THE TROSSACHS TRAIL
WALKING SHORT BREAK
THE TROSSACHS TRAIL - WALKING SHORT BREAK SUMMARY Explore the Lochs, Glens and Mountains of the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park on foot. The Trossachs Trail explores the most picturesque area of the Trossachs, an enchanting area of lochs, mountains, rivers and forest rich in both scenic beauty and historical interest. The Trossachs inspired Sir Walter Scott to write “Lady of the Lake” and “Rob Roy”, both of which popularised the Highlands of Scotland as a popular destination.
Your walking break starts in Callander, a bustling town often called the gateway to the Highlands. You begin with a wander along Loch Venachar and then climb over the Menteith Hills to Aberfoyle, enjoying wonderful views to the South. Turning north you walk through the Queen Elizabeth Forest Park and over the Duke’s Pass to the hamlet of Brig o’ Turk. The route continues through Glen Finglas and to Balquhidder, a beautiful glen famous as the site of Rob Roy’s Grave. If you have chosen the shorter break this is where your journey ends, for those continuing to Callander you have a magical final day’s walking down Strathyre to look forward to. Tour: The Trossachs Trail Hand-picked overnight accommodation in high quality Hotels, B&B’s and guesthouses., daily door to door Code: WSSTT1-2 baggage transfer, maps, route notes and emergency telephone support are included in your walking Price: See website break. Single Supplement: See website Available: Daily, March to October Walking Days: 3 or 4 Nights: 4 or 5
Start: Callander Finish: Balquhidder or Callander Distance: 31.5 or 43.5 miles HIGHLIGHTS Grade: Easy to Moderate
Enjoying some of Scotland’s best views. Discovering the history of “Rob Roy Country”. IS IT FOR ME? Walking in remote Glen Buckie and Glen Finglas, the old hunting grounds of the If you only have a few days available for Stewart Kings. walking in Scotland, the Trossachs Trail will Welcoming and friendly country inns and B&B’s handpicked by us. help you discover some of the very best Highland scenery. The walking is on good WHY CHOOSE A SELF GUIDED SHORT BREAK WITH US? trails, forestry tracks, and footpaths. Macs Adventure is a small, energetic company dedicated to delivering adventure excellence. We are passionate about delivering outstanding walking holidays where every last detail is taken care of. From WHAT’S INCLUDED? your first contact with Macs Adventure you will deal with a local specialist who knows the region intimately and we ensure that we tailor make your trip so that your precious time away is hassle free and you can Accommodation: Hand-picked B&B’s, focus on relaxation and fun. small hotels, country inns & guesthouses. Meals: A hearty breakfast included. A short break walking holiday in the Trossachs is the perfect way to discover this special corner of the Lunch and dinner not included but always Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park. Free to travel at your own pace and wander off the beaten available at accommodation or nearby. track, you will discover the hidden secrets and quiet places that make the Trossachs so special. Baggage Transfer: Door-to-door baggage transfer. Information Pack: 1:50 000 OS Map and detailed route notes
THE TROSSACHS TRAIL
A WALKING SHORT BREAK
country, walking through glens and skirting the DETAILED DESCRIPTION base of heather clad hills. The first section leads ITINERARY: WSSTT1 you up to Glen Finglas, the old hunting grounds
of the kings of Scotland, now an important Description: This 3 day walk is ideal for a long weekend or as part of a longer tour or Arrive Starting Point: Callander reservoir. You soon reach Glen Meann, which Scotland. Callander is a bustling little highland town leads you through some rugged, big sky country situated at the gateway to the Scottish and down to Balquhidder. Walking Days: 3 Highlands. It takes 1h30 or 2h00 to travel to Balquhidder is famous as the site of Rob Roy’s Nights: 4 Callander from Glasgow and Edinburgh Grave and enjoys a picturesque location at the Average Daily Distance: 10.5 Miles respectively. head of Loch Voil. You will either stay in Grade: Easy to moderate Balquhidder or the nearby Kingshouse Hotel. Callander to Aberfoyle —9 Miles Day Route Miles Leaving Callander on the Invertrossachs Road If your walk is ending in Balquhidder you can you quickly reach tranquil Loch Venachar and take a bus (30 minutes) or taxi (20 minutes) back 1 Arrive Callander then head to Aberfoyle via the Menteith Hills. A to Callander and then onwards. 2 Walk to Aberfoyle 9 lovely day of walking through forests, along lochs 3 Walk to Brig o’ Turk 8.5 Balquhidder to Callander—12 Miles and across open moorland to Aberfoyle passes 4 Walk to Balquhidder 14 all too quickly. The walk from Balquhidder through Strathyre, 5 Onward Travel along Loch Lubnaig and to Callander is a Aberfoyle is popular with day trippers from personal favourite. Beautiful scenery, good trails Glasgow and has several tourist shops, and great chat mean the miles fly past and you Total Distance 31.5 restaurants and an award winning local butcher are back in Callander all too soon. who offer tasty packed lunches. Depart Callander Aberfoyle to Brig o’ Turk — 8.5 Miles ITINERARY: WSSTT2 Regular buses depart from Callander to Stirling Today's walk starts off in the Queen Elizabeth or Bridge of Allan and connect to train services to Forest Park, part of Scotland’s first National all Scottish destinations. Description: Complete the circle with a lovely Park. In autumn it is a riot of colour and you will walk down Strathyre to Callander. enjoy expansive views to the south as you climb We offer the Trossachs Trail as a three or four over the Duke’s Pass. Descending to Brig o’ Turk day walking break. The three day walking option Walking Days: 4 you pass a number of small tranquil lochs and finishes in Balquhidder, while the four day break Nights: 5 the views of Bens Venue, Ben A’an and Ben Ledi takes you full circle to Callander. Average Daily Distance: 10.5 Miles are spectacular. If you are lucky you may spot Grade: Easy to moderate Red or Roe deer, Red squirrels and even Capercaillie. Day Route Miles
