The Rob Roy Way is a 78 mile Scottish Great Trail running from Drymen to Pitlochry.
A popular trail cutting through the picturesque Stirlingshire countryside is celebrating its 25th anniversary as its founder releases a special version of the route’s definitive guide.
The Rob Roy Way is a 78 mile Scottish Great Trail running from Drymen to Pitlochry and was established by Jacquetta Megarry, founder of the long-distance guidebook publisher Rucksack Readers, and the late John Henderson, in 2001.
It was created as a means of connecting the landscape to the legendary Rob Roy MacGregor, tracing trackways and a 3,600-year-old stone that would been known to Rob Roy, who died in 1734.
The Way has now become one of Scotland’s premier walking and cycling routes, moving from the Lowlands to Highlands and passing through four of the local Stirlingshire and Perthshire lochs – Venachar, Lubnaig, Earn and Tay.
Ms Megarry said: “It’s actually due to the Stirling Observer that I was able to contact the late John Henderson, who was at that time working on a route between Aberfoyle and Pitlochry, while I was working on a similar trail between Milngavie to Pitlochry.
“We agreed to collaborate and agreed to start the new route at Drymen and the Rob Roy Way has become wonderful, not just for the scenery, but also for the stories and the history along the way.
“You can see the Loch Katrine water scheme which wiped out cholera, engage with the railway heritage of the area and walk over the Glen Ogle viaduct.
“It has definitely grown in popularity over the years similar to the neighbouring West Highland Way, although one trend I have noticed on the Rob Roy Way is the presence of a lot of cyclists and e-bikes because while it was designed as a walking trail, there are large parts of it which are very feasible for cycling.
“There hasn’t been an outbreak of windfarms as there has been in much of the countryside, the lochs and mountains are still beautiful and so the scenery hasn’t really changed over the years.”
Rucksack Readers published the first and only guidebook to the Rob Roy Way in 2002 and will publish its new fifth edition in time for the anniversary.
This new edition has extended coverage for cyclists and includes detailed description of the Glen Quaich alternative.
The path follows ancient tracks and drove roads used by the 18th-century folk hero and outlaw, Rob Roy MacGregor, showcasing the landscapes where he lived, fought, and hid.
Ms Megarry, now in her late 70s, is a veteran trekker having travelled to both Kilimanjaro and two trips to Antartica – as well as walking many of Scotland and England’s national trails.
She added: “I re-walked the Way for the new edition in February and March and got some fabulous photos.
“I thought a lot about John along the way after he sadly passed back in 2021 – we were each doing our research for this anniversary edition and asked me to take it on when he realised he wouldn’t be able to do it.”
You must be logged in to post a comment Login