In his Guide to E-Biking around Alyth, Rupert Parker discovers an amazing outdoor museum.
They call it a “museum without walls” and Alyth’s innovative Cateran Eco museum is spread across a series of outdoor sites. You‘re encouraged to engage with the region’s history and nature on foot, bike, or even Scottish coracle. I opt for dry land and rent an e-bike to explore the area.
Alyth is a charming market town situated on the edge of the Highland Boundary Fault, where the rolling Scottish Lowlands meet the rugged Highlands. The town’s history stretches back over a millennium, evident in its well-preserved landmarks.
The Pack Bridge is one of Scotland’s oldest masonry bridges, dating back to the early 16th century. The Alyth Parish Church, completed in 1839, houses a rare Pictish cross-slab from the 7th or 8th century, complete with intricate carvings.
Running through the town is the Alyth Burn which I follow to the Den ‘o’ Alyth, a wooded glen just outside the town. It’s a secluded spot with a variety of wildlife among the oak, ash, beech and birch trees, including red squirrels and even a few deer. Birds are much in evidence with dippers, herons and grey wagtails congregating by the water.
Highland Boundary Distillery
Situated on a hill above the town, Highland Boundary was founded in 2016 by ecologists Dr. Marian Bruce and Simon Montador. The distillery seamlessly blends traditional techniques with modern ecological practices to craft unique botanical spirits.
Each bottle is crafted using hand-picked botanicals such as silver birch, elderflower, and sloe berries, harvested sustainably from the farm and nearby woodlands. The distillation process combines these native plants with grain spirit and mineral rich spring water from Alyth Hill. The result is spirits that are both distinctive and reflective of the Scottish landscape.
Biking Three Towns Loop 37.6km
My first e-biking trip is the Three Towns Loop, a cycling route connecting Alyth, Blairgowrie, and Coupar Angus. Leaving Alyth, the route follows quiet country lanes and gentle trails going south west. It takes me through the pastoral beauty of eastern Perthshire, with patchwork fields, dry-stone walls, and the distant Grampian Mountains providing a dramatic backdrop.
Blairgowrie is the largest of the three towns on the loop and is the bustling heart of the region on the River Ericht. Don’t miss the Riverside Walk, a gentle path that follows the river upstream to the site of old textile mills. These remnants of industrial heritage hint at the town’s past as a centre for flax and jute production.
From Blairgowrie, the ride takes me along quiet country roads and across open moorland, through one of Scotland’s major soft fruit growing areas. The next town is Coupar Angus with its distinct ecclesiastical history. It was once home to a great Cistercian abbey founded in the 12th century, although little remains today apart from the Abbey Church, which still serves the local community.
The final leg of the loop brings me back to Alyth via Kettins, Ardler and Meigle, a seven mile stretch through farmland and narrow lanes. I pass stone walls draped in lichen, sheep grazing lazily in pastures, and red squirrels dart across my path. The Flour Coffee Shop and Deli in Meigle is good for lunch.
Biking Alyth to Glenisla and Back 38km
My second e-bike ride takes me from Alyth to Glenisla via the dramatic Reekie Linn Waterfall. It’s through some of Scotland’s most beautiful countryside, combining quiet country roads and forest tracks, stopping at stunning natural landmarks.
I make a diversion to Bamff Ecotourism, home to one of Scotland’s pioneering rewilding projects. Here, beavers have been reintroduced, creating dynamic wetland ecosystems. The region’s expansive moorlands, ancient forests, and lochs are home to red squirrels, golden eagles, wild deer and an abundance of native plant life.
About 8 miles into the ride, I reach the Reekie Linn Waterfall, one of Perthshire’s most dramatic and easily accessible waterfalls. Its name means “smoky pool,” referencing the mist that rises from the plunge pool as the River Isla crashes over a 20-metre drop into a steep gorge.
Continuing north, the route follows winding lanes and forest-bordered roads toward Glenisla, a tranquil glen nestled in the southern edge of the Cairngorms National Park. The ride offers a mix of gentle climbs and exhilarating descents with the
Glenisla Hotel in Kirkton of Glenisla the perfect lunch spot.
For the return journey, I follow a large stretch of the long distance Cateran Trail. This takes me off the road and initially climbs up onto the moorland for some superb views. It then follows tracks and paths before eventually passing between the Alyth hills to get me back to my starting point.
This is a part of Scotland I’ve not visited before and I’ve been pleasantly surprised, No craggy mountains, just gently rolling hills and verdant countryside, with characterful small towns and villages. Best of all, with an e-bike, you can cover quite a bit of the region without even breaking into a hint of a sweat.
Tell Me More About This Guide To E-Biking Around Alyth
The Caledonian Sleeper runs overnight from London Euston to Perth. From the station, there’s a regular bus service to Alyth.
Alyth Cyclery has high tech e-bikes for hire used in this guide to e-biking around Alyth.
Markus Stitz has written a number of books about cycling in Scotland including his recent
Gravel Rides Cairngorms & Perthshire.
The Cateran Ecomuseum is an innovative way to interact with the region.
Banff Ecotourism has information about rewilding and activities.
Forillon is a fully equipped three bedroom house for rent in the centre of Alyth.
Flour Coffee Shop & Deli in Meigle has locally sourced dishes.
Glenisla Hotel has rooms with good food.
Highland Boundary does tastings by appointment.