Lochearnhead Voyage Tips and guide

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Lochearnhead is a village in Perth and Kinross, with a population of about 250. As the name implies it's at the top end of Loch Earn, at a junction of roads into the Highlands. It's a good base for exploring the eastern portion of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, which is cut off by mountains from its more touristy central parts.

Killin, also described here, similarly stands at the top end of Loch Tay. With a population of around 750, it has more accommodation.

56°22′59″N 4°16′59″W

Map of Lochearnhead

From either Edinburgh or Glasgow take the motorway to Stirling, then leave M9 for A84 via Callander. From Perth follow A85 via Crieff. The routes meet at Lochearnhead then climb over the ridge to the north to go into the Highlands.

Citylink buses run three times a day from Edinburgh and take 2 hr 30 min via the airport, Grangemouth, Stirling, Doune and Callander, continuing to Crianlarich. From there Bus 978 heads west to Oban, Buses 912 & 913 go north to Fort William and Skye. Buses from Glasgow to the Highlands follow Loch Lomond and don't come this way, travel via Stirling and Callander.

Ember electric buses run four times per day from Edinburgh and Fort William, each taking just under 2hr.

Council-run minibus C60 runs four times M-Sa from Callander, taking 30 min to Lochearnhead and continuing to Killin.

McGills Bus 160 / S60 runs from Stirling twice via Callander, on the first and third Saturday of each month. It continues to Killin, Crianlarich and Tyndrum.

56.386-4.28751 Cameron Court or "bus shelter" is how the bus stop is shown on timetables. It's just north of the A85/A84 junction in village centre.

"Wild Chieftain of a savage Clan! Hadst this to boast of; thou didst love the liberty of man."

- according to Wordsworth, though what Rob Roy mostly liberated was other folk's cattle.

You need a vehicle for this scattered area, though its sights are within cycling distance.

• 56.3755-4.26571 Edinample Castle is a late 16th century tower house. It's now a private residence so you'll have to make do with a glimpse through the trees, though its lodge cottages are available for self catering. There are grand ambitions to expand it into a Gleneagles-style luxury hotel but nothing's come of that.
• 56.3425-4.21972 Ben Vorlich (Beinn Mhùrlaig)) rises prominently south of the loch. At 985 m / 3232 ft it's a "Munro", see below for the route. Don't confuse it with the other Ben Vorlich south of Loch Lomond.
• 56.3579-4.37113 Rob Roy's Grave is in the old churchyard at Balquhidder. Rob Roy Macgregor (1671-1734) was a cattle thief, protection-racketeer and early in arms for the Jacobite cause. He was romanticised in his own lifetime as Scotland's Robin Hood, and later by Sir Walter Scott, Hector Berlioz, William Wordsworth, Walt Disney and more.
• 56.3864-4.53934 Ben More (1174 m / 3842 ft) stands northwest, see Crianlarich for hiking routes.
• 56.4622-4.32125 Falls of Dochart are at the edge of Killin village as you approach on A827. They're rapids not a clean drop, popular with kayakers. River Dochart joins River Lochay just as they flow into Loch Tay, and the River Tay starts east end of that loch.
• Kinnell Stone Circle is six upright slabs half a mile east of Killin village.
• Finlarig Castle in Killin village is the ruin of a tower house built in 1629. It's unsafe to enter.
• 56.4774-4.33626 Moirlanich Longhouse, Killin FK21 8UA, ☏ +44 1567 820988. W & Su 2-5PM. Unusual survival of a 19th century longhouse cottage, with the cattle at one end separated by a partition from the living quarters. Adult £3.50, conc £2.50, NTS free. (updated Jun 2025)
• Ben Lawers along the north bank of Loch Tay is a mountain of 1214 m / 3983 ft, a "Munro", with six other Munros in its group. This means its upper reaches are an arctic / alpine plateau, with rare plant life. The usual trail starts from Craggantoul along A827, although this has become eroded. This is the peak that turned geology on its head in the early 19th century: it was thought that sediments were laid down sequentially, but here they're upside down. Immense forces and millions of years of folding would be needed to bring this about.
• 56.5147-4.12877 Tomnadashan Mine on the south side of Loch Tay was dug in the 19th century in search of gold, silver, copper and sulphur, and found none. In 1975 it was the film location of the "Cave of Caerbannog" in Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Here the Grail Knights encounter the Black Beast of Arrrghhh, which turns out to be a killer rabbit. It slays several of them until they chuck a Holy Hand Grenade, which disassembles it.
• See Aberfeldy for attractions at the east end of Loch Tay and down the valley. Highlight of these must be the well-named village called Dull.

• Loch Earn Wakeschool organise activities on the loch. They're based within Clachan Hotel.
• Golf: Killin GC at the head of Loch Tay is nine holes. St Fillans GC is east end of Loch Earn.
• Hike: the simplest route up Ben Vorlich starts from Ardvorlich on the lane south side of the loch. Many walkers continue along the ridge to ascend Stùc a' Chròin, also a Munro, and the combined walk is 14.5 km / 9 miles.
• Dhanakosa is a Buddhist retreat centre on the north shore of Loch Voil.
• Killin Music Festival is probably next held 19-21 June 2026, tbc.
• Balquhidder, Lochearnhead and Strathtyre Highland Games are next held on Sa 26 July 2025 in the park at Lochearnhead.
• Killin Highland Games are held in Breadalbane Park in Killin, with the next on W 6 Aug 2025.

There are small stores in Killin, St Fillans and Callander, but Lochearnhead's own store has closed down. Stock up for your self-catering weekend at the supermarkets in Stirling or Perth on the drive up.

Re-fill the tank there also: Lix Toll filling station near Killin has closed.

• Clachan Hotel is your best bet for a meal in Lochearnhead.
• In Killin try Courie Inn.

As above, there isn't a stand-alone pub.

• Wester Auchraw Croft, Auchraw Terrace FK19 8PS (200 yards east of junction), ☏ +44 7525 126482. Stylish B&B in village centre. B&B double £110. (updated Jun 2025)
• 56.3858-4.27421 Clachan Hotel, Lochside FK19 8PU, ☏ +44 1567 830247. Clean comfy small hotel on loch shore. B&B double £130. (updated Jun 2025)
• 56.3604-4.30682 Balquhidder Braes Holiday Park, Balquhidder Station FK19 8NX, ☏ +44 7795 276993. Self-catering cabins plus tourer caravan spaces. (updated Jun 2025)
• 56.3534-4.32513 Mhor 84 Motel, 84 Kingshouse, Balquhidder FK19 8NY, ☏ +44 1877 384646. Good scores for comfort and eating. B&B double £150. (updated Jun 2025)
• Killin accommodation includes Falls of Dochart Inn, The Courie Inn, Lochleven B&B, Killin Hotel, Dall Lodge Country House, Maragowan Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite, and Clachan Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite.

As of June 2025, Lochearnhead and its approach roads have 4G from EE but only a patchy signal from O2 and Vodafone, and nothing from Three. 5G has not reached this area.

• Comrie then Crieff are the first substantial villages descending the valley below Loch Earn - Drummond Castle gardens are the main sight.
• Perth further east is a historic city where the Tay becomes tidal.
• Aberfeldy is the first town descending the Tay valley, with Castle Menzies.
• Crianlarich is on the highway northwest, with several nearby "Munro" mountain climbs.
• Callander is on the highway south. Come this way for the Trossachs.