Glen Ogle Trail, Lochearnhead

This waymarked trail takes the old railway line out of Lochearnhead to head towards the pass to Killin. Before the top a rougher path along an old military road is followed with good views of Loch Earn in front and ever changing colourful landscape around.

Terrain

Excellent path on cycle track, one steep section climbing up to it. The return route is very boggy, particularly where the path was damaged in mudslides.

Public Transport

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Start

Lochearnhead carpark just off A85. Map and directions.

Currently 2.43/5

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Bog Factor (key)

Walk Statistics

Distance: 10.5km/6.5 miles
Time: 3 - 4 hours
Ascent: 402m (Profile)
Grid Ref: NN593237

Maps / GPS

Accommodation

Walk Description

Stage 1

Start from the car park just off the A85 opposite the Watersports Centre in Lochearnhead. There are toilets and an information board here. Walk along the A85 back towards the main part of Lochearnhead, passing the village hall on the right, and crossing the bottom of the Ogle Burn on a footbridge. At the junction with the A84 cross the road and head right soon passing under the site of the old railway line to St Fillans. Soon after turn left up a track signed for a Scout Station, there is also a sign for the Glen Ogle Trail. Immediately branch to the right on a small path which heads steeply uphill, passing through a kissing gate early on.

Stage 2

The route uphill to the line of the old railway line is steep and can be wet underfoot in places. Although the path is eroded it is clear to follow. As the path emerges from the larger trees, a viaduct on the St Fillans line can be seen below. When the path reaches the tree-lined railway line turn right. This route is now part of the Sustrans national cycle network as part of the Carlisle to Inverness long distance trail, although it is also a popular day ride and bikes can be hired from Killin. Although the route climbs, the gradient is so gentle that you hardly notice on the easy going path.

Stage 3

Keep following the railway line passing streams and a couple of cattle grids in places. This area looks particularly good in the autumn when the trees are ablaze with different colours. The route crosses an impressive viaduct as it nears the end of the railway section.

Stage 4

If you want to avoid the bogs it is best to return back down the railway. To continue, look out for a green sign pointing the way to the right where the railway is left and the path crosses a fence to pass through bracken before crossing a wooden bridge and heading across the bottom of the valley. Here the path can be very wet. It soon joins the line of the old military road with a couple of fine old stone bridges, although the path remains wet in places.

Stage 5

Keep following the path which is easy to follow at first. About a third of the way back down the Glen the path reaches the an area of waste from a large landslip which occurred in 2004. After heavy rain, two landslips sent tonnes of mud and debris down onto the A85 trapping 57 motorists between the two slips. Rescue teams spent three hours airlifting the trapped people to safety - luckily no one was injured. The route of the trail through the landslipped area is very muddy although there are waymarkers; further down the burn a better path is reached winding through the trees next to the water.

Stage 6

Soon the smaller second area of landslip debris is crossed and the path then rises up to run alongside the main road for a short while. At a green sign cross the road and follow the path through grazing land on the far side. After passing through a stile head slightly uphill to another stile which leads to an easy stream crossing and the continuation of the path. The path continues down the glen passing through a far gate and over a stream to pass behind a green metal barn. The path widens, passes over another stream and where a fork branches off uphill keep straight ahead to pass through a gate and head downhill and over a couple of stiles into a wood. Keep on the waymarked path as it crosses a bridge over the Ogle Burn and through two fields before emerging on the main road. Turn left here and then left again to return to the car park.

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