Trossachs, Loch Katrine, Steamships, Goblins and Bikes

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 - old lady of the Loch!

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. The Trossachs district was the haunt of the highland caterans who found refuge in its maze of hidden glens and lochs, 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.

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

About the Area

The gateway to this wild region was the narrow, rugged opening leading from Loch Achray to Loch Katrine in. From their hideaway in the Trossachs the highland caterans would raid deep into the Lowlands, returning with booty and driving the 'lifted' cattle through the Bealach-nam-Bo, (or ‘pass of the cattle’), near the eastern end of Loch 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 summer to enjoy its unparalleled beauty. The Trosachs, variously said to mean ‘the rough or bristly country’ is, strictly speaking, the name applied to the narrow, thickly wooded, gorge between the Trossachs Pier on Loch Katrine and Loch Achray. The name ' Tr0ssachs ' is now generally applied to the scenic triangle bounded by the head of Loch Katrine, Aberfoyle and Callander.

In recent times, the use of the name  'Trossachs' has even been extended northwards to embrace Strathyre and Balquhidder Glen.

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; cycleway and pony 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 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.

Loch Katrine and The Trossachs road from Callander

From Callander take the A84 north for 1 mile to Kilmahog with its ancient woollen mills and turn left at the Lade Inn 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.

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

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 Loch 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.

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

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.

Brig o' Turk in the Trossachs

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 from 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 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 Loch Venachar to Ben Gullipen with it's TV and communication masts. Toward the western end of the loch 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 loch 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.

 

 

Gallery Scenic Drives Outdoor Activities History & Legend Rob Roy MacGregor Map of Scotland Scottish songs Lyrics Scottish Towns Cities National Park Scotland Loch Lomond Isles Loch Lomond Trossachs Killin & Breadalbane Loch Earn Aberfoyle Aberfoyle Strathyre St Fillans Stirling Balquhidder Glen Castles Loch Katrine Steamer Crieff in Strathearn Scotland Accommodation Loch Tay Scottish Towns Cities Bus Services Balquhidder Glen Hillwalking in Scotland Some Munros in Scotland Bed and Breakfast in Callander Homepage

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