Late June 2021 we put the Pino in the car and headed for Callander on the edge of the Trossachs National Park. We arrived on Wednesday 23rd and so did Jane and John. Colin and Diane would be joining us Friday evening.
Day 1
Thursday was our first ride and Jane and John had bought their Pino along too. Like us they had e-assist but their’s is the official version from Hase, with a Shimano Steps system. For this first ride the weather was good and we decided to head West, out along the south side of Loch Venacher, much of it along tracks beside the Loch. At the far end we continued around Loch Achray then headed for the ferry terminal and café at the end of Loch Katrine.
After lunch in the café we took the road back along the Northern shores of the Loch to arrive back at Callander. In the evening John and Jane came over to our chalet for nibbles and drinks.
Day 2
On our second day we again headed West, retracing the return leg of the previous day, but once past Loch Achray we turned South and climbed Duke’s Pass. The long, flowing and winding descent was definitely the highlight of the day! (3:35 in the video)
In Aberfoyle we stopped at the first café we spotted for lunch then carried on, past the only ‘Lake’ in Scotland, the Lake of Menteith. Back in Callander, after some food, we enjoyed drinks and nibbles in our chalet again, but this time we were joined by Colin and Diane who had arrived late that afternoon.
Day 3
Day 3’s ride was led by Colin and Diane. This time we headed north alongside Loch Lubnaig, following the course of an old rail track for the most part. We stopped off at the Broch Café near Strathyre for coffee and cake then continued towards Lochearnhead. Here we picked up the trail that runs up Glen Ogle, crossing the Glen Ogle Viaduct. A stint on the A827 delivered us to Killin where we parked up behind the Falls of Dochart Inn to sit outside the Falls of Dochart Smokehouse and enjoy a lunch of smoked salmon washed down with some very nice bubbly.
Karon and I took our leave briefly, to head through the town to collect a BCQ, leaving the others to explore the falls of Dochart. I can’t say I enjoyed the climb out of Killin, as we retraced our outward leg back up to Glen Ogle. Once there, the remaining route was mostly downhill which was a relief!
In the evening we all headed into Callander town for a meal together in the Bistro Restaurant at the Roman Camp Hotel.
Day 4
Day 4 saw us retrace the first part of the previous day’s ride as far as Loch Earn, where we turned off to follow the Southern shore of the Loch. At St Fillans, at the far end of the Loch we stopped for a picnic ‘Prosecco’ lunch. Back on the bikes we continued along the north shore as far as Briar Cottage where we stopped for more Prosecco in a Lochside garden, hosted by friends of Colin and Di.
On the way back Karon and I took a detour to bag another BCQ while the others waited for us at Kinghouse…in the pub there. Our last day ended with us all sat on the decking of Colin and Di’s chalet enjoying nibbles and copious amounts of more prosecco!
