The Trossachs, Scotland.

If you plan to visit the National Park and include the Trossachs in your days out, don't miss
Loch Katrine and Steamship Sir Walter Scott - the old lady of the Loch! See some Old Trossachs Images

The Trossachs and Loch Katrine in Scotland have been known for their scenic attractions ever since Walter Scott wrote 'Rob Roy' and 'The Lady of the Lake' in the early nineteenth century. This was the haunt of the highland caterans who found refuge in its maze of hidden glens, and after whom Loch Katrine is reputed to be named.

This area is a natural playground which caters for all tastes, ages and abilities.

There are walks, cycleways and mountains to climb - see a wealth of wildlife; red deer, roe deer, eagles, red kites and other birds of prey, red squirrels foxes and even the occasional wildcat. See some Old Trossachs Images

Loch Katrine in The Trossachs now has options for a trip on the water: the SS Sir Walter Scott - the old steamer, 'Ellen's Isle', a small cruise launch which reaches the secret corners, and a recent addition to the fleet, 'Lady of the Lake', which was originally a small cruise boat on the river Clyde.

The Trossachs Pier centre also has cycle hire, a cafe and a gift shop.

If you come through Brig o' Turk you might like to stop there at the Byre Inn for a small refreshment on your way to the loch

About the Trossachs

The region known as The Trossachs is probably the most popular area of the National Park for those seeking scenery, walking, cycling and fishing. The Trossachs was originally the name of a very small area but the National Park Authority has given the name  'Trossachs' to the scenic triangle bounded by the head of Loch Katrine, Aberfoyle and Callander and northwards to embrace Strathyre and Balquhidder Glen.

The gateway to the original scenic outdoor playground is the narrow, rugged opening leading from Loch Achray to "Loch Katrine". In ancient times the highland outlaws would raid the Lowlands via The Trossachs, returning with booty and driving the 'lifted' cattle through the Bealach-nam-Bo, (or ‘pass of the cattle’), near the eastern end of 'Lake' Katrine. On the slopes above the south shores is a cave named in the Gaelic ' Coire na Uriusgean'. This translates to 'Goblin's cave' and apart from stories of ghosts and goblins, is also reputed to be one of the hiding places of the old highland rustlers - the 'caterans'.

The ease of access which made The Trossachs and Katrine district attractive to the raiders of old now encourages thousands of motorists to converge on the district every year to enjoy its unparalleled beauty and outdoor activities.

Visit the accommodation page to choose your Trossachs holiday accommodation.

Drive to the Trossachs and Loch Katrine via the Dukes Pass from Aberfoyle

From Aberfoyle take the Callander road (A821) which leads over the Duke's Pass to Loch Katrine. This is a steep climb through some quite nasty bends, so take your time here! The 'Dukes Pass' was built by the Duke of Montrose. Prior to that only a pack horse track led over these hills. About a mile after leaving Aberfoyle, you will find on the right the Queen Elizabeth Forest Park and the David Marshall Centre.

Facilities include a cafeteria; toilets; audio-visual show about the local wildlife; way-marked trails; picnic-places; Trossachs cycleway and Walking trails.

The Highland Boundary Fault passes through here and the Fault Trail pamphlet available from the David Marshall Lodge  explains the geology of the area.
(Access to Park all year. Visitor Centre open all year but hours vary.

About halfway over the pass, on the west side of the road by some huge rocks you'll see access to a parking area. Some wonderful views here and access to a maze of forest roads which allow you to explore the Trossachs forests and visit Loch Drunkie by car.

The road then descends toward the Trossachs and Loch Katrine and further spectacular views are obtained over Lochs Achray, Venachar and Drunkie. Also seen are: Bens Venue, A'an, Ledi, the Glen Gyle hills, Glen Finglas, and away in the distance,  Callander, gateway to The Trossachs.

Loch Katrine and The Trossachs from Callander

From Callander take the A84 north for 1 mile to Kilmahog and the Trossachs woollen mills then turn left at the A821 Trossachs road towards Aberfoyle.  Carry on for about 4 miles and through the hamlet of Brig o' Turk. Soon after Brig o' Turk, another set of winding bends lead you along the north shore of Loch Achray with its famous reflections.

Pass - or visit the picturesque Trossachs Church on your left by the loch

Another few hundred yards and at the end of Loch Achray a road leads off to the right at a sharp bend. This is the Trossachs road which leads after about 1 mile to Loch Katrine.

