The Trossachs

 You are Here: Scotland; Glasgow; The Trossachs

The Trossachs is an area to the east of Loch Lomond, which I had previously only ever driven through on a grey miserable day. Today, with blue sky and sunshine, and a stiff breeze, I took mum on a walk around the forests near Loch Venachar, also taking in Loch Achray and Loch Drunkie.

Loch Achray

It was actually Loch Achray that we found first. We parked up at Brig O'Turk and set off along the forest road over Brig o'Michael, passing through Achray Farm (home of a Land Rover fan!) and so finding the picturesque shores of Loch Achray. The track is part of a tolled (?) Forest Drive, so there was an occasional car that came up behind us, but not enough to spoil the walk. Across the loch, the small but beautiful Trossachs Church sat in a little hole in the trees, with the turrets and gables of Victorian villas and 'castles' poking out on either side. After about a mile, the track turned from the loch shore and started to climb gently, past a small car park with a view point and on up to the main road. Another forest road forked off just before, and led us deep into the forest.

Loch Drunkie

After stopping at a clearing for lunch, with views across to Brig o'Turk and Loch Venachar, we followed some overgrown forest roads and paths to emerge at the dam of Loch Drunkie. This is a reservoir providing water to the central belt, and has a rather interesting 'Reservoir Warning Sign', just in case you hadn't spotted either the reservoir or the sign...
We then followed another path down through the trees, to pick up the road to the cottages of Invertrossachs, before dropping down onto the cycle track along the shore of Loch Venachar.

Loch Venachar

This is the largest of the three lochs in the forest, but is also a reservoir as the low water level proved. The cycle track winds its way through the trees of the southern shore, passing through patches of dappled sunlight before suddenly emerging on the beach and then diving away inland once more. It is a pleasant stroll, and leads you back to the forest road and so to Achray Farm, from where we made our way back to the car.

On the way back, I had a quick look at the Brig O'Turk, before we took a closer look at the Trossachs Church. We also took a drive up to the extortionate car park at Loch Katrine, but chose not to stop.