Lochs & Waterfalls
Lochs of the Trossachs
Loch Venachar
Stretching from Callander to Brig O’Turk, Loch Venachar is a freshwater loch much loved by anglers and sailors. At 10km long the loch is well stocked with brown trout and pike. A permit is required to fish the loch, and boats can be hired from the bailiff. See here For fishing regulations. Please note that camping is not permitted on the North Shore and you will be moved on by Park Rangers if you are camping illegally. Loch Venachar can be accessed by road from Invertrossachs Road in Callander or the A821 from Kilmahog. Cyclists and walkers can try the 16-mile circuit around the loch, starting at Invertrossachs Road and following the National Cycle Network route 7 and then the Great Trossachs Path.
Loch Lubnaig
A small freshwater loch situated between Ben Ledi and Ben Vorlich, Loch Lubnaig is popular with open water and wild swimmers and provides one of the most beautiful vistas in the National Park. The loch’s relatively calm waters provide ideal conditions for kayaks or Canadian canoes and anglers can fish for wild salmon and trout subject to purchasing a permit. Camp sites are situated at either end of the loch and the Cabin at Loch Lubnaig sells freshly prepared hot and cold food as well as camping and fishing permits. To get to Loch Lubnaig by car, follow the A84 out of Callander towards Strathyre, cyclists and walkers can travel the 9 miles from Callander to the Loch on the National Cycle Network’s Route 7. Please note, Loch Lubnaig drops in depth suddenly. All boat users are strongly advised to wear life jackets and bathing in the loch is not advised for weak or non-swimmers.
Loch Katrine
Sir Walter Scott, inspired by its shores and islands, set his best-known poetic work, The Lady of the Lake, in Loch Katrine. Indeed, his legacy lives on and visitors can cruise the waters of the loch in the steamship Sir Walter Scott which has been ferrying visitors on Loch Katrine since 1900. Many visitors choose to take the boat from Trossachs Pier to Stronachlachar and cycle back along the northern shore, taking in the magnificent scenery as they go. Bike hire is available at Trossachs Pier. Accommodation can be found in one of the 8 lochside Eco Lodges and there are pitches for camper vans at Trossachs Pier and Stronachlachar. To travel by road from Callander, take the A84 to Kilmahog and then the A821 to Brig O’ Turk. The loch is 10 miles from Callander.
Full details of sailings here and Katrine Wheelz bike hire here, or book your tickets at Callander Visitor Information Centre before setting off from Callander.
Loch Voil & Loch Doine
Loch Voil and Loch Doine are separated by a thin layer of fluvial deposits from the nearby Monachyle Burn. They lie amid beautiful scenery in a glen steeped in the legend of Scottish rebel, Rob Roy MacGregor, who is buried nearby in Balquhidder, which lies at the eastern end of Loch Voil. The lochs are best explored by foot or by bike and a single-track road hugs the shores of both lochs for around 6 miles, ending at a small car park where you meet a private fam road. Art lovers can discover LookOut, one of the installations on the BLiSS trail of art and architecture, details of which can be found here. To travel by road from Callander take the A84 north for 11 miles, turn right into Kingshouse and follow the signposts to Balquhidder. Camping (with a permit) nearby can be found at Balquhidder Glen. Camper Van parking and log cabins can be found at Balquhidder Braes.
Loch Tay
Loch Tay is an imposing, dark, stretch of water. One of the deepest lochs in Scotland at 508 ft, it’s the largest loch in Perthshire at 15 miles long. The north side of the loch is dominated by the Ben Lawers mountain range, which is designated as a National Nature Reserve. The loch was first inhabited over 2,500 years ago by iron age, Celtic, settlers. Today 18 of their artificial island homes, or crannogs, are mostly submerged, however a large, surviving, crannog can clearly be seen near the northern shores, at Kenmore. The Scottish Crannog Centre at Kenmore is an authentic recreation of an Iron Age dwelling and provides visitors with a unique insight into daily life in the Iron Age. To get there from Callander take the A84 north to Lochearnhead and continue on the A85. At Lix Toll take the A827 alongside the Loch.
Loch Ard
Located in the Great Forest or Ard, Loch Ard is ideal for open water swimming, kayaking and canoeing. Surrounded by miles of forest trails suitable for walking, mountain biking or horse riding there are a number of family friendly routes clearly marked, including the 4.5-mile Loch Ard Family Sculpture Trails. Other options include the Ben Lomond Viewpoint Trail, the Lochan Spling Trail and a 3.5 mile Cycle Loop. Anglers will find the loch stocked with brown trout, perch and pike and wildlife residents include row deer, red squirrels and capercaillie. Camping nearby is at Loch Chon Campsite. Permits are required and can be booked online here
Loch Chon
Legend has it that Loch Chon is home to its very own kelpie, along with one of the world’s largest population of faeries. For those with more corporeal interests the loch is popular for picnics, cycling, walking, canoeing open water swimming and fishing. A seven-mile trail circuits the loch and provides access, at Ledard Farm, to the hill climbing route to the summit of Ben Venue. Fishing for perch and pike is available all year (with a permit) but the brown trout season is restricted to between March 15th and October 6th. Camping nearby is at Loch Chon Campsite. Permits are required and can be booked online here To travel by road from Callander, take the A81 to Aberfoyle, take the A821 straight through the village and then take the B829 through to Loch Chon.