Loch Katrine of The Trossachs

At the west end of Loch Achray, a narrow road leads away from Loch Achray via the narrow gorge leading to the true heart of the Trossachs and Loch Katrine with it's pier. There is a small fee for the pier car park but the facilities and the views of Loch Katrine are worth it.

At the pier on Lock Katrine there are toilets, a souvenir  and craft shop, cycle hire and a tea room who's dining room has splendid views over the loch. Loch Katrine is some 8 miles long and nearly a mile wide at it's widest. The level of Loch Katrine was raised three times in Victorian days to provide water for Glasgow via 24 mile long twin aquaducts.

A very old photo (about 1860) of the pier and boathouse prior to the raising of the water level may be seen HERE

The road up the side of Katrine is private but from the Trossachs pier car park you may walk or cycle the 11 or 12 mile up the Loch Katrine private road to Stronachlacher.

Cycle hire from Wheels Cycling Centre just outside Callander or Mounter's Bikes in Callander. Bicycles may also be hired at the Trossachs Pier.

A cruise up Loch Katrine on the steamship Sir Walter Scott is an essential part of a day in the Trossachs. The Steamer leaves from the quaintly rustic Trossachs Pier and sails to Stronachlacher at the other end of Loch Katrine in the mornings and provides circular Loch Katrine cruises (without stopping at Stronachlacher) in the afternoons.  See the steamer page for details.

At the southern end of the narrow Trossachs Pass is a car park with views along Loch Achray. From this car park a footpath leads over a small rise to the dam road then over a rustic bridge to forest paths leading to the wild hillsides and ultimately to the top of Ben Venue and the best view you will ever see of the Trossachs and Loch Katrine.

Brig o' Turk

Leave Loch Katrine behind you and return to Loch Achray via the pier road and turn left to pass the little Trossicks Kirk and on towards Brig o' Turk. The road leads past the Ben A'an car park on the right, opposite the signposted track up the hill. This is a stiff 1500 ft climb but worth it for the views, (see walks page).

If you glance back here you find that all trace of Loch Katrine and the entrance to the Trossachs has disappeared, just like the Caterans of old.

Tigh Mhor (Holiday Property Bond) is passed on the left before the road passes close to Loch Achray and the tiny 'Trossachs church' on the right which is also worth a visit.

Continue via this twisting road to the Lovely Trossachs village of Brig o' Turk. The name of the village is derived from the bridge and the mountain behind the village 'Creag an Tuirc'  ('an tuiric' = the boar).

The GlenFinglas road leads up past a beautiful little graveyard and the village school to GlenFinglas - King James iv of Scotland's royal deer forest. There are some excellent walks around here, especially in the GlenFinglas area which is in the process of being re-planted with native woodland. A testing mountain bike route named 'the Mell' provides some excitement for bike enthusiasts.

Loch Venachar and Kilmahog

Further along the A821 you can soak up the views to the south over Venachar to Ben Gullipen with it's TV and communication masts. Toward the western end of the lock you may see InverTrossachs house, once a favourite residence of Queen Victoria.
Near the east end is 'Coille an Togle' farm, another place mentioned in Scott's yarns. A road on the right leads over an old stone bridge (c1777) then a right turn leads to a car park - worth a visit  for the view of the Venachar and  Ben Ledi to the north.

Opposite the Invertrossachs road is a low hill named Dunmore crowned by a well preserved iron age hill fort facing a large Glacial erratic  known as 'Samsons Putting Stone'. These hill overlook the remains of a Roman Camp - Boscastle, on the plain between the two rivers which merge at Callander.

Things to do in The Trossachs

• Visit Loch Katrine leisure complex
• Sail on the Steamer SS Walter Scott
• Walk or cycle by the Loch
• Cycle or walk in the Queen Elizabeth Forest Park
• Fish in any of the lochs
• Go riding at Rednock Farm Pony Trekking & Horse Riding Centre
• Climb Ben A'an
• Find a quiet spot and relax!

Don't forget to visit the old Trossachs steamer SS Sir Walter Scott on Loch Katrine -

 

Callander Homepage

The Trossachs - the place to be! Callander - the place to stay.

Callander in the Trossachs - the place to be in the Loch Lomond National Park