Long distance
Cateran Trail
A fully waymarked circuit through Perthshire and the Angus glens on old drove roads and tracks, some used by the Caterans — cattle raiders of Strathardle, Glenshee and Glen Isla. Farmland, forest and moor, with one long climb to the high point at the An Lairig gate (648 m). Five stages, walkable in either direction. The full route covers 103 km (64 mi) with 2,470 m of climbing — a manageable mid-distance route.
Quick facts
- Distance
- 103 km/ 64 mi
- Typical days
- 5
- Total ascent
- 2470 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Start → Finish
- Blairgowrie → Blairgowrie
- Best direction
- Either direction
- Water sources
- Refill in the villages — Blairgowrie, Bridge of Cally, Kirkmichael, Spittal of Glenshee, Kirkton of Glenisla and Alyth. The moorland stages either side of Spittal of Glenshee have burns; treat before drinking.
- Mobile signal
- Expect signal in and near the villages and gaps on the moorland between Kirkmichael and Spittal of Glenshee and on the first part of the Spittal to Glenisla stage.
✔ Waymarked throughout
Approximate profile derived from per-stage ascent — accurate on total climb and pattern, not a pixel-precise GPX trace.
Our take
The Cateran Trail is underrated precisely because it lacks the dramatic mountain scenery of the WHW or Cape Wrath Trail. What it offers instead is genuinely pleasant walking through lived-in countryside — Strathardle, the moorland crossing to Glenshee, Glen Isla and the Hill of Alyth. The circular format means no shuttle logistics. Five days for the full circuit; the two-day Cateran Minitrail samples the northern half.
Highlights
- The moorland crossing from Strathardle to Glenshee, past the Upper Lunch Hut to the An Lairig gate
- Blackcraig, Dalnaglar and Forter castles
- Auchintaple Loch and Loch Shandra in Glen Isla
- The Hill of Alyth, and an optional detour up Mount Blair
Day-by-day itinerary
A suggested 5-day schedule. Adjust to your fitness and conditions.
1Blairgowrie to Kirkmichael24.9km
A gentle stroll along the river out of Blairgowrie, then a climb over Cochrage Muir and down to Bridge of Cally; on through Blackcraig Forest into Strathardle and the villages of Ballintuim, Enochdhu and Kirkmichael.
- Terrain
- Riverside path, moorland track, forest and farm tracks.
- Overnight
- Ballintuim, Enochdhu and Kirkmichael have places to stay and eat.
- Stats
- Blairgowrie → Kirkmichael · 24.9km
2Kirkmichael to Spittal of Glenshee13.7km
The upland stage: past Dirnanean Garden and the Upper Lunch Hut, over moorland to the trail's highest point at the An Lairig gate (648 m) between Strathardle and Glenshee, and down to the Spittal.
- Terrain
- Moorland tracks and paths; one long climb with no very steep sections.
- Overnight
- Accommodation at Spittal of Glenshee is limited — book well ahead.
- Stats
- Kirkmichael → Spittal of Glenshee · 13.7km
3Spittal of Glenshee to Kirkton of Glenisla23.5km
Five miles of rough moorland heading south by the Shee Water, then a minor road past Dalnaglar and Forter castles into the farmland of Glen Isla, and tracks past Auchintaple Loch and Loch Shandra, with Mount Blair in view.
- Terrain
- Rough moorland, minor road, farm and estate tracks.
- Overnight
- Kirkton of Glenisla has limited accommodation.
- Stats
- Spittal of Glenshee → Kirkton of Glenisla · 23.5km
4Kirkton of Glenisla to Alyth17.4km
High above the River Isla with open views, through Kilry Wood, between the Hill of Alyth and Loyal Hill, and into the centre of Alyth.
- Terrain
- Farm tracks, woodland paths, quiet lanes.
- Overnight
- Alyth has places to stay.
- Stats
- Kirkton of Glenisla → Alyth · 17.4km
5Alyth to Blairgowrie24.1km
Over the Hill of Alyth, down into the Bamff estate and on by moorland and estate roads past the Heatheryhaugh standing stones to Bridge of Cally, mostly on quiet minor roads, then back down the spur to Blairgowrie.
- Terrain
- Hill track, moorland, estate roads and quiet minor roads.
- Overnight
- Blairgowrie has hotels, B&Bs and restaurants.
- Stats
- Alyth → Blairgowrie · 24.1km
Transport
To start (Blairgowrie)
Bus · Stagecoach East Scotland
Perth ↔ Blairgowrie ↔ Dundee (services 57 / 57A / 57U / 59)
Every ~30 min Mon–Fri, hourly weekends
Perth has direct ScotRail services from Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness.
Check times & book →
From finish (Blairgowrie)
Bus · Stagecoach East Scotland
Blairgowrie to Perth / Dundee (services 57 / 59)
Every ~30 min Mon–Fri, hourly weekends
Circular route — start = finish at Blairgowrie.
Check times & book →
Best months
Accommodation
B&Bs, hotels, lodges and camping in several villages on the trail — Blairgowrie, Kirkmichael and its neighbours, Kirkton of Glenisla and Alyth. Accommodation at Spittal of Glenshee has been limited since its hotel burned down in 2014 (Scotland's Great Trails); book ahead. Circular logistics mean you can leave a car at Blairgowrie and return to it.
Night-by-night guide: where to stay →Resupply
Blairgowrie and Alyth have shops. Kirkmichael and its neighbouring villages have places to eat. Carry lunch each day, and more for the Spittal of Glenshee to Kirkton of Glenisla stage.
Connect with
Chain into a longer expedition by combining with adjacent long-distance routes.
Current conditions
Weather at the start point (Blairgowrie)
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 07:13
- Sunset
- 16:41
- Civil dawn
- 06:33
- Civil dusk
- 17:21
NOAA Solar Calculator · 28 October 2026
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Getting to and from the Cateran Trail
Train and town anchors at each end of the route — on TripSCOT.