Knowledge

Cateran Trail

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31: 256:, cattle raiders for whom the Trail is named) carved into the edge of the post while most display the Cateran trail logo; a green ring enclosing a red heart on a white background. Due to the large number of stiles, the trail is mostly unsuitable for cyclists, and dogs must be kept on a short lead or under control where the path crosses fields with young livestock. 301:
wood on the West side of Strathardle, the path passes Tullochcurran Loch before crossing the river into Enochdhu. From here, the trail begins its long ascent through forest and open hillside to the col (An Lairig) between Ben Earb and Meall Uaine. On the ascent there is a wooden shelter known as the
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estate. From here, the route follows a quiet country road and passes through some mixed woodland before descending into Bridge of Cally. The final section of the Cateran Trail follows the same track as the very first stage, this time returning to Blairgowrie for a total distance of 24.1 kilometres
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website. Additionally, a "passport" is available for walkers to record geocaches found along the way, with points available for visiting each one, or getting a stamp from participating businesses along the way. Small commemorative coins are awarded depending on the number of points scored.
351:. To start this section, walk west on the road from the Glenisla Hotel until the primary school, turn left and cross the iron bridge. Here the path climbs rapidly over moorland before passing by a string of farms. A short diversion to the spectacular 235:
The Cateran Trail is typically walked in 5 stages, with the stopping points being determined by the availability of accommodation and the walker's fitness. Generally, the trail is started at Blairgowrie and the clockwise direction is taken towards
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This leg of the journey begins with a leisurely walk down Glen Shee. Just after Westerton of Runavey, there is an alternative route to the left which climbs through some rough terrain to Loch Beanie and rejoins the main trail at
372:(15.0 mi). An alternative, and much shorter route exists between Alyth and Blairgowrie. The trail progresses through the wooded Den of Alyth before passing the Tullyfergus farms and through Drimmie woods into Blairgowrie. 601: 296:
Although this section is, at 13.7 kilometres (8.5 mi), the shortest section in terms of length, it is here where the trail reaches the highest point on the route and so presents its own unique challenges. Skirting
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or Alyth. Following the signs to Kirkmichael, the trail enters Blackcraig forest and offers some fine views over Strathardle. This section is 24.9 kilometres (15.5 mi) in length.
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before climbing onto the wide expanse of Cochrage moor. After descending close to Bridge of Cally, the path comes to a T-junction where walkers can opt to travel towards
514: 978: 211:. The trail has no official beginning or end and can be joined at any stage. The route was established, way-marked and is now maintained by, the 973: 653: 263:: each of the "drover's face" posts is numbered, and further information about each one can be obtained by entering the number into the 215:
Countryside Trust. A variety of terrain is covered by the trail including farmland, mountains and forest. The path itself follows old
339:, the trail loops around Auchintaple Loch and descends by Loch Shandra. This section is 23.5 kilometres (14.6 mi) long. 285: 237: 521: 252:. Throughout the walk, the path is well marked. Some waymark posts feature the gnarled faces of drovers (or alternatively 30: 849: 176: 492: 751: 786: 355:
is well worthwhile. Finally the trail passes between Hill of Alyth and Hill of Loyal prior to reach the village of
