the Ben Lawers range above its north shore. Roads run along both sides: the A827 on the north shore past Fearnan, Lawers and Morenish to Killin, and a quieter public minor road on the south shore through Ardeonaig and Acharn back to Kenmore. At Killin the River Dochart pours over rocky ledges through the middle of the village at the Falls of Dochart.

The Scottish Crannog Centre, which tells the story of the Iron Age loch dwellings, lost its original crannog to fire in 2021 and has reopened at Dalerb on the north shore. This page used to carry generated figures and several errors, so it has been reduced to the line of the loop — it is a road ride, and you can measure it yourself on OS Explorer OL51.

Highlights

• The Falls of Dochart in the middle of Killin
• The Ben Lawers range above the north shore
• The quiet south shore road through Ardeonaig and Acharn
• The Scottish Crannog Centre at Dalerb

Route notes

Not a traced route — no distance, ascent or timings are published. The A827 on the north shore is the busier road; the south shore road is narrow, hilly in places and quieter. Both are public roads.

Seasonal conditions

The Ben Lawers hills often hold snow into spring. The Falls of Dochart are at their most dramatic after heavy rain. Midges can be bad at loch level in still summer weather.

Water sources on route

• Fill up in Kenmore or Killin; treat burn water before drinking

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

OS map sheets