This very beautiful short walk makes a circuit around the little ravine of the Falls of Acharn above the village of the same name. The falls are very attractive and are viewed through a Victorian 'Hermit's Cave'.
Summary
Good tracks and paths; care is needed near the edges of the gorge if the path is left. A fair amount of up and down is involved.
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1. Park in Acharn Village; there is space on the west side of the burn along the left side of the track that is the beginning of the walk, opposite a beautiful old stone cottage. A sign indicates this is the 'Falls of Acharn circular walk'. Head up the lane past the pretty gardens.
2. As the track gains height there are good views back down to Loch Tay and also to the peaks of Ben Lawers and the neighbouring and nearer Meall Greigh. Continue uphill for around half a kilometre, looking out for a little fenced path off to the left.
3. The path immediately leads into the Hermit's Cave. Enter this artificial stone-built cave, constructed in 1760s (when such things were fashionable) by the 3rd Earl of Breadalbane to give the most dramatic introduction to the falls. Visitors included Robert Burns and William Wordsworth. The cave is fairly dark inside but a torch isn't usually necessary; part way in take the passage off to the left. This leads out through an archway to a balcony giving a fine view of the falls - falling over 20 metres in a single leap.
4. Head back into the cave and turn left to leave via the upper exit and return to the track. Continue uphill, ignoring a sign off to the left for a viewing platform (this is more easily reached on the walk back down from the other side of the gorge). A short distance higher up the track crosses above the ravine on a stone bridge. Once on the far side immediately turn left to begin the walk back downhill.
5. Don't miss the detour onto the wooden viewing platforms suspended over the burn to the left. These give views of the pretty upper falls as well as the weirdly sculpted rocks and potholes of the river bed. Return from the platform to continue the descent through fine woodland. At one point you can see the hermit's cave viewing platform across the other side, backed by the Ben Lawers mountains.
6. The path now leads back down to the village of Acharn, reaching the road just past the phone box. Turn left to return to the start across the bridge.
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