An enchanting outlaw trail for Highland Rogues — Rob Roy Way

The Rob Roy Way follows in the footsteps of Scotland's most notorious outlaw through some of the most stunning countryside in Britain.

Starting in Drymen, the route travels 77 miles (124 kilometers) northeast through Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, across the Highland Boundary Fault—a geological fault where the Scottish Highlands meet the Lowlands—to Pilochry, on the edge of the Cairngorms.

The route explores some of the most breathtaking countryside in the UK. Expect picturesque lochs encircled by mountains, prehistoric monuments nestled amidst glorious scenery, wild and expansive Highland vistas, enchanted forests, cascading waterfalls, rich wildlife, and more.

Designated as one of Scotland's Great Trails in 2012, the Way follows paths used by folk hero Rob Roy MacGregor (1671-1734); a soldier, trader, cattle-rustler, and outlaw who roamed this wild landscape in the early 18th century.

MacGregor’s path to outlaw status began in 1711 when he borrowed money from the Duke of Montrose to buy cattle. A few months after the purchase, Rob Roy's head drover sold the herd and disappeared with the money.

After failing to locate the thief, Rob Roy returned home to find the duke had seized his land and evicted his family. In retaliation, Rob Roy waged a relentless campaign of cattle-rustling, theft, banditry, and kidnap against the duke. Over time, the ‘Wild MacGregor’ clan grew into a racket that extorted many other wealthy landowners, too.

Rob Roy took part in the Jacobite Uprising of 1715 and was subsequently wanted for treason. However, tales of his battles, captures, cattle-rustling, and cunning prison breaks grew and in 1723 Daniel Defoe published Highland Rogue about him. In 1726, Rob Roy received a Royal Pardon. He died two years later.

The Rob Roy Way is signposted throughout, however some sections might not be obvious. Trails are well-maintained and the walking is leisurely, albeit with a few tough sections.

In this Collection, we split the route into six stages. Of course, you can split up each stage into as many days as you are comfortable with. You can also walk any single stage, or a couple of stages, in isolation.

Every stage finishes close to accommodation, even if there are only a few options nearby. However, places to stay are not always abundant so it is worth planning in advance and scheduling any rest days accordingly.

If you are planning to arrive by public transport, you can catch a train to Balloch, typically via Glasgow. From Balloch, you can catch the 309 bus service to Drymen. To get home, Pitlochry has a railway station with direct services to Edinburgh and Perth and connecting services around Britain.

If you are planning to arrive by car, your best bet is to negotiate with a hotel or B&B a rate to stay for a night either side of your hike in Balloch and leave your car there for the duration. To get back, you can catch a train from Pitlochry to Balloch, typically with changes in Glasgow and Perth, and then the 309 bus back to Drymen.

For more information about the Rob Roy Way, visit: robroyway.com.
For the 309 bus timetable, visit: bustimes.org/services/309-balmaha-alexandria-or-bonhill.
For train timetables and tickets, visit: thetrainline.com.