The Trossachs National Park has many small towns and villages, each having its own unique fascination and all worth a visit. This page describes some of those towns, villages and interesting areas which I personally enjoy visiting.
The villages around Loch Lomond are described separately on the Loch Lomond page
The National Park hotmap will help you to find your way around! The links below lead to information on each place listed.
You can also find a great variety of holiday accommodation, from simple bed and breakfast to a self catering suite in a historic castle.
Strathyre
See the main Strathyre page
6 miles / 15 minutes north of Callander
In the days of the train, the first stop northwest of Callander was Strathyre. The old village was on the other side of the river from where it is now but the appearance of the railway line in the 19th century pushed the village to where it is now on the north side of the river. The village itself is quite attractive, and in a lovely location near the head of Loch Lubnaig. It was made famous through the song 'Bonnie Strathyre'.
The local 'mountain' is Ben Sithean (pron 'shean') - a pleasant steep walk of about 4 miles return trip. A variety of walks may also be had in the woods which cloth both sides of the glen. For the more energetic, an extended walk west past Ben Sithean takes you over via Imeroin farm in Glen Buckie where some interesting ruins of ancient settlements may be seen. The road north down glen Buckie then leads back to Strathyre via the public road on the west side of the river - circular walk distance about 7 miles.
BONNIE STRATHYRE There’s meadows in Lanark and mountains in Skye Oh its up in the morn and awa’ to the hill |
If you like water sports, there's a white water centre on the river at the east end of the village. There's also access to the footpath / cycleway which follows the track bed of the old Dunblane - Oban railway line.
Doune
8 miles / 15 minutes south of Callander
Doune is an interesting village between Callander and Stirling.
It was once famous for the manufacture of pistols and one or two street names reflect this industry.
Shops
Nothing to appeal to me but you might think differently
History
Apart from pistol making, Doune is also known for its castle which is at the east end of the village. The castle is well preserved and has quite a mottley collection of past residents.
The bridge on the main road is said to have been built by James vi of Scotland when the ferryman acted up a bit awkward!
Things to do
- See the Doune Ponds with their wildlife
- Visit the Red Kite Centre
- Take a look around Doune Castle
- Visit the Blair-Drummond safari park between Doune and Stirling. A visit to the park combines a mixture of driving through animal reserves then parking and walking through pets farm, playing in one of the many adventure areas, taking in the sea lion and falconry displays and visiting chimp island. There are many picnic and BBQ areas around the park as well as restaurant and bar facilities.
Brig-o-Turk
See the Brig o' Turk main page
4 miles / 15 minutes west of Callander
Brig o Turk is between Kilmahog and Loch Katrine on the Aberfoyle Road. It's a nice drive from Callander, with some excellent views of Lochs Venachar and Achray. Have a cuppie at the Brig o Turk tearoom.
The unusual name is derived from the Gaelic word 'tuirk' which means 'the boar' and applies also to one of the mountains behind the village.
Shops
Wee Post Office (last time I looked!)
Things to do
- Walk up the road from the tea room and have a look in the old graveyard 200m on the right. There are some interesting stones, and also a wonderfull raised slab featuring a casting of a shepherds crook.
- If you have a mountain bike, carry on up this road, taking the right fork for a wonderful ride up Glen Finglas and the loch of the same name.
- Lots of good walking including Ben A'an and the forest tracks around Loch Achray
Aberfoyle
About 15 miles / 30 min west of Callander via Brig o' Turk and the Duke's Pass
Aberfoyle is an important visitor centre and is fully described on the Aberfoyle page
Inversnaid
On the east shore of Loch Lomond, about 30miles / 1 hour from Callander, 15 miles north west of Aberfoyle
Shops
None, but toilets at the carpark.
Things to do
- Soak up the magnificent views over Loch Lomond
- Walk up the West Highland Way for a mile or so to see Rob Roy's cave.
- Take a sail over the Loch to Tarbet
- Relax beside a splendid waterfall.
