Attractions in
and around the Trossachs
The Trossachs is a unique area, as it has so much to
offer amongst the magnificent Highland scenery that inspired the
likes of Sir Walter Scott, Wordsworth and Coulridge the English
Poets in the early 19th century. Here we give you details of the
main visitor attractions in the area that are well worth
visiting.
Loch Katrine Pier Complex
  
The perfect place to enjoy the timeless beauty of
The Trossachs.
Classic Steamship Cruises on the world famous Sir Walter
Scott - with accessible on board facilities and panoramic
lounge. Sailings to Stronlachnachar and 1 hour afternoon
cruises. Daily departures from 1st April to 31st October 2010.
First sailings depart Trossachs pier at 10.30am.
The Scottsland Cruise: Celebrating the 200th anniversary
of Sir Walter Scott's poem 'Lady of the Lake'. Enjoy the
magnificent landscapes which inspired the famous author on this
special cruise. Daily departures at 2.30pm from the Trossachs
Pier (22nd May to 6th June and 26th June to 28th September
2010).
Family Cycling Adventures: Hire the bike of your choice
and enjoy a different view of Loch Katrine, or stroll by the peaks of Ben A’an and Ben
Venue. Watch out for wildlife - or find a quiet spot to stop for
a picnic.
Browse through Katrine Gifts to select a souvenir of your
visit, then relax in The Anchor’s Rest. Stop for a coffee and a
freshly-baked scone, or linger over an evening meal and a glass
of wine as the sun sets behind the hills of The Trossachs.
Plan your Loch Katrine experience at
www.lochkatrine.com or
call (01877) 332000 for information and advance bookings.
Cruises depart from Trossachs Pier every day from 10:30am. (7
mls from Aberfoyle; 10 mls from Callander).
 Loch Lomond Shores is Scotland’s most spectacular visitor
destination. Located on the banks of Loch Lomond it offers
visitors a unique mix of shopping, leisure and dining
experiences. Shopping includes Jenners department store as well
as high street names and boutique style shops. Leisure
activities include a children’s adventure playpark, outdoor
amusements, bike, canoe and pedal boat hire and the Loch Lomond
Sealife Aquarium. There are two cafes as well as the Kilted
Skirlie restaurant at Loch Lomond Shores, all offering a wide
range of modern Scottish fayre as well as fantastic views of the
loch. Throughout the year there is also a packed calendar of
events – see website for details. Free parking. Loch
Lomond Shores, Ben Lomond Way, Balloch G83 8QL. Tel 01389
751035.
www.lochlomondshores.com.
 Blair Drummond Safari and Adventure Park:
Drive through our wild animal reserves and see rhinos (inc. baby
Mazumba), giraffes, elephants, lions, tigers, bears, zebra,
bison and Lemur Land! Enjoy our sea-lion shows and bird of prey
displays. Take a boat trip to visit our chimps on their island.
Restaurant, café, picnic and barbecue areas. Disabled access and
parenting facilities. Open Mar - 31 Oct 2010. Adult £11.50,
Children (3-14 yrs incl.)/Seniors/Special Needs/Carers (with ID)
£8.00 Under 3’s free. 4 miles from Stirling on A84.
www.blairdrummond.com
Tel: 01786 841456
Glengoyne Distillery
Often described as Scotland’s Most Beautiful Distillery,
Glengoyne is open all year for guided tours, whisky tastings and
in depth blending & Masterclass sessions. Enjoy a taste of
Glengoyne Single Highland Malt whisky, watch a short video
presentation and see how the perfect dram is created. Before you
leave, browse our superb shop which is full of different
whiskies, gifts and collectables. Guided tours hourly from
10am-4pm Mon to Sat and from 12pm-4pm on Sundays. 13 miles south
of Aberfoyle on A81.
www.glengoyne.com Tel: 01360 550254.
Scottish
Real Ales: Located at the Lade Inn, we
stock the largest range of bottled Scottish beers, gift packs
and merchandise under one roof, anywhere in the country. Come
along to a place where you can purchase that elusive bottle from
the Hebrides or that delicious blonde from Islay. Featuring 130
products from 30 micro breweries spanning Scotland from Shetland
to the Borders. We hold a Beer
Festival every year (Fri 27th August to Sun 5th September 2010) and have tastings throughout the summer
weekends so you can try before you buy! The Lade inn, Kilmahog,
Callander FK17 8HD (junction of the A84/A821.
Tel: 01877 330152
www.scottishrealales.com
The Hill House
is a stunning example of Charles Rennie Mackintosh's domestic
architecture and stunning design and said to be his finest
domestic creation. This traditional Scottish home is
complimented by a beautiful garden , sympathetically restored to
the early Mackintosh design suggestions. Tearoom and vibrant
design-led gift shop. A second shop specialises in Mackintosh
inspired goods and books of architectural and historical
interest. Parking and disabled access. Open 1 Apr to 31 Oct
daily 1.30 - 5.30pm. Upper Colquhoun Street, Helensburgh. Tel:
0844 4932208.
www.nts.org.uk
Deanston Distillery rests on the banks of the River Teith,
with the stunning Trossachs
countryside and the foothills of Ben Ledi in close proximity.
