West Highland Way: Trailblazer Ochils and Campsie Fells

 The Trossachs

 Loch Ard
West Highland Way - Map West Highland Way: Footprint Map
 

Photographs of a circular bike ride round Loch Ard Forest

  Loch Spling, Duchray Castle,

Waterfall on Duchray Water, Aquaduct

At
Aberfoyle in the Trossachs Region of Scotland

Pike sculpture at Loch Spling

Pike sculpture at
Loch Spling





Cottages in Loch Ard Forest

Cottages in Loch Ard Forest






Country house in Loch Ard Forest

Country house in Loch Ard Forest





Lodge house for Duchray Castle

Lodge house for Duchray Castle






Loch Ard on the outskirts of Aberfoyle

Duchray Castle

- a 500 year old tower house





Duchray Water

Duchray Water





Bridge over the Duchray Water

Bridge over the Duchray Water





Bridge over the Duchray Water

Bridge over the Duchray Water





Black Linn of Blairvich Waterfall on the Duchray Water

Black Linn of Blairvich

 Waterfall on the Duchray Water




Black Linn of Blairvich  Waterfall on the Duchray Water

Black Linn of Blairvich

Waterfall on the Duchray Water





Black Linn of Blairvich  Waterfall on the Duchray Water

Black Linn of Blairvich

Waterfall on the Duchray Water





Duchray Water

The Duchray Water



Site of Duke Murdoch's Castle in Loch Ard

Aquaduct in Loch Ard Forest

Carries water from Loch Katrine to Glasgow




Aquaduct in Loch Ard Forest

Aquaduct in Loch Ard Forest






Loch Ard

Loch Ard






Hills above Loch Ard

Hills above Loch Ard





Ben Lomond







Lochan a' Ghleannain

Lochan a' Ghleannain

 in Loch Ard Forest





Lochan a' Ghleannain

Lochan a' Ghleannain

 in Loch Ard Forest





Lochan a' Ghleannain

Lochan a' Ghleannain

 in Loch Ard Forest




Lochan a' Ghleannain

Lochan a' Ghleannain

 in Loch Ard Forest






Map of Loch Ard

Map of Loch Ard





Map of cycle route round Loch Ard Forest

Map of cycle route round Loch Ard Forest



 


Map of Aberfoyle

Map of Aberfoyle







LOCH ARD CIRCULAR WALK - ROUTE DESCRIPTION:

It is but a 30 minute drive from Milngavie out to Aberfoyle on the A81 and this walk within the Queen Elizabeth Forest Park.
A leaflet used in describing the walk is available from the Forest Park office on the right of the approach road into
Aberfoyle about 100 yards past the Rob Roy Hotel or at the car park at start of the walk.
Drive through the main street of
Aberfoyle and continue straight on alongside the River Forth in the direction of Kinlochard.
In one and a half miles there is a sign to Loch Ard Forest. Take the narrow lane to the left for about half a mile to the large car park.
Four trails radiate from this car park. They are graded by length from 1.5 to 8 miles and each is given a different colour band
which you will find on the waymark posts at the side of the trails.
The red trail, of some 4.5 miles is described.
Leave the car park and follow the track straight ahead signposted ‘Kinlochard’.
There are conifers on either side of the track and a few silver birches in the marshy areas.
It is easy to tell that this is a very wet area because the tree trunks are covered in moss and lichen and the ground is covered in several different species of moss.
A lochan is soon reached where in the shelter of a pine there is a picnic table and bench.
Beyond the lochan the track rises and at the top of the rise is a bench with the following inscription:
“I'm from Alaska with needles blue
“I grow quick and tall and useful too
“I'm sitka spruce”.
Not in the same league as the Romantic poets but a handy way of remembering what this tree is like.
At the tips of the branches, the needles of the sitka spruce really are blue as one can see in the nearby legions of them.
The track winds downhill to Loch Ard.
There are side tracks but ignore them and concentrate on following the waymarker posts with the red band.
Where the track reaches the Loch there is a picnic table and bench and above them on the pines are metal silhouettes of brightly coloured squirrels which children should find entertaining.
They are the first of several sculptures at intervals along the lochside. From here there are beautiful views along the loch.
Turn right — the loch is on your left hand side.
On a rare sunny winter's day, when the deciduous trees on the bank of the loch are bare, the views across the loch are unimpeded and attractive.
On the far
tree-lined shore are three magnificent houses erected perhaps by wealthy Glaswegians in Victorian or Edwardian times.
At its eastern end Loch Ard is linked to a small loch where there is a cluster of substantial houses on its far bank —more Glasgow money?
In front of each is a boat house. The latter are in a sad half-submerged state although the main houses are well maintained.
Just past a cottage named ‘Lochend’, you meet the entrance road where you turn right and ascend gently uphill to the car park.




  Loch Ard Circuit Gallery Photo Gallery :: Aberfoyle & Menteith Hills Gallery Photo Gallery

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Guide Books & Maps - Scotland:-


West Highland Way: Footprint MapWest Highland Way - Map West Highland Way - Map Western Scotland & the Western Isles OS Road Map Northern Scotland OS Road MapSouthern Scotland OS Road MapGlasgow Popular Hills - Map




  

Ochils and Campsie Fells

Glasgow Visitor Guide - Colin Baxter Itchy Insider's Guide to Glasgow Glasgow Footprint Pocket Guide Glasgow Insight Pocket Guide Glasgow Guide Pub Companion Glasgow Scotland's Highlands & Islands - Rough Guide Scotland - Rough Guide

Glasgow Insight Pocket GuideCollins Street Map of GlasgowGlasgow: Then & NowThey belonged to Glasgow Phillips Street Atlas of Glasgow & West Central Scotland Glasgow: The Photographic Atlas100 Hillwalks around Glasgow 50 Walks in Glasgow & SW Scotland

Visit Scotland - Touring Guide Scotland: Where to Stay - Hotels & Guest Houses Scotland: Where to Stay - Bed & Breakfast Rough Guide ScotlandScottish Highlands & Islands - Rough Guide Scotland - Lonely PlanetScotland's Highlands & Islands - Lonley Planet Great Glasgow StoriesGlasgow & Surroundings - Insight Guide

West Highland Way: Official GuideWest Highland Way: Rucksac ReadersWest Highland Way: TrailblazerThe West Highland WayWest Highland Way: Footprint MapWest Highland Way - Map West Highland Way - Map West Highland Way Wet Highland Way - Official Guide

Munro Almanac The High Mountains of Britain and Ireland The Munros: Scottish Mountaineering Club The Isle of Skye The Isle of Arran Wilderness Walks Ski Mountaineering in Scotland

More Wilderness Walks 50 Best Routes on Skye and Raasay Skye - W.A.PoucherMagic of the Munros Mountaineering in Scotland and Undiscovered Scotland by W.H.MurrayA Long Walk on the Isle of Skye

Classic Climbs - Central & Southern Highlands The Isle of Arran Lonely Planet, Walking in ScotlandPathfinder Guide: Skye and NW Highlands WalksPathfinder Guide: Fort William and Glen Coe Walks Rambler's Guide: Ben Nevis and Glen Coe50 Best Routes on Skye and Raasay - Chris Townsend









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