Experiences along the Trossachs Explorer route

There’s miles and miles of spectacular trail runs throughout the Trossachs. Take the Trossachs Explorer and jump off at bus stops along the route to start your next trail running adventure!

@helen.x.outside (IG) has suggested these routes, ranging from 12-20 kilometres. These runs (or walks!) take in woodland, hills, loch shores, and all-important café stops. Enjoy!

• Aberfoyle to Brig o’Turk – 12 km route
• Aberfoyle to Callander – 16 km route
• Loch Katrine to Callander – 20 km route

Aberfoyle

Aberfoyle is an ideal base to explore the National Park from. A popular holiday village, it is well served with a variety of shops, cafes and restaurants. There is also a Changing Places fully accessible toilet at the side of the Aberfoyle Information Centre, Main Street, Aberfoyle.

Just nearby, you’ll find the Scottish Wool Centre, which tells the full story of wool, from sheep to the shops, through live sheep shows and hands-on demonstrations of spinning and working sheepdogs.

Start your adventure right from the main car park with a selection of local paths. Whether you’re looking for a short stroll around the village or a more challenging hill walk, there’s something for everyone.

An easy circular walk from the car park in Aberfoyle takes you up to the top of Doon Hill from the town. Look for an ancient pine in the middle of a clearing. It’s thought to be a doorway to an underground Fairy Queen’s palace, and it is said that if you circle the tree seven times you will be bestowed with good luck.

This circular route is 4.5km and you should allow around 2 hours to complete the walk.

The Lodge Visitor Centre

Forestry & Land Scotland’s The Lodge Forest Visitor Centre has so much to offer. Here visitors can get up close to a wide range of wildlife with live CCTV viewing and a red squirrel viewing hide. The mixed woodlands provide a beautiful setting for over 60 miles of forest walks, cycle tracks, picnic and play areas, as well as a great café and wheelchair accessible toilets.

Or, if you’re feeling adventurous, take in the stunning surroundings of the Queen Elizabeth Forest Park as you fly 46 metres above the ground on two of Britain’s longest zip wires at Go Ape.

Ben Venue

Ben Venue may mean ‘small mountain’ in Gaelic, but be prepared for its steep, rugged slopes! At the summit you are rewarded with stunning views over Loch Katrine and the nearby peaks of Ban A’an, Ben More and Ben Lomond, and beyond Loch Lomond to the Arrochar Alps.

This is an arduous walk and only suitable for fit and experienced walkers. The summit is 2,386 feet and it’s a round trip of 8.5 miles. Find out more about the route at WalkHighlands. Remember to check the return bus timetable before you leave, as the hike to the top and back will take around 6 hours, and you don’t want to miss the last bus!

Alternatively, if the high hills aren’t for you, the short Creag Noran Viewpoint trail gives you a wonderful taste of this much-loved landscape.

The trail is 0.9km long, and it should take around 15 mins to reach the viewpoint from the bus stop. It has an uneven gravel path with some rocky sections and muddy patches. Long slopes with some steep sections – a moderate level walk.

Please note the nearest toilet facilities are at Loch Katrine, a 5 min ride on the bus towards Callander.

Loch Katrine (Trossachs Pier)

Loch Katrine was the inspiration for the famous 19th century poem, The Lady of the Lake, by Sir Walter Scott, and still beguiles visitors some two centuries later. It was here, too, on this eight-mile long loch at the heart of the National Park, that Queen Victoria enjoyed a boat trip in 1869.

Today, visitors can follow in her footsteps on the steamship Sir Water Scott, which was launched in 1899 and still ferries passengers up and down Loch Katrine, or on board the modern cruiser, poignantly named The Lady of the Lake. Please be aware that wheelchair access is only available on board the steamship Sir Walter Scott.

Many people choose to combine a sailing from Trossachs Pier, at the eastern point of the loch, to Stronachlachar on the north-west shore and then cycle back along the northern shore. This road is a private single track and relatively traffic free, however be prepared for the occasional vehicle, other cyclists and walkers. You will ride through Glengyle at the northern end of the loch, which was the birthplace of Scottish outlaw-turned-hero, Rob Roy MacGregor. Bikes are available to hire at Trossachs Pier.

There are cafes at both the Trossachs Pier and Stronachlachar Pier, with a fantastic range of Scottish food and drinks.

The views, whether you sail, cycle or simply walk the shoreline are superb, with the many hills and mountains of the Trossachs providing a beautiful backdrop.

Ben A’an

A path easily leads walkers from the bus stop, on the banks of pretty Loch Achray, to reach the 454m summit of Ben A’an.

Rarely taxing, although a little steep in places, the walk of around 4km might be short but it offers a surprisingly big experience.

For a small hill you’ll enjoy many of the ingredients of a mountain hike, such as atmospheric forest, open moorlands, views of crags and a superb vista of the surrounding landscape at the top. Return on the same path. Allow 2 – 4 hours to complete the walk to the summit and back.

For out more about the trail up Ben A’an.

Brig O’Turk

A small, peaceful village, Brig O’Turk is situated in the heart of the Trossachs.

The surrounding hills and lochs provide a sense of remote Scottish countryside, and a short 1.5 mile walk takes you to the top of the Glen Finglas dam where splendid views are afforded up the glen over the reservoir. Additionally, The Great Trossachs Path runs nears Brig O’Turk, with sections you can join from here.

The village has some wonderful options for refreshments. The bus stops directly outside the Brig O’Turk Tearoom, which offers tasty and wholesome vegetarian food. A short walk down the road takes you to The Byre Inn with its delightful combination of delicious food and eclectic music. Discover the nearby Achray Farm, whose small batch artisan ice creams and sorbets are made from seasonal ingredients and foraged flavours in the Trossachs.

Brig O’Turk offers a unique foodie experience, blending delicious vegetarian cuisine, diverse dining, and artisan treats crafted from local, seasonal ingredients.

Callander

Callander is a bustling tourist town situated on the River Teith, west of Stirling, and gives visitors travelling north their first taste of the Highlands.

Being a busy town, there’s plenty of shops to delve into and tasty options for morning coffee, lunch, afternoon tea or an evening meal. Cycle hire is available if you fancy exploring the area by pedal power with good quality cycle paths nearby.

There are a number of popular walks in the area to explore. The beautiful Bracklinn Falls and the River Keltie have mesmerised people for generations, to the west footpaths and cycle tracks follow the old Callander to Oban railway, and from the summit of the Callander Crags there are spectacular sweeping views over the town of Callander and beyond, to Stirling and the Forth Estuary.