Home to Scottish Leader Blended Scotch Whisky and the Deanston
12 year old Single Malt Scotch Whisky. The distillery is open
for tours, by appointment and there is a distillery
shop selling the whiskies and branded merchandise including polo
shirts & fleeces. Shop Open Mon-Thurs 10am-4.00pm, Fri
10am-2.00pm. Closed 12.30pm to 1.00pm for lunch. Before reaching Doune (from Stirling), turn left
before the bridge and turn right to the distillery. Tel: 01786
841422.
www.burnstewartdistillers.com
 Sweeneys
Cruises : Enjoy Loch Lomond in all its seasonal beauty in
style and comfort on one of our luxurious passenger boats. Take
the 1 Hour Experience Tour (11.30, 1.30, 2.30 3.30 and also 4.30
in the summer months). 2 Hour Island Discovery Cruise (1pm -
3pm) or the Evening Sunset Cruise (7pm July and August). All
trips subject to demand. Whether for business or pleasure, we
will endeavour to make it a day to remember. Located in the
centre of Balloch, by Balloch Train Station (G83 8SW) Tel: 01389
752376.
www.sweeneyscruises.com. Click
here for cruise information and to book tickets.
Loch Lomond Bird of Prey Centre. Learn
about the rescue and conservation of birds of prey where you
will see a various range of breeds including owls, hawks,
buzzards, falcons and eagles. Additional activities range from
'The Flying Experience' to a full 'Introduction to Falconry' day
(additional fees apply). Situated at the rear of the Loch Lomond
Homes and Gardens Centre and open all year from 9.30am to 5pm
(summer) and 10.30am - 3.30pm (winter). Admission: Adults £3.50,
children/concessions £2.50, families £8-£14. Under 5's free.
Tel: 07751 862416. Situated at Ballagan, on the A811 to
Stirling, just 1/2 mile past Balloch. .
www.lochlomondbirdofprey.co.uk Number 9 on the map
The David Marshall Lodge
Visitor Centre (FK8 3SX) is the ideal location for a
family adventure. The centre is one of the most popular
locations within Queen Elizabeth Forest Park and Loch Lomond &
the Trossachs National Park. The site has the longest zip line
in the UK, as part of the Go Ape high wire course. You can enjoy
fabulous walks to the waterfall, or enjoy a cycle on the Loch
Ard Family Sculpture Trails. We have a wildlife room were you
can watch live and recorded footage of Ospreys and Squirrels.
The views and food in the Bluebell café are a worth the visit in
itself. In addition to the café the site is also ideal to have a
picnic.
Opening hours vary:
Feb
&March 10am-4pm, April, May, June 10am-5pm July-August 10am-6pm
Sept-Oct 10am-5pm, Nov-Dec 10am-4pm.The
David Marshall Lodge (FK8 3SX) is situated on the A821 just
outside Aberfoyle. From Stirling/Callander, follow the A81 to
Aberfoyle via DukesPass.
For more details look at
www.forestry.gov.uk/qefp
or Tel 01877 382258.
Strathyre (meaning sheltered valley) is situated 8 miles north
of Callander, in between Callander and Balquidder. St Columba
and St Cuthbert both stayed here on their journeys around
Scotland. It is a very popular stop off point for travelers and
affords a good selection of food outlets and places to stop and
watch the world go by. It is an ideal base from which to explore
Balquhidder and Rob Roy country. With the coming of the railway
in the 19th Century, stopping by the west shore of Loch Lubnaig,
it forced the village to move to its present site on the east
bank of the river. Wildlife enthusiasts can spot deer, osprey
and eagles among other specimens. In the late summer and Autumn,
the woods and forest are adorned with berries and wild
mushrooms.
 Balquidder
Glen has been important to Scottish history since neolithic times. Below the Manse there are remains of a stone
circle, the Pudreag Stone, and there is a Neolithic chambered
cairn further east. Robert the Bruce defied Edward I of England,
and escaped through the glens. He rallied the surviving men in
his army and won back Scottish independance at Bannockburn in
1314. There is a Bruce Cave (one of many), above Loch Voil at
Craigruie in Balquhidder glen where he reputedly hid. The
MacGregors made their first appearance in Balquhidder Glen after
losing their ancestral lands in GlenStrae to the Campbells.
There is a small ruinous MacGregor burial ground at the head of
Loch Doine at the foot of Glencarnaig. The first burial here was
early 18th century. Balquidder Glen is also famed for being the
home of Rob Roy Macgregor. He died here in 1734 and was laid to
rest in the churchyard. Follow signs to Balquidder from the A84
which takes you to and from Callander.
Clan MacLaren’s Gathering Point. In times past,
Clan MacLaren occupied these lands. When under threat, runners
would be sent throughout the clan’s territory to rally the
clansmen with their weapons to this point, known as ‘Creag an
Tuirc’ (Rock of the Boar). A short walk from Balquhidder Church
and Rob Roy’s grave. Stop at the Kingshouse Hotel for a free
walk guide to find your way.
The Moss Lairds. The 35,000 acre swamp of the
Flanders Moss was impenetrable except for a few desperate
outlaws & the MacGregors who used secret tracks & causeways to
escape back into the Highlands after their Lowland raids. Learn
how in 1768 the Moss Lairds where given 38 year leases to clear
the Moss. The descriptive plaque is located in the centre of
Thornhill. Park at the Post Office and walk across to the far
corner of the playing fields, then follow the path for 30m to
the plaque.
Accommodation / Visitor Attractions / Loch Lomond / Helensburgh / Balloch / Callander / Aberfoyle & the historic trail / Queen Elizabeth Forest Park / Kippen & Trossachs Villages / The Village of Killin and its Historical trail / Historic Attractions / Doune / Eating Out / Shops, Gifts and Galleries / Sport, Walks and Leisure / What's On / Maps | 
