An interesting circuit of Loch Faskally from the centre of Pitlochry. The walk includes a pretty metal suspension bridge over the river, passes the Festival Theatre and the fish ladder on the dam before following the peaceful waters of Loch Faskally.
Summary
Clear paths and minor roads.
Terrain
Users'
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1. The walk starts at the Tourist Information Centre on Atholl Road in the centre of Pitlochry. There is a car park next door. Walk along the main road towards the centre of town until you reach Ferry Road. Turn down here and follow Ferry Road under the railway and then keep following the road as it curves to the left, passing a restaurant and some B&Bs on the right. Soon you pass the sports field and turn down a path, on the left, signed for the Festival Theatre and the Fish Ladder. Follow this path and cross the Port-na-Craig suspension bridge. Port-na-Craig means ferry by the rock, referring to the large rock sticking out in the river.
2. After the bridge turn right along the road passing some houses and the Portnacraig Inn and heading towards the Festival Theatre. The Theatre maintains its own repertory company and as well as putting on a full season of plays, has a cafe, shop and plant hunters garden to explore. Keep on the minor road, passing the Theatre and heading towards the hydro-electric dam which has created Loch Faskally. There is a visitor centre at the dam as well as an observation chamber for a section of the salmon ladder. This long series of steps allows the fish to swim upstream through a number of tunnels in order to bypass the dam. You may see one pass through in the murky water and an electronic counter records how many fish successfully negotiate the obstacle.
3. Climb the steps up next to the fish ladder and continue to the top of the dam. Keep left up a few more steps to start the path around Loch Faskally. Soon head right at a fork to follow some steps down to the shore and keep following the clear path. At one point the path drops steeply down steps to cross a bridge and climbs a long flight of steps on the other side. The mixed trees at the waterside look particularly impressive in their autumn colours.
4. The path now climbs away from the water and nears the busy A9. Stay in the woods, eventually passing a house at Balmore and emerging onto a minor road. Turn right here and follow the road gently downhill. The road passes under the A9 bridge and immediately afterwards turn right down a path leading to the separate footbridge signed for the boating station. At the far side turn right to follow the path around the far side of the Loch.
5. Soon the boating station is reached, where fishing boats and tackle can be hired and there is also a cafe, and many hungry ducks. At the road turn right and head uphill passing the Green Park Hotel on the right. After passing the hotel, take the next right into a new housing estate. Look out for a signed path on the right that soon leads back down to the lochside. The path then passes through some lovely woods; always keep to the main path near the water, ignoring any paths and tracks coming in from the left.
6. Go through a gap in the fence to descend steps towards the dam. Cross the minor road and climb the steps on the far side and continue through woodland. Soon the path emerges onto grass and then continues between the river and some houses before reaching the path leading down to the suspension bridge. Turn left here and retrace your steps back to the centre of Pitlochry by turning right onto Ferry Road and passing under the railway line.
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