Sheep walk, Auchtertyre Farm, near Tyndrum

Summary

Leaving Auchtertyre Farm, the sheep route climbs past a fine waterfall and beneath the West Highland Railway before continuing over open moorland. The route then becomes very overgrown (especially in summer) and hard to follow in places before it crosses a footbridge and returns down a farm track.

Grade

Bog Factor

Rating

Terrain

Limited waymarking, with some sections of faint, very overgrown path on rough, open hill. Use the route on the map and be prepared to navigate.

Getting there

Start

Auchtertyre Farm walks car park.

Public Transport

None to start; buses do run along the main A82 road.

Start Grid Ref

NN352289

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Walk Statistics

Distance: 4.75km / 3 miles
Time: 2 - 2.5 hours
Ascent: 192m (Profile)

Mapping and GPS

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Explorer 377 - Loch Etive

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Walk Description

User reports (7)

Stage 1

Take the minor road for Auchtertyre Farm and Strathfillan wigwams from the A82; the rough car park is marked on the right before the road reaches the bridge over the Allt Auchtertyre. Begin the walk by crossing the road bridge, then turn left before the farm buildings up a track signed for the waterfall, woodland walk and sheep trail. Pass the hydro turbine and continue uphill and bear left to pass the first wigwams on your left and turn left at the disabled parking place onto a path (signed for woodland walk). There are a number of small paths in the woods between the stream on the left. and the main wigwam sight on the right. Keep heading uphill and try and stay on the main path, which soon cuts back left by a small waterfall and then right before giving a view over the main Allt Auchtertyre falls.

Stage 2

The path climbs to a viewing area above the falls and then continues upstream through the pinewood, keeping between the burn and the chalets. Beyond the chalets and before the railway keep an eye out for a faint path on the right leading to steps with hand rail. Climb these and go over a stile to reach a track beneath a high viaduct carrying the West Highland railway line. Turn left on the track to pass below the viaduct and through a gate, then curve right on the far side.

Stage 3

The track ends at the grassy pastures. The walk now continues uphill across rough grassland with only traces of a path, a few sections of boardwalk and a couple of red-topped marker post. It keeps a couple of hundred metres or so east of the forest plantation, running roughly parallel to it and aiming north. Soon there are stunning views looking back towards Ben Lui if the weather is clear.

Stage 4

Keep heading north and after the dense forestry plantation is passed on your left there is slowly regenerating native woodland, whilst the route becomes very overgrown. Once the footbridge comes into view in the glen ahead look out for a stile in the fence down on the left and desend steeply to it. Cross the stile to enter the Lower Gorge Woodland and take the faint path diagonally down to the right. It runs along a boardwalk and descends towards the burn - with a picnic table and bridge visible as a junction is reached. You can shortcut the route by heading down to the table and crossing the bridge, following a path up to a track just beyond and returning to the start by turning left down the track. Otherwise, go right at the junction, following a rather overgrown path that keeps east of the burn, heading up the glen with views towards Ben Challum.

Stage 5

The path keeps heading upstream over boggy and more overgrown ground before eventually joining a wooden boardwalk and steps down to another bridge over the burn. Cross this and follow the track uphill beyond, soon swinging left through a gate. At a track junction, keep straight ahead. Soon the ruins of some old shielings are visible just below the track.

Stage 6

Continue downhill on the track, keeping left at the next junction. At one point there are views down on the left to the lower bridge and picnic table seen from earlier in the walk. Follow the track, eventually passing beneath the railway and returning to the start.

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