Callander to Crianlarich
Approximate distance: 30 miles
Detour to Balquhidder: 2 miles
Detour to Killin: 2.5 miles
 Travelling northwest from
Callander, the A84 passes Kilmahog and follows the route of the River Leny, which flows from Loch Lubnaig,
through the Pass of Leny. Parking on the northern side of the road allows
access by foot to the Falls of Leny on the southern side. There is further
parking available further along the road.
The road then heads north and heads towards the southern
end of Loch Lubnaig, with Ben Ledi rising up to the west. To the east are the
remains of St. Bride’s Chapel where McKinlay’s, relatives of the former U.S.
President, are buried.
Near the summit of Ben Ledi is Lochan nan Corp, the
small loch of the dead, where it is said a group of Highlanders fell through the ice and drowned
while on their way to a funeral.
The
A84 continues north, along the eastern side of the loch, with two parking areas
allowing access to the side of the loch itself. The loch then bends northwest,
round Ardnandave Hill, which is to the north of Ben Ledi, with the road still
following close by.
This leads to Strathyre, the valley of the River Balvag,
which flows from the north into Loch Lubnaig. The road now follows the course of
this river to the village of Strathyre itself. A
bridge crosses the river at this point to a parking area, to the south, which
marks the northern end of the Callander and Strathyre Cycle Route,
which follows the route of the dismantled Callander to Oban railway. The cycle
route follows roughly the same route as the A84 back to Callander, but on the
opposite side of Loch Lubnaig and the River Leny. Heading the opposite way from the cycle route, the road
follows the course of the Balvag north and then west to its source at Loch Voil.
 At Balquhidder, at
the eastern end of Loch Voil, is Rob Roy's grave.
 At the eastern end of
Loch Earn, the A84 joins up with the A85; the route now continues under the
latter designation. The A827 branches off from the A85, heading northeast to
Killin.
Loch Iubhair was the site of a contest between Fionn, also
known as Fingal, and Taileachd. This ended with the former being killed by the
latter who headed for Loch Laidon on Rannoch Moor
with the head of his victim.
The A85 then joins up with the A82 at
Crianlarich and both continue together northwest to Tyndrum; at this point
they split again with the A85 heading west into
Argyll and the A82 north to
the Highlands.
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