Road · United Kingdom
Dunkeld Dull Strathtay Loop
A hilly 57 km road cycling loop from Grandtully, Perth and Kinross through Edradynate, Weem and Dunkeld, with 503 m of climbing. Most of it (39.6 km) is on main roads without a cycle lane, 45.2 km where the limit is 80 km/h or more. There is a 20 km stretch without a café, shop or water (km 9–29).
At a glance
- Best for
- Short, climbing-heavy rides for confident riders at ease in traffic
- Distance
- 57 km
- Elevation gain
- 503 m
- Riding time
- 4 h 04 min
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Paved
- Traffic
- Mostly main roads
- Food & water
- Longest gap 20 km
- Best months
- Jun to Aug
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start and finish
- Grandtully
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 503 m
- 57 km
Route description
- Grandtully
- Edradynate
- Weem
- Trochry
- Birnam
- Dunkeld
- Dalguise
- Logierait
- Tulloch of Pitnacree
- Grandtully
Starting from Strathtay near Grandtully, the route heads through Little Ballinluig and Edradynate before reaching Boltachan and Weem. It continues to Aberfeldy by 9.3 km where cafés, shops, toilets, bike shops and water are available, marking the last services for a 20.1 km stretch. Beyond Aberfeldy, the main road climb begins at 8.6 km, lasting 6.1 km gaining 319 m at an average gradient of 5.3% with peaks at 7.4%. After approximately 16.1 km the route reaches its highest point of 404 m. Following this, there is an 8.7 km descent dropping 175 m towards Trochry and then Inver.
Why ride this route?
- Tops out at 404 m, 16.1 km in.
- An 8.7 km descent dropping 175 m.
Highlights
- Climb from 8.6 to 14.7 km, 319 m gain
- Passes Dunkeld near Stanley Hill and Shepherd’s Peak
- Longest descent 16.4 to 25.1 km, 8.7 km
- Services at Aberfeldy at 9.3 km
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 8.6 km | 6.1 km · 319 m · 5.3 % · max 7.4 % | 403 m |
| Unnamed climb | 45.3 km | 2 km · 41 m · 2.1 % · max 2.9 % | 103 m |
Traffic, surface and gradient
This is not a cycle-track route: 69% is on main roads without a cycle lane, 45.2 km of it where the limit is 80 km/h or more. Riders should be comfortable sharing the road with faster traffic.
- Roads
- 70% main road · 19% minor road · 4% quiet street · 4% track · 3% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 39.6 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 45.2 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Main roads used
- A826 (14 km), B898 (14 km), A822 (10 km), C447 (10 km)
- Surface
- Paved: 98% of the route is mapped as paved, 2% as unpaved.
- Gradient
- 20% climbing · 26% descending · 54% flat
- Steep sections
- 4.1 km over 5% · steepest 500 m averages 7.1% at 11.8 km
- Longest descent
- 8.7 km from 16.4 km, dropping 175 m
Food, water and services
The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 20 km, from km 9 to 29. Along the route: 44 cafés and restaurants, 6 shops, 4 water points, 8 public toilets and 2 bike shops.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 0 kmHighland Chocolatier · café · 320 m off route
- 0 kmSpar · convenience store · on the route
- 9.1 kmToilets · 80 m off route
- 9.3 kmThe Watermill · café · 90 m off route
- 9.3 kmBallintaggart · supermarket · 200 m off route
- 9.3 kmTop Up Tap · drinking water · 200 m off route
- 9.3 kmDraft & Flow Community Cycle Workshop · bike shop · 210 m off route
- 29.4 kmWater tap · 240 m off route
- 29.4 kmToilets · 150 m off route
- 36.1 kmDavidsons Chemists · pharmacy · on the route
- 36.2 kmRedwood Wines · café · on the route
- 36.2 kmCo-op Food · convenience store · on the route
- 36.2 kmProgression Bikes · bike shop · 50 m off route
- 36.4 kmToilets · 60 m off route
Need to bail out?
- 35.7 km — Dunkeld and Birnam (station), 730 m off route
Worth a stop
- 7.5 km — Easter Boltachan (archaeological site)
- 23.4 km — Milton (archaeological site)
- 36.6 km — Stanley Hill (peak, 69 m)
- 45.6 km — Milton of Kincraigie (archaeological site)
- 55.2 km — Pitnacree (archaeological site)
Start and access
At the start and finish
- Food and coffee
- Highland Chocolatier (320 m), Tully Bar (320 m), The Inn on the Tay (310 m)
- Shops
- Spar (0 m)
Know before you go
- 39.6 km on main roads without cycle lanes
- 45.2 km on roads with 80 km/h or more speed limit
- 20.1 km longest stretch without café, shop or water from 9.3 to 29.4 km
- 0.1 km road with gradients over 10%
