The Central Highlands - The Rough Guide to Scottish Highlands and Islands - page 135

ACCOMMODATION LAKE OF MENTEITH

Lake of Menteith Hotel Port of Menteith T 01877
385258, W www.lake-hotel.com. The Lake of Menteith
is a beautiful place to stay: the hotel enjoys a lovely

waterfront setting next to Port of Menteith's Vict orian
Gothic parish church, and also has a classy restaurant. £120

Queen Elizabeth Forest
David Marshall Lodge visitor centre daily: March-June, Sept & Oct 10am-5pm; July & Aug 10am-6pm; Nov & Dec 10am-4pm; Jan Sat &
Sun 10am-4pm; Feb Thurs-Sun 10am-4pm • Car park £3 • T 01877 382258
North of Aberfoyle, the A821 road to Loch Katrine winds its way into the Queen
Elizabeth Forest, snaking up Duke's Pass (so called because it once belonged to the
duke of Montrose). You can walk or drive the short distance from Aberfoyle to the
park's excellent visitor centre at David Marshall Lodge, where you can pick up maps of
the walks and cycle routes in the forest, get background information on the area's flora
and fauna or settle into the café with its splendid views out over the tree tops.
The only road in the forest open to cars is the Achray Forest Drive , just under two
miles further on from the centre, which leads through the park and along the western
shore of Loch Drunkie before rejoining the main road.
Adjacent to the David Marshall Lodge is the Go Ape adventure course (April-Oct
daily 9am-5pm; Feb & March Sat & Sun 9am-5pm; £30/£24 10-17-year-olds;
bookings T 08704 282710, W goape.co.uk), which involves an extended series of
40ft-high rope bridges, Tarzan swings and high-wire slides through the forest.

2

Loch Katrine
Cruises April-Oct daily • £13 return • T 01877 376315, W lochkatrine.co.uk
Heading down the northern side of the Duke's Pass you come first to Loch Achray ,
tucked under Ben A'an. Look out across the loch for the small Callander Kirk in a lovely
setting alone on a promontory. At the head of the loch a road follows the short distance
through to the southern end of Loch Katrine at the foot of Ben Venue (2370ft).
The elegant Victorian passenger steamer , the SS Sir Walter Scott , has been plying the
waters of Loch Katrine since 1900, chugging up to the wild country of Glengyle. It
makes various cruises each day, but only the first (departing at 10.30am) stops off at
Stronachlachar most days, though on Wednesdays and weekends there's a second trip
to Stronachlachar departing at 2.30pm; the shorter one-hour cruises don't make any
stops (£12). A popular combination is to rent a bike from the Katrinewheelz hut by the
pier ( T 01877 376366, W katrinewheelz.co.uk; £28 per day), take the steamer up to
Stronachlachar, then cycle back by way of the road around the north side of the loch.

Brig o'Turk and Loch Venachar
From Loch Katrine the A821 heads due east past the tiny village of Brig o'Turk , where
there are a couple of excellent eating options. From here, carry on along the shores of
Loch Venachar, where Venacher Lochside houses an attractive café and a fishing centre
offering boat rental and fly-fishing tuition.

EATING AND DRINKING BRIG O'TURK

Ì Byre Inn Brig o'Turk T 01877 376292, W byreinn
.co.uk. A tiny country pub and classy restaurant offering
mains such as fillet of cod for £10.95 and set in an old stone
barn with wooden pews; it's the starting point for way-
marked walks to lochs Achray, Drunkie and Venachar.
Noon-late; food served noon-3pm & 6-9pm.

Brig o'Turk Tea Room Glen Finglas Rd T 01877
376283, W brigoturktearoom.co.uk. The cosy, wooden-
clad little place is a good place to refresh after a walk or
cycle. Good coffee and excellent home-made cakes dished
up on retro crockery. Also serves appealing dinner options:
try beef stew with dumplings (£9.50). Easter-Sept Mon,
Tues & Thurs-Sun 10am-9pm.