Scotland is a country that begs to be discovered on foot. Under 2% of Scotland is urban, the rest being a mix of farmland and wild scenery that goes from nice, to spectacular, to 'oh, I seem to be crying as I am in the most beautiful place I have ever been.' With this much wilderness, walking through Scotland is the way to go and thankfully the country is well set up for this.  Everyone loves the West Highland Way and for a plethora of good reasons, but this is just the main artery of Scotland's walking splendour.  If you want something quieter, but equally accessible and beautiful, you should check out the Rob Roy Way. 

In a nutshell

The Rob Roy Way is an atmospheric, history-steeped walk through one of the prettiest parts of Scotland. As you follow in the footsteps of the notorious outlaw Rob Roy, you get a sense of appreciation of his love for the area and his passion for defending his land. As you travel along this glorious 79-mile long distance path, you will be treated to many expansive loch views and exposed to the fantastic landscape of this area.

Distance: The trip is 79 miles, averaging from 10 to 20 miles per day.  We offer a couple of different itineraries on the route, so if you want to take it a little easier, there is that option.

Grade: Easy to Moderate. The route is relatively easy going with not too much up and down. There is one tougher day of 20 miles. However, this is split out on the longer itinerary, so all in, it's a nice, relaxing trip to take.

Where?

The Rob Roy Way starts in Drymen (the first nights stop on the West Highland Way). It then takes you up through the Trossachs, alongside some of Scotland's classic lochs, with many days on the banks of the majestic Loch Tay. It finishes up winding through some delightful countryside to end up in Pitlochry.

Why Walk Here?

The Rob Roy Way shows a beautiful, peaceful side of Scotland. The walking takes you through dense forest with only the sounds of nature to keep you company. There is something magical about immersing yourself in this deep peace; it lets your thoughts drift away as you focus on nothing but your feet and the glorious scenery all around you. The towns and villages on the Rob Roy Way are delightful places to visit. Friendly, hospitable little towns mark your overnight stops, and each has an atmosphere that encourages you to stick around. Aberfoyle has one of the best pubs in Scotland in the Forth Inn, the food and local beer are well worth stopping in for. Killin has a beautiful set of waterfalls, great photo opportunities here. Aberfeldy has Dewars World of Whisky, a great tourist attraction and somewhere to hone your whisky tasing skills, as well as getting an excellent history of the 'water of life.'

Then there are the lochs.  Venachar, Lubnaig and of course Tay.  Loch Tay is one of the mightiest lochs in Scotland, and you will spend a couple of days around it.  The loch is framed by stunning mountain scenery and is dotted with around 20 ancient Crannogs. These were ancient dwellings, and there is a restored version of one of these Crannogs at the Scottish Crannog Centre near the head of the loch at Kenmore.

Planning and preparation

Getting to and from the Rob Roy Way is pretty straightforward. Drymen is serviced by local buses from Glasgow, and a taxi transfer is only around 30 mins.  Pitlochry is connected to one of the main routes through Scotland, so you can quickly jump on a train or bus back to Glasgow or Edinburgh. We have specialists who love the Rob Roy Way and know this trip inside out, so don't hesitate to get in touch with them with any questions you may have.