Central Scotland - Scotland - page 385

Driving Tour: Scenic Heartlands
This drive takes in the best of the Trossachs region and some highlights of lovely Perthshire.
Head westwards from Stirling (A811), turning right at Arnprior (B8034), past scenic Lake of Menteith . Then
head through Aberfoyle and along the B829, a beautiful drive past Loch Ard to the far tip of Loch Katrine and
on down a rough road to the remotest banks of Loch Lomond at Inversnaid . From here you're going to have to
retrace your route to Aberfoyle, but you might want to leave any passengers at Stronachlachar pier to get the
11.30am boat (April to October, also 3pm June to August) along Loch Katrine: you can pick them up later. They
could also hike or bike the 12.5 miles.
Next take the A821 north past David Marshall Visitor Centre up to Dukes Pass. Off this road is the Three
Lochs Forest Drive , a worthwhile 7.5-mile circuit (April to October, £2) through pine forest opening up to pictur-
esque vistas. There are plenty of walks here to stretch your legs.
Next, turn left down to enchanting Loch Katrine (where you can pick up the strays), then head on to lovely
Callander , a good overnight stop.
Leave Callander by the same road you entered, but keep straight on in Kilmahog, and on along Loch Lubnaig.
Detour to Balquhidder to pay respects to Rob Roy's grave; you might continue down the single-track road to
Monachyle Mhor for a coffee or posh lunch - the drive is worth it anyhow. Back on the main road, make for tran-
quil Killin , a great walking base.
From here, head for magnificent Glen Lyon via the remote, potholed road (unmarked on maps) through Glen
Lochay. Take your time in one of Scotland's most majestic valleys before taking in Fortingall and Ken-
more . Then head north again, and do the long loop around remote Loch Rannoch, making sure you get to the end of
the road at Rannoch Station . Head back along the loch's north shore and on to Loch Tummel, the pass at
Killiecrankie and, finally, pretty Pitlochry .
ABERFOYLE & AROUND
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Crawling with visitors on most weekends and dominated by a huge car park, little Aber-
foyle is a fairly uninteresting place, easily overwhelmed by day trippers. Callander or oth-
er Trossachs towns appeal more as places to stay, but Aberfoyle has lots to do close at
hand. It's also a stop on the Rob Roy Way.