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Places
to visit
Locally...
Continuing north on the B829 road from Kinlochard you travel past Loch Chon on the left, with its attractive picnic
spots and, taking the right hand turn at first T-junction you reach, the road narrows and heads down to Stronachlacher on
the west shores of Loch Katrine.
Turning left at the T-junction, you travel towards Inversnaid. The wild landscape around Loch Arklet, framed by the craggy
peaks of the Arrochar Alps, suddenly drops down to the shores of east shores of Loch Lomond (the largest body of natural freshwater
in the UK). The road descends steeply for 300ft to reach Inversnaid, with its beautiful waterfall & rock pools.
ABERFOYLE (7 miles)
Green Gallery - has 7-8 exhibitions each year from both established artists & craftsmen, and new graduates. Paintings
& craft items for sale. Scottish Wool Centre
- tells you the story of Scottish Wool, weaving exhibitions, sheepdog demos with ducks & sheep, various shows,
clothing, gifts & local foods for sale, coffee shop. Queen Elizabeth Forest Park Visitor Centre (David Marshall Lodge) - includes exhibitions
introducing the Forest Park, shop, restaurant & picnic site. On A821, 1 mile north of Aberfoyle. SPFA World of Football Museum - football memorabilia.
INVERSNAID RSPB NATURE RESERVE (8 miles)You can explore the reserve by walking along the West Highland
Way on the shores of Loch Lomond from the Inversnaid Hotel, or by taking the nature trail up through the
woods to spectacular viewpoints on the woodland edge. LAKE OF MENTEITH (11 miles)  This is Scotland's only Lake (apparently
due to the misunderstanding of an early mapmaker!). You'll find picnic areas along the picturesque eastern shore where
you will hopefully see some of the local wildlife, particularly aquatic plants & wildfowl. Beautiful Inchmahome Priory,
which briefly housed Mary Queen of Scots, is set on an island in the middle of the lake, and reached by motorboat from a carpark
on the B8034, just south of Port of Menteith. Open April to end of September.
TROSSACH'S PIER (A821 from Aberfoyle - 11 miles)
Visit the centre, souvenir shop with a restaurant and bike hire
facilities (from Katrinehwheelz'' at Pier) or enjoy a walk or cycle along the east side of Loch Katrine with the wonderful
views of Ben Venue. The Sir Walter Scott steamship runs tourist cruises on the Loch from Easter to October.
CALLANDER
(17 miles)
Rob Roy & Trossachs Visitor Centre - includes exhibitions & film on the notorious & colourful character, Rob
Roy MacGregor. Open daily Mar-Dec, and weekends only Jan & Feb. Kilmahog & Trossachs Woollen Mills - at Kilmahog, 1 mile north of Callander
on A84, including a working water wheel & weaving shed. Large mill shops and coffee shop. Also visit Hamish, the friendly
resident Highland Cow! Falls of Leny -
A84, 2 miles north of Callander - the turbulent waters of the Garbh Uisge constrained by the narrow Pass of Leny. Haunt of
dippers & grey wagtails. Bracklinn Falls
- off Bracklinn Road, Callander. 0.75 mile walk from carpark to stepped falls in impressive wooded gorge.
____________________ Further
afield...
GLENGOYNE
DISTILLERY (A81 towards Glasgow - 20 miles)
Established in 1833, there are regular tours of the whisky heritage room & shop. Open daily all
year.
LOCH LOMOND
SHORES (21 miles)
A mixed
leisure & retail complex opened in July 2002 to coincide with the opening of the Loch Lomond & Trossachs National
Park, Scotland's first National Park. It has a giant screen drama, viewing galleries and 70,000sq ft of shopping, restaurants
& bars. Open daily. Located at Balloch (foot of Loch Lomond). BLAIR DRUMMOND SAFARI & LEISURE PARK (on A84, just south of Doune - 23 miles)
There are wild animal reserves, pets farm, sea lions shows,
boat safari, adventure playground, picnic & BBQ areas at this site. Opens April to early October. STIRLING (26 miles) Wallace Monument - tribute to Scotland's 13th century
heroic freedom fighter, Sir William "Braveheart" Wallace. 220ft tower, one of Scotland's fine viewpoints. Open
all year. Stirling Castle
- grand castle on high rocky outcrop, with restored Great Hall & medieval kitchen reconstruction. Open all year.
Old Town - clustered beneath the city walls, with cobbled streets,
historic buildings, coffee shops, restaurants & museums
GLASGOW (35 miles)A vibrant city with
probably the best selection of restaurants & bistros outside London, superb shopping and lots of places of interest.
LOCHEARNHEAD (35 miles)
Located on the A84 at the west end of Loch Earn, this is one of Scotland's
premier centres for watersports. KILLIN (43 miles)Beautiful village at the southern end of Loch Tay, straddling the spectacular
Falls of Dochart, with several craft and coffee shops.
EDINBURGH (50 miles) A beautiful
city, rich in historic sites, and excellent shops & restaurants.
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