Recommended Walking Routes in The Trossachs
Described as the Highlands in miniature, the scenery around the Trossachs is wonderful. Forest covered slopes, dramatic peaks, waterfalls and lovely walks. If you are reasonably fit, you could climb Ben Venue or Ben A'an on the Southern shores of Loch Katrine or Ben Ledi, North of Callandar to be rewarded with unbeatable views. The Highland Boundary Fault is the reason for all the hills in the landscape. It is a geological fault separating 2 physiographic regions: The Lowlands and Highlands of Scotland. 520 to 400 million years ago, the Highland Boundary Fault was formed as a result of a plate tectonic collision.
The Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National has many walking paths including Long Distance Walks such as the West Highland Way. The West Highland Way connects the Central Lowlands with the Highlands. It starts in Milngavie nearby Glasgow and passes the Highland Boundary Fault. After 151 km (96 miles) it finishes in Fort William in the Highlands.
The route passes beautiful sceneries including lochs, glens, woodlands, moors and historical villages. Each year more than 70,000 walkers walk this route along Loch Lomond, Ben Lomond, Rannoch Moor Glencoe and Glen Nevis. In average the whole route takes about 5 to 8 days depending how many miles you want to walk every day. Milngavie, Fort William, Crianlarich, Tyndrum, Bridge of Orchy and Inverarnan provide public transport such as buses or trains.
 The Rob Roy Way is another long distance route and passes the Southern Highlands along beautiful countryside and historical villages. It starts from the village of Drymen and passes Aberfoyle, Callander, Strathyre, Killin and some other villages until it reaches Pitlochry after 92 miles (148 km). The route leads you through the Rob Roy Country which has lovely lochs, Glens and woodlands. The paths go along the Loch Ard Forest, Loch Venachar, Loch Lubnaig, Loch Earn and Loch Tay. If you enjoy hillwalking you can combine this route with walks to Ben Ledi or Ben Lawers which are on the Rob Roy Way. A stop at Balquhidder nearby Bonny Strathyre is a must even though it is not on the official route. This is where the Scottish folk hero Rob Roy MacGregor lived and is buried.
This easy walk leads you through the heart of the Trossachs where also another popular figure, Sir Walter Scott, lived . The Rob Roy Way is an easier walk than the West Highland Way and also not as much promoted as some other long distance routes in Scotland. Therefore you can be sure that it gives you the most authentic impressions of the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park.
Below you can find some recommended short distance walking routes around the Trossachs. These are mainly on well defined forest tracks and trails and some are waymarked and accompanied with a map available from the Tourist Visitor Centres. If you are more interested in hillwalking click here.
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Starting on the Glen Finglas Road at Brig O'Turk with the village hall on the right and the Brig O'Turk Tea Room on your left, this walk climbs steeply winding its way through oak, birch & alder woodland with views over the reservoir & dam.
The terrain changes to open farmland leading to an open view of the Glen Finglas Estate. From here you follow the route to Balquhidder along a track meandering thru ancient trees above the Gleann nam Meann Burn to the head of the Glen, at its highest point you are 600m above Moine nan Each or "bog of the horse", the views on a clear day are spectacular.
The track descends steeply into Glen Finglas with amazing views of Ben Ledi, the reservoir & glen; once part of an ancient medieval hunting forest. Continue over the pedestrian bridge over the Finglas Water and follow the burn side track which will eventually bring you back to Brig O'Turk.
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Distance: 15 miles (24 km)
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Type of Walk:
Strenuous
Trundler Stop:
Brig O'Turk
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Height Gain: 1650ft (500m)
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Walking Time: 5-6 hours
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Starting from Tigh Mhor (an imposing 'Castle Looking' Stone Building overlooking Loch Achray) make your way west towards the woods that spread up the hill (opposite a small carpark).
The path up to Ben A'an starts here with no warm-up as you start with a climb, passing through Larch plantations and mixed woodlands all the while walking beside the (at times) fast flowing Allt Inneir Burn. The route is varied with a lot of scrambling up rocks, but perservere as the constantly changing views are worth the clambering.
The final assault is the most challenging, weaving at times through a constantly changing and rocky stream. Ben A'an must have one of the most rewarding views in terms of effort & time put in. Weather & time of day permitting you may be lucky enough to see the 100 year old SS Sir Walter Scott sailing up Loch Katrine and in the distance the distinctive crabby top of the Cobbler.
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Distance: 3 miles (5.5 km)
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Type of Walk:
Strenuous
Trundler Stop:
Tigh Mhor
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Height Gain: 2100ft (640m)
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Walking Time: 2-3 hours
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From the main road walk into the Loch Achray Hotel grounds into the Queen Elizabeth Forest Park following the path along Achray Water. Bear left at the first fork following the track until it crosses, cross over the next junction and follow track when it forks to the right continuing through the forest. Once out of the forest you will head over open hillside, which turns uphill at the 1st of 2 cairns on the way to the summit.
On a clear day it is hard to beat Ben Venue as a viewing point, looking back you will still be able to see where you started from as well as The Cobbler, Beinn Bhreac, Ben Lomond, Ben Lui, Ben Ledi, Ben Lawyers and Meall nan Tarmachan, the Arrochar Hills, Dumgoyne and the Campsies as well as Callander. Lochs include Arklet, Katrine Achray, Venacher.
If you have left your vehicle at the Loch Achray Hotel or are using the Trundler you will have to return by the same route you came. However, it is possible to continue walking to eventually come out at Ledard Farm at Kinlochard (5 miles on from the village of Aberfoyle).
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Distance: 7.5 miles (12 km)
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Type of Walk:
Strenuous
Trundler Stop:
Achray Hotel
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Height Gain: 2100ft (640m)
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Walking Time: 5-6 hours
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