Rob Roy way.....Pitlochry - Grandtully

This is a short walk that I took earlier in the year. The stretch from Grandtully to Pitlochry is the climax of this Long Distance Route. The Rob Roy Way walk starts in Drymen and is up to 94 miles in length, depending on the options you take. Another excellent route through central Scotland. http://www.robroyway.com/
Today, my walk is a straight forward and back the same way route from Pitlochry to Grandtully via Strathtay. The walk begins near the Pitlochry Theatre, follow the sign up a short route until you reach the A9. Be wary when crossing here as there is fast traffic but you do have good views of the road in both directions.

You are going to climb gently following the path right up to the edge of the forest that you see ahead of you. On the way you pass this lovely farmhouse which was in bloom with the cherry blossom when we went past. The views here are mainly across open fields but if you have your binos good for bird-watching. Keep looking behind you as the views of Pitlochry open up to give some excellent panoramas of the town and far beyond, Vrackie etc.

Once you reach the forest line you have a choice. You could follow the man made forest road via the Clunie path which does rejoin the Rob Roy Way further up. If you want to meander through pine plantations for half an hour or so fine, go this way. It is also slightly easier walking. The more interesting route is to follow the Strathtay sign which climbs through a traditional natural forest with mixed trees and as such more wildlife to look out for. Look out for the normal woodland birds but if your lucky you might spot the not very common crested tit, red squirrel,  crossbills and as we did a Great Spotted Woodpecker. Also on a different day when following the Clunie path we spotted a black fox crossing a clearing. I didn't know such things existed but checked on the internet when I got back and yes they do, so keep looking.

The walk is an easy path to follow but keep your eyes and ears open for fast descending mountain bikes. The route climbs to about 380 metres, flattens out a bit then you break out of the forest. Very kind of them to put in a stile to make life easier. Although you have gone through a wooded area there is a tremendous variety of flora and fauna to keep you interested and if like me referring to my guide books constantly. At one stage we were under a tree canopy and the shades of green everywhere was just outstanding.

This is a good spot to take a short break, get out the coffee and biscuits and just enjoy the view. You have an excellent vista to take in ,apart from a wind-farm in the distance, thank you Mr Salmond. From this spot we looked down towards our destination of Grandtully. The might River Tay winds its way through the tree lined town.
From this point you are descending across open countryside for about 15 minutes or so then you take a sharp left which follows the Tullypowrie Burn. There is a smallish waterfall to look out for, it might be more impressive after rainfall.
The route skirts the golf course and brings you into Strathtay. Some very impressive houses here, looks a nice place to live.

A short walk takes you to the bridge that crosses the Tay. I'm not quite sure why Strathtay and Grandtully are two separate places but they are. In this picture you can make out the wires crossing the river as well the hanging posts. This stretch of water is famous for its kayaking and many championships have been held here. It takes a great deal of skill and strength to bring canoes and kayaks down this fast running water but a great sight to watch if you are around when an event is running or even when practice is taking place. In Grandtully itself there is a hotel for refreshments and food if required. Yes a cold beer. 
You could continue west heading for Aberfeldy or go right taking you to Logierait and Ballinluig. This is a main road and bus route so you could extend your walk and return with public transport.

We opted to retrace our steps. Once back in the woods we had a look for the stone circle marked on OS Explorer 386. The picture below is the best we could find, not sure if that is it or not?

All in all a pleasant walk of about 8 miles in total. We had not stopped for lunch so a visit to the cafe in the Pitlochry Theatre finished this trip. Recommended as a short walk with good views.