- Call in to Stronachlacher at the eastern end of Loch Katrine and see the steamship 'Sir Walter Scott'.
Lochearnhead
About 12 miles / 20 minutes from Callander
See the Lochearn main page
Shops
Groceries, souvenirs and a Tweedie kind of woollens shop.
Things to do
- Walk up the old railway pathway and see magnificent Glenogle as you walk over the famous viaduct 200 feet above the modern road and the military road built by the redcoats.
- Hire a dingy or go water ski-ing on Loch Earn
- Drive down to St Fillans on the old road on the south side of the Loch.
- Climb Ben Vorlich, Stuc a Chroin or walk Glen Ample
Balquhidder
About 12 miles / 25 minutes from Callander (Take a flask and a packed lunch!)
See the Main Balquhidder page
Shops
Seasonal Tearoom
None (no toilets either)
Things to do
- Visit the Grave of Rob Roy MacGregor, his wife, Mary and his two sons, Coll and Robert. You'll find them in the graveyard of the old church. Lots of other interesting grave stones and slabs.
- Walk up the beautiful Kirkton Glen behind the church.
- Drive up Glen Buckie and walk past the ruins of the summer shielings once used by the highland families who thrived here before the Jacobite rising of 1715.
- Picnic by the side of Loch Voil and Loch Doine.
- Park at the head of the glen at Inverlochlarig to climb Ben More and Stobinian. (boots and 4 hours) or take the less energetic walk past the site of Rob Roy's farm to 'Bealach nam Corp' - the pass of the dead by which route the dead of the MacGregor Clan were taken on their last journey to the burial ground at Loch Lomond.
Killin
See also the Breadalbane page with full details on Killin and the surrounding area.
About 22 miles / 30 minutes north of Callander (unless you stop for the view at GlenOgle on the way)
Shops
Antique shop, Art shop, Outdoor sports shop, cafes etc
Things to do
- Call in at the Folklore centre by the Dochart Falls in the restored watermill which houses the 'Healing Stones of St Fillan'.
- Explore Finlarig Castle and the ruined Mausoleum of the infamous Cambells of Breadalbane.
- Go boating or fishing on the river Lochay.
- Bask in the sun??? by the famous Falls of Dochart.
- Investigate the centuries old burial ground of the Clan McNab on the island by the waterfall.
- Drive up GlenLochay and over the mountain pass to GlenLyon.
- Exhaust yourself with a glut of mountain walks to suit all levels of fitness.
Crianlarich See the Crianlarich page
About 20 miles / 30 minutes from Callander via Lochearnhead and Glen Ogle
Shops
One or two but not noteworthy
Things to do
- Good base for climbing Ben More (3843ft), Stob Binnean (3822ft), Cruach Ardrain or the Glen Falloch mountains
The real interest here is the railway station where you can catch a train on the west highland railway to Oban or Fort William.
Comrie
About 28 miles / 45 minutes from the Trossachs. 12 miles east of Lochearnhead A85 via St Fillans
The beautiful village of Comrie in Perthshire, Scotland, lies on the banks of the River Earn nestled on the edge of the Highlands. Comrie is in the heart of the scenic West Strathearn area of Perthshire. Ross in 1869. Recently refurbished, Earthquake House is worth a visit.
Called Victoria by the Romans, Comrie's original Pictish name is said to have been Aberlednock . It was to protect Roman-occupied southern Scotland from Caledonian attacks through the glens that Agricola built his fort at Comrie.Shops
One or two but not noteworthy
Things to do
- Take a drive or a walk up beautiful Glen Artney to the dam.
- Climb Ben Chonzie
- See the devil's Cauldron.
- Take morning tea in the wee shop at the foot of the glen
- Visit the pet's farm
- Visit the Earthquake House.
Arrochar
Arrochar is a lovely wee village at the head of loch long to the west of Loch Lomond. More information HERE.
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The Trossachs - the place to be! Callander - the place to be in The Trossachs.
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