Loch Earn
Sitting at the eastern edge of the National Park, Loch Earn offers a wealth of activities for water sports enthusiasts. Sailing courses are on offer at Loch Earn Sailing Club or you can bring your own boat and paddle along the length of the loch (6.5 miles). Art lovers can find several of the works included in the BLiSS trail in the settlements along the north shore. A number of well signposted walks start and finish close to the loch such as the St Fillans Viewpoint Circular and the Glen Ogle Trail from Lochearnhead. On these walks, ornithologists may find kingfisher, heron, cormorant, buzzards, red kites and osprey. In the hills you can find mountain hares, red deer and wild goats. Anglers can fish for brown and rainbow trout, with a permit. Camping is allowed, with a permit, along the banks, at 4 sites on the north and two on the south shores. Camper vans and caravans are accommodated at Loch Earn Caravan Park and Drummond Fisheries. Lochearnhead can be found 15 miles along the A84 heading north from Callander.
Lake of Menteith
Scotland’s only lake, Lake of Menteith, is found in the Carse of Stirling some 7 miles south west of Callander. Several small islands sit within the lake and the largest, Inchmahome is home to a 13th century priory, which was visited by Robert the Bruce in between 1306 and 1310. The priory also provided a refuge for Mary Queen of Scots in the weeks following the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh. The priory can be accessed from the Port of Menteith pier by a small, 12-seater, ferry. Anglers will find rainbow and brown trout in the lake, but fly fishing is only permitted from a boat. Open swimming enthusiasts have named the Lake of Menteith as a must-do Scottish wild swim. Those of us who prefer to keep their feet dry will find several picnic spots along the shore where you can admire the nearby Menteith Hills, which have a large network of paths for walkers, trail runners and cyclists. To travel by road from Callander, take the A81 to Port of Menteith then the B8034 towards Arnprior.
Loch Achray
One of the smallest lochs in the Trossachs, Loch Achray sits between Loch Katrine and Loch Venachar. Its location means that it is far quieter than its bigger neighbours. There are plenty of opportunities to spot red squirrel, red deer, pine marten or, possibly, osprey in the surrounding Achray Forest. Popular with anglers, the loch holds sea trout, perch and salmon. The calm waters and reflective light offer photographers the perfect location for shots of the surrounding woodland, Ben A’an and Ben Venue. To travel by road from Callander take the A84, west, from Callander then the A821 at Kilmahog and continue along the Dukes Pass toward Aberfoyle. Parking is at Ben A’an or Ben Venue Car Parks.
Waterfalls of the Trossachs
Bracklinn Falls
One of Scotland’s most exhilarating waterfalls, Bracklinn Falls are located in the woods above Callander. A series of waterfalls on the course of the Keltie Water, where the river crosses the Highland Boundary Fault, they finally cascade down a dramatically deep gorge. Spectacular and not for those with vertigo, the falls should be viewed from the Bracklinn Bridge, suspended above the cascade. To reach the falls either walk from the Bracklinn Falls car park (15-20 minutes) or walk from Callander Main Street (40-45 minutes).
Falls of Leny
The thunderous Falls of Leny are found near the hamlet of Kilmahog, north west of Callander. They can be accessed by walking from Callander town centre along the former railway line starting at the Meadows car park and sign posted to Strathyre. This walk takes around an hour. Alternatively, walk south on the cycle path from the small Ben Ledi car park, accessed from the A84 about one mile south of Loch Lubnaig.
Falls of Dochart
Killin is dominated by the sight and the sound of the falls, when in full flow they provide a roaring backdrop to village life. The best view is from the village bridge but be careful, the bridge is frequently busy with passing traffic. When the water is low it is possible to scramble across dry ledges and boulders, but caution is advised as these can be slippery. To get to the falls, take the A84 north from Callander and continue along the A85 to Killin.
Little Fawn Falls
Easily accessed from the Lodge Forest Visitor Centre, this double waterfall is set in woodlands close to the visitor centre. To access the falls, follow the Waterfall Trail. This easy walking route is wheelchair accessible and you should allow 30 minutes for the round trip. To get to the Lodge Forest Visitor Centre take A81 from Callander to Aberfoyle, then follow brown signage for Forest Park Visitor Centre. Head up the hill to the Lodge Visitor Centre Car Park.