Forrest Mallard - May 13, 2021

Cateran Trail
Perth & Kinross/Angus, Scotland
Start: Blairgowrie
End: Blairgowrie
Distance: 64 miles (103 km)
Time: 5 days
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Surface: Forest Trails, Meadows

Website: www.pkct.org

Cateran Trail Scotland Map

The Cateran Trail is named after the Caterans, the marauding thieves and rustlers who prowled and plundered their way through the lawless hills and valleys of the Scottish Highlands from the Middle Ages to the l600s.The rich farmlands around Glen Isla, Glenshee, and Strathardle were often the target of their raids, and they would ride back into the night as quickly as they appeared using ancient drove roads running through isolated glens. The Caterans were more feared than wolves, and their raiding parties often numbered in the hundreds. Now, you can trace their footsteps on the Cateran Trail, a 64-mile (l03-km) waymarked trail through the very heart of Scotland, an hour and a half north of Edinburgh. The trail passes through what The Great Outdoors magazine has called “the sort of Scotland walkers dream of” in a little-visited corner of Perthshire largely unknown to the wider walking community.

Cateran Trail Scotland 02

The Cateran Trail traces some of the old tracks and drove roads that the Caterans would surely have used. It starts in the market town of Biairgowrie, near the Ericht River, home to wild Atlantic salmon that spawn in its waters before passing through the Blackcraig Forest and into Strathardle, a glen farmed since the Bronze Age, before ascending to 2,100 feet (640 m) at Lai rig Gate to the spectacular Spittal of Gienshee. Mount Biair at the southern end of Glenshee (the “Fairy Glen”) can be climbed as an option, and then you enter Glen Isla, with its persistent links to Arthurian legends (Queen Guinevere was held captive here on Barry Hill by Mordred). After a traverse over the hills by Alyth, the Cateran Trail passes the massive standing stones at Heatheryhaugh, where you can rest and ponder, before returning to Biairgowrie.

Cateran Trail Scotland 01

Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Image

Hi! I'm Forrest Mallard

In 2005, I moved to Quito, Ecuador with $35 in my pocket and a small handful of online clients. Fifteen years and five continents later, there were moments of absolute glamour, as well as a number of brutal rough patches. But I always felt that a horrible day of travel is infinitely more preferable than a great day at the office. Oh the stories I could tell, and I will try to do that here in Tramposaurus Treks. You'll have access to the good times, the horrifying times, and a few well-deserved moments of travel glamour.

Read more

JOIN THE EXCLUSIVE COMMUNITY OF TRAMPS

Sign up for the monthly newsletter, with the latest travel news and special offers, and receive bonus gifts to get you started.

    reasons to subscribe

    Save on your hotel - hotelscombined.com

    TRAVEL PLANNING

    Travel Planning Resources

    ARCHIVES

    SIMILAR BLOGS

    April 24, 2021

    Art Nouveau in Budapest

    Art Nouveau defines Budapest in much the same way as skyscrapers define New York. Here is a guide that will...

    Read more
    October 30, 2020

    Haunted Hikes

    A thorough list of haunted trails from around the world that I have discovered through the years. From haunted British...

    Read more
    July 12, 2020

    Hidden Gems of Seward

    Seward, Alaska - a breathtaking land shaped by glaciers, and nestled between mountains and ocean. Well-known as the 'gateway' to...

    Read more
    June 10, 2020

    Hidden Gems of Tallinn

    Put on your walking shoes, hit the streets, and discover the Hidden Gems of Tallinn, Estonia. Secret places only the...

    Read more
    May 29, 2020

    Slovenian Mountain Trail

    This stunning, long-distance trail winds across the mountains of Slovenia. The trail passes through this country’s best scenery, including the...

    Read more
    May 29, 2020

    Camino Francés

    The French Way (Camino Francés) and the Routes of Northern Spain are the courses which are listed in the World...

    Read more
    September 3, 2021

    Planeterra Trek Challenge

    Planeterra Trek ChallengeVirtual EventRegistration: $25Web: www.planeterra.org Planeterra Launches Second Annual Virtual Trek ChallengeCommunity tourism non-profit, Planeterra, launched its second annual Planeterra Trek...

    Read more
    July 26, 2021

    Camino Portuguese

    The Camino Portuguese is one route of the Camino de Santiago network. The bulk of this Camino passes through Portugal.

    Read more
    July 21, 2021

    Edie [2019]

    Grande dame of British entertainment, Sheila Hancock (aged 84), climbed through the Scottish Highlands for the filming of this movie.

    Read more