The Cateran Trail

Bankhead Farm is situated near Alyth on one of the sections of The Cateran Trail and offers an excellent base for those that prefer to stay in one place during their hillwalking holiday. As long as you have two or three cars you can easily arrange to walk each stage of the trail in one day returning to base at night for a hot meal and a hot bath.

The trail is suitable for all levels of hillwalker and for larger walking parties it is the ideal option. For example, if someone is not up to the hill walk for the day or if the weather turns against you then you are never forced out of your accommodation to complete the next stage of the walk.

The Cateran Trail is a beautiful 60 mile hill walk set in Perthshire in the Highlands of Scotland. It is quite similar to the West Highland Way. 

Perthshire, which is often thought of as the Heart of Scotland, has some of the most dramatic and beautiful scenery in the UK. 

The Cateran Trail is based on the historic drove roads used by ancient Caterans hundreds of years ago and is named after medieval Highlanders who plundered the cattle rich glens of East Perthshire and North Angus.

During the Middle Ages, bands of Caterans roamed across the Highlands of Scotland pillaging and cattle rustling, striking fear into all who crossed their path. Glen Isla, Glen Shee and Glen Ardle, on the edge of the Grampian Mountains were frequently attacked by the Caterans who would drive the stolen cattle along drovers paths through the hills to their mountain hideouts. 

The Cateran Trail is a 5 - day walk through these beautiful glens, following in the footsteps of the Caterans.

Starting and ending in the attractive town of Blairgowrie 14 miles North of Perth and 5 miles from Bankhead Farm, The Cateran Trail heads through Bridge of Cally to Alyth, a small farming town split by a burn spanned by ancient little bridges. This is where Bankhead Farm is situated. 

From there it climbs up beautiful Glen Isla before crossing into Glen Shee at Bridge of Bewlands. Continuing towards the mountains, the trail runs up the glen towards Spittal of Glenshee, a lawless place in medieval times where much of the stolen cattle were sold. After crossing the hills to Enochdu in Glen Ardle, where the cattle were rested, the trail runs down Glen Ardle to Bridge of Cally and Blairgowrie.

Over the past few years £60,000 has been spent on footpaths, installing new signposts and stiles, and improving drainage. The trail has been divided into five sections, making use of existing paths, minor roads and recognised walks straddling the border between Perthshire and Angus. 

The Cateran trail, using footpaths and minor roads, can be walked in short stages, or completed in four to five days: It takes in three Highland glens, including the wild and mountainous country of Glen Shee, where it climbs to over 650 metres above sea level.

If you would like to walk The Cateran Trail or just try some sections of it - Bankhead Farm offers you an excellent base for your hillwalking holiday. 

If you would like to book a holiday please get in touch with us using our email address or our contact form and we will get back to you will all the details.