Motorcycle Routes in The Trossachs National Park..The Trossachs Scotland
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Port of Menteith, Drymen, Loch Lomond, Arrochar, Inverary, Dalmally, Glen Dochart.
This
circular route of about 130 miles can be joined at any point, but is described beginning
at Callander.
The short blue route over Glen Douglas makes an interesting diversion, on a twisting single track hill road reaching 500 feet above loch Long.
The longer blue route can be used as an alternative to exclude the western part and reduce the overall distance to about 95 miles, but include a visit to the Falls of Falloch in Glen Falloch north of Inverarnan.
Directions
At the traffic lights in the centre of Callander take they A81 through Bridgend turning left at the mini roundabout and remember you are still in a 30 limit past the school grounds. At the end of a long straight the road takes a sharp right turn then twists and turns through the woods for about three miles, the last of these three miles being a series of nasty downhill turns leading to a T-junction. At the T-junction turn right and after about a mile reach the small hamlet of-
Port Of Menteith where you can visit the Lake of Menteith and the Priory of Inchmahome, where Mary Queen of Scots spent her childhood. Continuing through Port of Menteith another four miles brings you to at T-junction just beyond a golf course - turn left here. Follow this road for about six miles to reach a complex junction where you take the right turn signposted " Loch Lomond ''. Six miles on this road brings you to-
Drymen where you may turn right and through the village of Drymen to take a short detour on the scenic east shore of Loch Lomond to Rowardennan, the popular starting point for the walk up Ben Lomond.
Just beyond the village of Drymen, a sweeping left-hand bend leads over a bridge and beyond the bridge take a right turn then continue for about seven miles to-
Balloch where you can visit the Loch Lomond shores complex. Continue through Balloch to the roundabout at the A82. Turn right here to follow an excellent dual carriageway (speed cameras) with occasional stretches of single carriageway for about 15 miles to
Tarbet. Don't miss the view here looking over the Loch to Ben Lomond. At Tarbet take a left turn on to the A 83 (speed cameras) for the short trip to-
Arrochar. Arrochar at the head of Loch Long has two claims to fame, the Cobbler mountain, and is an excellent scuba diving Centre. Continue through Arrochar round the head of the loch and in a couple of miles the road takes a sweeping right hand turn to begin the climb of about four miles to the summit aptly-named ''rest and be thankful''. Pause here for a moment to admire the view back down the glen. Continue now for 15 miles of good open road with a sweeping bends before passing the Castle of Inverary to enter the village of the same name.
Inverary. At Inverary visit the castle, the old prison and the Steam Puffer Ship at the pier. Back on the road, drive under the arch on the A819 signposted Dalmally. 14 miles later come to a T-junction at the A85 close to-
Dalmally. Kilchurn Castle is only 400 yards to the left at this point and as well was the visit. This was the base of the Campbell's of Glenorchy for centuries. Heading east now on the A 85 we pass through the village of Dalmally for an 11 mile drive through the splendid scenery of of Glen Lochy with many long straights, mostly sweeping bends but a few bad bends, to the village of-
Tyndrum. Tyndrum is an excellent centre from which to tackle some of the splendid mountain walks, like Ben Lui, and Ben Dorain. Two pleasant restaurants here can provide a welcome break. Continue on the A84 through Crianlarich and notice the castle on an island in Loch Dochart on the left the a rounded peak of Ben More on the right (speed cameras next 10 miles). At Lix Toll the road turns sharply to the right to ascend to the top of Glen Ogle for one of the most magnificent views in Scotland down the Glen with its old Railtrack and viaduct and Stuc A Chroin filling the horizon at the bottom of the Glen.
Continue now on the A84 through Lochearnhead (speed camera) past Balquhidder and Strathyre to return to Callander via loch Lubnaig and the pass of Leny.