220: 66: 879: 844: 809: 741: 904: 829: 673: 277: 79: 889: 854: 648: 804: 698: 909: 864: 761: 219:, minor paved roads and farm tracks and can be walked in 4 or 5 days. It is now designated as one of 914: 776: 708: 663: 633: 336: 307: 245: 241: 204: 643: 335:, which offers commanding views of the surrounding countryside on a clear day. Between Forter and 814: 746: 579: 212: 929: 884: 839: 799: 678: 348: 52: 771: 328: 216: 934: 924: 756: 736: 731: 693: 658: 618: 303: 298: 56: 859: 227:. As of 2018 it was estimated that around 8,000 people were using the trail each year. 367:
North of the village, the trail climbs Hill of Alyth and passes through the extensive
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upper lunch hut. After the mountain pass, the path quickly descends into
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Over this stage the scenery mellows as the path returns toward
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The Cateran Trail has been linked with the hobby of
943: 785: 717: 617: 187: 175: 167: 159: 151: 143: 135: 125: 72: 62: 48: 40: 23: 611:Long-distance footpaths in the United Kingdom 595: 8: 602: 588: 580: 544: 542: 314:Spittal of Glenshee to Kirkton of Glenisla 487: 485: 483: 481: 479: 477: 203:is a 103-kilometre (64 mi) circular 412: 410: 552:. Perth & Kinross Countryside Trust 495:. Perth & Kinross Countryside Trust 381: 20: 387: 385: 323:. The main route continues to follow 7: 113:Cateran Trail, Blairgowrie trailhead 654:King Charles III England Coast Path 292:Kirkmichael to Spittal of Glenshee 192:https://www.pkct.org/cateran-trail 14: 462:. & Kinross Countryside Trust 139:2,470 metres (8,100 ft) gain 16:Walking route in central Scotland 29: 850:Forth-Clyde/Union Canal Towpath 979:Footpaths in Perth and Kinross 575:Cateran Trail Official Website 550:"The Cateran Trail – GeoTrail" 1: 439:"Cateran Trail Official Site" 327:to the grounds of the superb 343:Kirkton of Glenisla to Alyth 276:Starting from the centre of 752:Peak District Boundary Walk 205:long-distance walking route 995: 272:Blairgowrie to Kirkmichael 147:653 metres (2,144 ft) 880:Loch Lomond and Cowal Way 845:Formartine and Buchan Way 810:Berwickshire Coastal Path 742:London Outer Orbital Path 395:. Scotland's Great Trails 28: 905:Romans and Reivers Route 830:Cross Borders Drove Road 674:Pembrokeshire Coast Path 418:"Walk the Cateran Trail" 280:, the trail follows the 44:103 km (64 mi) 974:Scotland's Great Trails 787:Scotland's Great Trails 493:"Cateran Trail leaflet" 221:Scotland's Great Trails 155:59 metres (195 ft) 67:Scotland's Great Trails 890:Mull of Galloway Trail 855:Great Glen Canoe Trail 35:Stile on Cateran Trail 805:Ayrshire Coastal Path 699:South West Coast Path 865:Great Trossachs Path 527:on 26 September 2018 363:Alyth to Blairgowrie 915:Southern Upland Way 777:Yorkshire Water Way 720:(England and Wales) 709:Yorkshire Wolds Way 649:Hadrian's Wall Path 634:Coast to Coast Walk 622:(England and Wales) 460:"The Cateran Trail" 337:Kirkton of Glenisla 308:Spittal of Glenshee 246:Kirkton of Glenisla 242:Spittal of Glenshee 213:Perth & Kinross 136:Elevation gain/loss 97: /  53:Perth & Kinross 946:(Northern Ireland) 944:Long-distance path 815:Borders Abbeys Way 747:Norfolk Coast Path 265:www.geocaching.com 102:56.5919°N 3.3361°W 78:Circular, usually 961: 960: 930:West Highland Way 910:St Cuthbert's Way 885:Moray Coast Trail 840:Fife Coastal Path 800:Arran Coastal Way 762:Shakespeare's Way 679:Pennine Bridleway 197: 196: 986: 772:Wales Coast Path 664:Offa's Dyke Path 604: 597: 590: 581: 562: 561: 559: 557: 546: 537: 536: 534: 532: 526: 519: 511: 505: 504: 502: 500: 489: 472: 471: 469: 467: 456: 450: 449: 447: 445: 435: 429: 428: 426: 424: 414: 405: 404: 402: 400: 393:"Trails Archive" 389: 329:Dalnaglar Castle 304:Dirnanean Estate 121: 120: 118: 117: 116: 114: 109: 108: 107:56.5919; -3.3361 103: 98: 95: 94: 93: 90: 33: 21: 994: 993: 989: 988: 987: 985: 984: 983: 964: 963: 962: 957: 945: 939: 935:West Island Way 925:Three Lochs Way 781: 757:Pennine Journey 737:Lea Valley Walk 732:Esk Valley Walk 719: 713: 694:South Downs Way 659:North Downs Way 621: 619:National Trails 613: 608: 571: 566: 565: 555: 553: 548: 547: 540: 530: 528: 524: 517: 513: 512: 508: 498: 496: 491: 490: 475: 465: 463: 458: 457: 453: 443: 441: 437: 436: 432: 422: 420: 416: 415: 408: 398: 396: 391: 390: 383: 378: 365: 345: 316: 294: 274: 233: 112: 110: 106: 104: 100: 99: 96: 91: 88: 86: 84: 83: 82: 57:Angus, Scotland 36: 