Glen Ogle Trail
Date: 30 August 2026
Leader: Miles
Grade: C+
Number on walk: 14
Length: 13 km. Ascent: 250 m.
Hills climbed: None.
Click here for GPX track of the walk
Leaving Lochearnhead behind we started the short but steep climb to the old railway line
We followed part of the route of the Callander and Oban Railway, which opened in stages between 1870 and 1880. The section we walked opened in 1870 and although scheduled to close in November 1965 because of declining traffic, shut early in September 1965 after a rockfall in Glen Ogle.
Our morning break was taken before crossing the Glen Ogle viaduct
The viaduct was built around 1866–1870, probably under the direction of engineer John Strain. It comprises 12 segmental arches, although it was originally planned as a 20-arch structure, and is approximately 150 yards long on a 1:60 gradient.
We had dull dreich weather for the walk but occasionally the cloud lifted and we had views of the hills on the east side of Glen Ogle
Due to the dreich weather we sheltered for lunch under some mature conifer trees
During lunch one of our group recited Moira McPartlin’s poem “A Manual for Gathering Ticks”
(Click here to see a copy of the poem)
Before heading back down the glen to Lochearnhead we visited Lochan Lairig Cheile
We had a much better view of the Glen Ogle Viaduct from the floor of the glen while returning to Lochearnhead
A final, and unexpected to all but the leader, obstacle was this dilapidated stile.
All the rungs on one side were missing but fortunately there was a dog gate under the stile and we were able to crawl through this without too much difficulty.