Cycling

On and Off Road

The countryside around Blairgowrie is patterned with peaceful roads criss-crossing moors and rich farmland and thrilling mountain bike trails winding their way through forests and mountain trails, and along river pathways. Here are just a few contrasting examples:

  • Turn left onto the A93 towards Perth as you leave Invermay and then take a right after about a hundred yards onto the Essendy Road (A947). From here there are many secondary/minor roads running westwards providing enjoyable gentle, short runs to the Loch of Clunie or the Loch of Lowes Nature Reserve.
  • Classic circular route (50 miles/81 km) from Blairgowrie through Dunkeld (historic cathedral) to Pitlochry (salmon ladder and distilleries) and back through Kirkmichael and Bridge of Cally. Splendid scenery throughout with a mix of gradients.
  • The Glenshee Mountain Bike Track (3.2 km) is a blue grade cross mountain track blue with 2 uphill sections which gives you the feel of real mountain biking.  It’s accessed by the Cairnwell chairlift and it takes about 10 minutes to ride.
  • Alyth Bike Park (8 miles from Invermay in the Community Woodland above Alyth): 200m skills loop; 40m pump track; and 200m blue grade trail.

In addition, sections of the Cateran Trail, such as Bridge of Cally to Blackcraig and Kirkmichael to Enochdhu, are accessible to cyclists and there are miles of off-road trails in Blackcraig and Kindrogan Forests. And there are relatively car-free minor roads throughout Strathardle, Glenshee, Glenisla and Strathmore.

For more road cycling routes, take a look at the Komoot Guide or for a choice of mountain biking adventures, check out All Trails' advice.

By rivers, through woodland and over rolling hills, on and off road,  the area offers something special for cyclists, mountain bikers and BMX-ers of all levels of experience and capability.

Competitive Edge

Competitive mountain bikers will already have Glenshee in their diary of June 39th & 30th. It's the venue for the third round of the SDA's Downhill Series and it's bound to offer thrilling racing and spectating.

For the experienced road cyclist, the Etape Caledonia in May is an exhilarating 81-mile challenge of rolling hills and forest-lined roads beginning and ending in Pitlochry and taking in the breathtaking views over Loch Rannoch, Loch Tummel, and the breathless climb up Schiehallion.

And there are three Sportives, combining charity fund-raising with cycling spectacular scenery, which are part of The Challenge Series and are held in Perthshire over the summer months.

Support Team

Scottish Cycling Holidays is just a few hundred yards away from Invermay. It’s a friendly, family-run, one stop shop for bicycle enthusiasts provides expert advice, parts and repairs and cycle hire (24-speed sport hybrids, mountain bikes, children’s bikes). 

You'll find maps and guides to cycling around Blairgowrie at Invermay. And there are two outside Belfast sinks for cleaning up your kit as well as secure storage for your bikes and other equipment.

And, if you just want to potter about around town, there’s a bike stored in the garage.

Now what? Walking? Fishing? Golf? Skiing? Touring?