Strathyre Forest - Walk or Mountain Bike (but be prepared to push a bit)
Type of track:
Forest timber roads + purpose made paths + rough woodland trails. A long haul uphill to start but easy after that - unsuitable for a road bike!
NOT SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN ON BIKES UNLESS PREPARED TO TURN BACK HALFWAY.
Length:
4 miles round trip - 5 miles if you go beyond the forest to Ben Shean
Begin at:
Car park A84 Strathyre. At the south end of the village 300 yards from 30 limit.
Description:
From the rear of the car park access the cycleway and turn right to follow a path behind some houses leading to a gate/style at a minor road. Turn left on this minor road, cross a bridge and follow the sweep of the road to the right, ignoring a left turn. After 0.3 miles turn left onto a forest road with a barrier. Continue on this forest road for just over a mile ignoring all paths to left and right - a long steady uphill stretch. The forest road doubles back sharply to the left - a new road branches right - ignore this new road and continue climbing southwards on the same road to reach a high point of about 1000 feet above the river in about half a mile. Stop here for a well earned rest and enjoy the magnificent views north to the hills around Loch Earn and south to Loch Lubnaig, Ben Ledi and the Pass of Leny. Across the glen beyond Strathyre is Meall nan Oighreag with its forest clad slopes and beyond that the tops of Stuc a Chroin and Ben Vorlich are just visible.
The track now descends fairly gently for about 1/4 mile at which point the track suddenly deteriorates to a very rough, then very narrow track traversing a steep slope. If on a bike, this is where you get off and push/carry your bike for a short way! The track becomes a little easier after entering a stand of mature trees. Watch now for a narrow-steep track leading down on the left.
At this point you may continue climbing through the trees on a rough path to emerge from the forest at a stream where you can follow a faint path to the summit of Ben Shean (Ben Sidhean) - if on a bike, lock up your bike here - you won't be able to take it to the top.
If not proceeding to the top, take the steep path on the left and follow down through the trees (if on a bike you'll have to get off occasionally for some rocky bits). When you finally emerge from the trees you'll find a forest road - turn right here and after about 100 yards take a path on the left - initially very steep - which leads down through woodland to a public road. At the public road turn right then after about 1/4mile take a path on the left leading to a suspension bridge ober the river. Cross the bridge then find the car park on your left.
