The Cateran Trail

The Cateran Trail

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Cateran Trail is a stunning 103km/64 mile circular walk in the Glens of Perthshire and Angus.

We have just completed the trail and are now reflecting on how bloomin’ lovely it was!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The trail is a much undersung hero in the long distance walks category.

 

 

It’s managed and maintained by Perth & Kinross Countryside Trust (PKCT)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are mountains, lochs, wide open moors, glens, rivers, waterfalls, and … a veritable wilderness where you are unlikely to meet many humans.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The walk begins and ends in Blairgowrie and covers ancient drove roads and paths.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Because we’re so busy with the lodges, we weren’t able to take 5 days off to complete the walk in one go. So we decided to walk the Cateran Trail in bits. As it’s right on our doorstep, this was not too difficult, plus it meant we did the walk twice, in effect as we always did a ‘there and back’ walk.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The bulk of the trail is in the wilds of hills and farmland.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wildlife:
Red squirrel, mountain hare, birds of prey, grouse, curlew, beaver (on the Bamff Estate there is a supported habitat with wildlife management enabling beavers to live and breed) and lots more.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For geocachers: along the trail is the Cateran GeoTrail where you can earn silver and gold geocoins. If you’ve no idea what I’m talking about, move along 😀

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you’re interested in the history of the Cateran Trail read on:

The Word ‘Cateran’ is a Gaelic word which means ‘peasantry’.
It was a name given to those marauding bands of cattle-rustlers, who terrorised the Highlands between 1300s and 1600s. Villages and hamlets were violently attacked and these raids mostly took place at night

The cattle were taken along many of the ancient paths on the trail.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now the Cateran Trail is so tranquil and peaceful that it’s hard to imagine the violence and terror that these glens witnessed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I urge you to walk this trail.