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THE PASS, THE WEE LOCHAN, & IRISHMAN'S LEAP
        The view is so beautiful you may feel inspired to proceed to the top of the pass. Walking uphill towards the jagged rocks to the right and in front of you, you make your way to the pass leading north into Glen Dochart. A tiny hidden lake (called "the Wee Lochan" by locals) nestled at the very crook of the pass. Be prepared for all sorts of weather if you proceed this far, and take a jacket and raingear no matter how sunny and warm the day. The rocks at the top of the pass act like a wind tunnel, funneling the wind right at your face as you approach the top.
        At the pass you gain another spectacular view, this time of the mountains and valleys to the north and the Highlands for which the local tribes fought and died. Standing at the top of the pass, you can well imagine the wildness of the people that settled this land in ancient days.
        You have earned a picnic at the pass. But you may have to seek the shelter of a boulder or a depression in the hillside to get out of the ever-present wind.
        Before moving on, walk at least part way around the lochan, looking up (east) at the escarpment reaching up 100 meters or so to the cliff top known as "Irishman’s Leap" (ask a local about the Irish whisky smugglers who gave this place its name). Good walkers will want to scramble up the shoulders (do not climb the cliff face) to Irishman’s Leap—the view gets better the higher you climb.

THE WEE LOCHAN & IRISHMAN'S LEAP

BACK DOWN TO BALQUHIDDER OR ON TO GLEN DOCHART
        If you have had enough of an outing, or the weather is becoming threatening, descend to Balquhidder the way you came.
        With good weather conditions, those looking for more walking in a more remote landscape will want to descend north from the pass into Glen Dochart, the broad east-west valley that extends from Crianlarich to Killin.
        Initially, the path peters out, leaving hikers to find their own way across tufted grasslands and in and out of ravines. Stay to the right of and well above the dominant descending stream, Ledcharrie Burn, traversing the hillside to avoid the steepest ravines. Eventually, a path forms among the sheep trails that crisscross the hillside. It continues the northward descent into Glen Dochart, eventually passing beneath a graceful arch of the abandoned railway that once connected Crianlarich with both Perth and Stirling.

THE ABANDONED RAILWAY VIADUCT IN GLEN DOCHART NOT FAR FROM TRAIL'S END.

        Now the descent is finished, and you enter the valley’s bottomland at Ledcharrie Farm. The trail passes among the farm buildings across a barnyard that can be boggy and mucky. Just beyond the farmhouse is the A85, the road between Crianlarich and Lochearnhead. There’s a trail sign here along the road indicating the route to Kirkton Glen and Balquhidder, and a lay-by for cars. If you have arranged to be collected at the end of the walk, you should meet your ride here. (There’s also a fast-running stream here where you can wash off your boots!).

TIMES:
    • Balquhidder—The Pass: 90-120 min. moderately steep ascent
    • The Pass to Irishman’s Leap Summit: 15-20 min. steep ascent
    • The Pass—Ledcharrie Farm (Rt. A85): 2.5-4 hours moderately steep descent

DIFFICULTY RATING — Scale of H (easy) to HHHHH (hard or expert):
    • Balquhidder–The Pass (4-5 hrs. round-trip): HHH
    • Balquhidder–Glen Dochart (4.5-7 hrs. one-way): HHHH

ADVISORY:
        One word of caution about the instructions for the Kirkton Glen portion of this walk. Because of forestry operations, trails and roads can be altered. If you find that the routes have been changed a bit, do not despair. This is a sacred area to local folks. Most of what you read about above will never be done away with, even though there may be extensive activity all around at the lower elevations.

ATOP IRISHMAN'S LEAP ABOVE THE PASS.

        Hiking boots are strongly recommended, for the walk can be steep to the pass and the descent into Glen Dochart can be boggy. In anything but clear, dry weather, don’t attempt this walk without all the proper provisions of an experienced hill walker. This walk is one that demands some stamina for the short but steep climb up to the pass and for the prolonged open-ground descent into Glen Dochart. If you are sure but slow, just take your time going up. The walk is neither extremely difficult nor in any way dangerous except for those caught unprepared for bad weather.

WHAT TO BRING ALONG:
        Take along a picnic lunch with high energy food and plenty of liquid for the top or along the way. Bring raingear, a windbreaker, sweater, compass and a map (Ordinance Survey #51).

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