17: 12: 11: 5: 992: 990: 982: 981: 976: 966: 965: 959: 958: 956: 955: 949: 947: 941: 940: 938: 937: 932: 927: 922: 917: 912: 907: 902: 897: 892: 887: 882: 877: 872: 867: 862: 860:Great Glen Way 857: 852: 847: 842: 837: 832: 827: 822: 817: 812: 807: 802: 797: 791: 789: 783: 782: 780: 779: 774: 769: 764: 759: 754: 749: 744: 739: 734: 729: 723: 721: 715: 714: 712: 711: 706: 701: 696: 691: 686: 681: 676: 671: 666: 661: 656: 651: 646: 641: 636: 631: 625: 623: 615: 614: 609: 607: 606: 599: 592: 584: 578: 577: 570: 569:External links 567: 564: 563: 538: 506: 473: 451: 430: 406: 380: 379: 377: 374: 364: 361: 344: 341: 315: 312: 293: 290: 273: 270: 232: 229: 217:drovers' roads 195: 194: 189: 185: 184: 179: 173: 172: 169: 165: 164: 161: 157: 156: 153: 149: 148: 145: 141: 140: 137: 133: 132: 127: 123: 122: 76: 70: 69: 64: 60: 59: 50: 46: 45: 42: 38: 37: 34: 26: 25: 15: 13: 10: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 991: 980: 977: 975: 972: 971: 969: 954: 951: 950: 948: 942: 936: 933: 931: 928: 926: 923: 921: 918: 916: 913: 911: 908: 906: 903: 901: 898: 896: 895:River Ayr Way 893: 891: 888: 886: 883: 881: 878: 876: 873: 871: 870:John Muir Way 868: 866: 863: 861: 858: 856: 853: 851: 848: 846: 843: 841: 838: 836: 833: 831: 828: 826: 825:Clyde Walkway 823: 821: 820:Cateran Trail 818: 816: 813: 811: 808: 806: 803: 801: 798: 796: 795:Annandale Way 793: 792: 790: 788: 784: 778: 775: 773: 770: 768: 765: 763: 760: 758: 755: 753: 750: 748: 745: 743: 740: 738: 735: 733: 730: 728: 725: 724: 722: 716: 710: 707: 705: 702: 700: 697: 695: 692: 690: 687: 685: 682: 680: 677: 675: 672: 670: 667: 665: 662: 660: 657: 655: 652: 650: 647: 645: 644:Glyndŵr's Way 642: 640: 637: 635: 632: 630: 629:Cleveland Way 627: 626: 624: 620: 616: 612: 605: 600: 598: 593: 591: 586: 585: 582: 576: 573: 572: 568: 551: 545: 543: 539: 523: 516: 510: 507: 494: 488: 486: 484: 482: 480: 478: 474: 461: 455: 452: 440: 434: 431: 419: 413: 411: 407: 394: 388: 386: 382: 375: 373: 370: 362: 360: 358: 354: 350: 342: 340: 338: 334: 330: 326: 322: 313: 311: 309: 305: 300: 291: 289: 287: 283: 279: 271: 269: 266: 262: 257: 255: 251: 247: 243: 239: 230: 228: 226: 222: 218: 214: 210: 206: 202: 201:Cateran Trail 193: 190: 186: 183: 180: 178: 174: 170: 166: 162: 158: 154: 150: 146: 144:Highest point 142: 138: 134: 131: 128: 124: 119: 81: 77: 75: 71: 68: 65: 61: 58: 54: 51: 47: 43: 39: 32: 27: 24:Cateran Trail 22: 19: 920:Speyside Way 819: 767:Vanguard Way 727:Capital Ring 718:Other trails 689:The Ridgeway 639:Cotswold Way 554:. Retrieved 531:26 September 529:. Retrieved 522:the original 509: 497:. Retrieved 464:. Retrieved 454: 442:. Retrieved 433: 421:. Retrieved 397:. Retrieved 366: 346: 317: 295: 282:River Ericht 275: 258: 234: 200: 198: 152:Lowest point 18: 900:Rob Roy Way 875:Kintyre Way 704:Thames Path 684:Pennine Way 669:Peddars Way 353:Reekie Linn 333:Mount Blair 286:Kirkmichael 278:Blairgowrie 238:Kirkmichael 207:in central 105: / 80:Blairgowrie 63:Designation 968:Categories 953:Ulster Way 376:References 349:Strathmore 325:Shee Water 261:geocaching 225:NatureScot 160:Difficulty 111: ( 89:56°35′31″N 74:Trailheads 556:16 August 499:16 August 466:16 August 399:15 August 299:Kindrogan 92:3°20′10″W 835:Dava Way 254:caterans 209:Scotland 171:All year 163:Moderate 49:Location 444:19 July 423:19 July 188:Website 182:Weather 177:Hazards 321:Forter 168:Season 130:Hiking 41:Length 525:(PDF) 518:(PDF) 369:Bamff 357:Alyth 250:Alyth 248:then 231:Route 558:2018 533:2018 501:2018 468:2018 446:2012 425:2012 401:2018 199:The 55:and 223:by 126:Use 970:: 541:^ 476:^ 409:^ 384:^ 310:. 244:, 240:, 603:e 596:t 589:v 560:. 535:. 503:. 470:. 448:. 427:. 403:. 115:)

Index


Perth & Kinross
Angus, Scotland
Scotland's Great Trails
Trailheads
Blairgowrie
56°35′31″N 3°20′10″W / 56.5919°N 3.3361°W / 56.5919; -3.3361 (Cateran Trail, Blairgowrie trailhead)
Hiking
Hazards
Weather
https://www.pkct.org/cateran-trail
long-distance walking route
Scotland
Perth & Kinross
drovers' roads
Scotland's Great Trails
NatureScot
Kirkmichael
Spittal of Glenshee
Kirkton of Glenisla
Alyth
caterans
geocaching
www.geocaching.com
Blairgowrie
River Ericht
Kirkmichael
Kindrogan
Dirnanean Estate
Spittal of Glenshee

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