Two lochs walk

Posted on June 17, 2023 by Hilary Robertson

One challenge of living in The Trossachs is deciding which of the many options to take for a walk in lovely countryside on a fine summer’s day. This was my dilemma last week when I found myself with time to spare on a wonderfully sunny afternoon. I hadn’t been to Loch Drunkie for a while so a walk there seemed a good option, and returning by Loch Venachar made for a good circular route. The walk was a whisker over six miles and took a couple of hours at a leisurely pace with plenty of stops to admire the view.

I began by crossing Brig o’ Michael and joining the Three Lochs Forest Drive at Achray Farm. Turning left towards Loch Venachar, I followed the drive for about a mile then turned off to the right onto a rough path leading uphill through the trees to cut out a long loop of the Forest Drive. After about half a mile I re-joined the Forest Drive near the Loch Drunkie picnic area.

It was still lunchtime when I arrived and the area was busy with other walkers and visitors stopping on their tour of the Forest Drive to admire the view and enjoy a picnic. Their peace was somewhat disturbed when a pickup with a large trailer rolled up and disgorged two workers with strimmers and industrial mowers. I felt sorry for them in all their protective gear on such a hot day. They quickly set to with their noisy machinery, so I left them to it and headed back into the quiet of the forest.

I took a shady path along the shore of the northern ‘arm’ of the loch which forms part of the Loch Drunkie Trail (more about this trail here). The path cuts through the trees high above the waterline at the start before descending eventually towards the water. There’s access to the shore at several points and plenty of convenient boulders on which to sit and admire the view.

The remainder of the Loch Drunkie Trail doubles back to return through the forest to the picnic area, but I continued on along the lochside to the dam at the northern end of the loch. All the way, iridescent-blue damselflies darted around my feet, sometimes settling on stones at the side of the path. Despite all my attempts to snap a photo, they were too fast, flying off immediately I approached.

Leaving Loch Drunkie and its dam behind, I continued north along a minor path heading downhill through the forest. Before long, Loch Venachar was visible through the trees and I emerged onto the Aberfoyle to Callander section of National Cycle Route 7 (NCR 7).

After following the shore for a while, the path leads past the Black Water Marshes, a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), important as a flood plain and freshwater habitat.

The tree-lined path then continues on for another half a mile before joining the Three Lochs Forest Drive and the remainder of my walk followed the Drive back towards Brig o’ Turk.

Near the end of the walk, I passed again through Achray Farm and was greeted by goats lazing in the sun. The farm’s ice cream kiosk was open and, luckily for me as someone who isn’t an ice cream fan (yes, there are such people!), it also sells sorbets. I rounded off my walk with a delicious and refreshing raspberry sorbet. A lovely end to a sunny afternoon in the countryside.

Last day of the year. Here’s to 2023

Posted on December 31, 2022 by Hilary Robertson

Hogmanay is a great day for reflecting on the year past and the new one to come. As the first dry day for ages, it was also a welcome opportunity to get outside and stroll along to Loch Venachar through the Great Trossachs Forrest.

Low cloud, ice-fringed water and snow on the hills made for chilly, monochrome views but there was some colour in the landscape in the shape of a pair of intrepid canoeists exploring the loch from the water.

Two years ago, Scotland was in festive lockdown and the usual Hogmanay celebrations could not take place. Instead, a light show with drones and poetry marked the end of a difficult year and the hope for a new and better one for us all. While much of life has returned to normal, many of these sentiments are just as valid now, so here is another look at the wonderful Hogmanay Light Show of 2020 with words by poet and former Makar Jackie Kay, music by Niteworks and readings by some very well known voices including Siobhan Redmond and David Tennant.

Bliadhna Mhath Ùr!

The difference a day makes

Posted on December 29, 2020 by Hilary Robertson

Walks around Brig o’ Turk are many and varied and the ever-changing weather simply makes things more interesting. Two walks around Loch Venachar, on consecutive days, were quite different experiences.

Walk 1 was a waterproof and welly-boot walk with mud and snow the order of the day. Walk 2 was dry, crisp and icy so that walking boots – and sunglasses – were essential. The best advice we can offer visitors planning a walk in this particular Park (Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park) is to come prepared for everything. 😉

A walk on Lendrick Hill

Posted on January 29, 2020 by Hilary Robertson

The first few weeks of the new decade have been mostly wet and fairly miserable so a brief spell of fine weather and sunshine recently was the perfect excuse to get outside. And what better way to blow off the cobwebs than with a short hillwalk around the village on a route that offers panoramic views of the surrounding countryside.

For guests at Tigh a’ Mhaide, the Lendrick Hill walk begins at the door. Turning east on to the road through the village, the walk follows the pavement as far as it goes before continuing along a path and crossing the A821 at the eastern edge of Brig o’ Turk. Once on the north side of the road, the path divides and boardwalks lead both right and left. Here, our walk turns right and follows the signposted path for Lendrick Hill and the Woodland Trust for Scotland (WTS) visitor gateway.

For most visitors, the Lendrick Hill walk begins when they park beside the WTS visitor gateway but guests at Tigh a’ Mhaide can walk there. Lendrick Hill rises behind the gateway.

The cylindrical shape of the wood-clad visitor gateway reminds me of an iron-age broch, though, given it was created by the Woodland Trust, perhaps the allusion is intended to be to tree trunks. The gateway is open from April to October. In addition to leaflets, maps and information about the Trust’s work in the area, it offers a children’s play corner and toilets.

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Local peak among top views in Scotland

Posted on August 20, 2019 by Hilary Robertson

Visit Scotland has ranked the view from the top of local peak Ben A’an at number five on its list of top 12 iconic Scottish views.

Ben A’an is a popular walk with visitors to The Trossachs. At 1491 feet (454m), it’s not the highest hill in the area but is a favourite with visitors because of its accessibility and stunning view. Its distinctive triangular peak towers above the Trossachs Kirk on the shores of Loch Achray and from the top, there’s a panoramic view over almost the entire length of Loch Katrine with Ben Lomond beyond to the west. Ben Venue is directly opposite to the south and to the east are Lochs Achray and Venachar.

Seen from the peak of Ben A’an, Loch Katrine stretches away into the distance. Image credit: J S Cox

You can see the full list of 12 iconic Scottish views on the Visit Scotland website here and there’s a detailed description of the Ben A’an walk on the excellent Walk Highlands website here.