Brig o’ Turk is a small hamlet, nestled in the 1 Arrive Callander heart if the Trossachs, which has an excellent 2 Walk to Aberfoyle 9 local pub. Due to a lack of preferred 3 Walk to Brig o’ Turk 8.5 accommodations at this location, you shall be 4 Walk to Balquhidder 14 provided with short return transfers to a nearby 5 Walk to Callander 12 property, 6 Onward Travel Brig o’ Turk to Balquhidder—14 Miles Total Distance 43.5 Today’s walk is mainly out in open mountain THE TROSSACHS TRAIL
A SHORT WALKING BREAK IN THE TROSSACHS
Meals From Glasgow there are frequent departures TRIP INFORMATION from either Queen Street Rail Station or A hearty breakfast is included each morning to Buchanan Bus Station. You can find further get you ready for a days walking. Lunch and details for this section of the journey by going to Navigation dinner are not included so you are free to choose www.citylink.co.uk/ for buses or from the available options. Most of your www.scotrail.co.uk/ for trains. Sections of the trail are way marked, whilst at accommodations will be more than happy to other points you will have to follow directions and provide a packed lunch on request and this can Once in Stirling you simply take the number 59 map, although the route finding is easy and you be booked on arrival. Bus from the bus station which takes you to are walking on defined trails and tracks Callander. By either method, the whole journey throughout. Alternatively your info pack includes details of takes around 1.5 hours. local shops and convenient lunch stops on the Grade way. Dinner is available either at your Should you be driving to Callander there is only on street parking available and depending on This walk is graded easy because the daily accommodation or nearby pubs and restaurants where you stay we can try to organise you to distances are around 10.5 miles, although the and your info pack will of course have details. leave your car with your accommodation first three days do involve between 100m and Baggage Transfer provider. 300m of ascent and descent. Your bags will be transferred from your Travel Insurance Accommodation accommodation as per your itinerary and moved We strongly recommend taking out travel One of the highlights of this tour is the high onto your next overnight accommodation. We insurance to cover cancellation or curtailment of standard of the accommodation. We specifically ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to your trip. choose the hotels, inns, guesthouses and B&B’s 15kg per person. to ensure that you enjoy every minute of your Equipment stay. They all offer a warm welcome to walkers, M.A.C.S RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL traditional hospitality and delicious local food. Your information pack has a detailed equipment list which includes standard walking gear such as Minimise Impact & Maximise Benefit Solo Walkers good walking boots or shoes, warm and waterproof clothes and a day pack. Our operating policies, office policies, holidays This short break is available to solo walkers but and tours are all designed to minimise impact we charge a solo walker supplement to cover the Dogs and maximise benefit to the environment and additional baggage transfer costs. local communities. Unfortunately we are unable to accommodate Single Rooms walkers with dogs as many of the Action & Advocacy accommodation providers do not accept pets. If you require single rooms within your party we We believe that by engaging our team and will always try and accommodate your request, clients in environmental and community projects although there will be a single supplement TRAVEL INFORMATION we can make a real difference. payable. Carbon & Communities Getting to/from Callander Callander is well served by public transport and Travel and our business activity does of course
has plenty of parking. It takes 1h30 and 2h00 to contribute to carbon output and climate change. reach Callander from Glasgow or Edinburgh We have put several policies in place to minimise respectively. (Train & Bus) our carbon footprint.
THE TROSSACHS TRAIL
A SHORT WALKING BREAK IN THE TROSSACHS
Sensitive & Sustainable HOW TO BOOK Macs Adventure has worked hard to ensure that our holidays are sensitive to the community you are visiting and sustainable over the long term. Once you have read all the information in this factsheet or on our website and decided on your More about M.A.C.S. Responsible Travel preferred itinerary, visit our website or give us a Policy... call to confirm availability. You can then book by any of the following methods:
PRICE & AVAILABILITY Book Securely Online: www.macsadventure.com
Telephone: +44 (0) 141 530 8886 Availability Please don’t hesitate to contact us by phone on You can start the Trossachs Trail on any day +44 (0) 0141 530 8886 or email: between March and October. The Trossachs are [email protected] if you have any a popular destination so we recommend booking queries and one of our expert customer service as far in advance as possible. team will be happy to help. Price Detailed up to date prices for all our Trossachs BOOK WITH CONFIDENCE Trail trips are available on our website. Financial Security Included We are a member of ABTA which means Hand picked B&B, guesthouse or small hotel you have the benefit of ABTA’s assistance accommodation in ensuite rooms. and Code of Conduct. We provide full Door to door baggage transfer. financial protection for your money. A detailed info pack, route notes and map for the group leader. ABTA Member Statement Emergency telephone support from our office Macs Adventure Holidays in the event of a problem. is a Member of ABTA. ABTA and ABTA Members
help holidaymakers to get Excluded the most from their travel and assist when things Travel to the start or from the finish of the don’t go according to plan. We are obliged to walk. maintain a high standard of service to you by Lunches, dinners, snacks and drinks. ABTA’s Code of Conduct. For more information on ABTA, the Code of Conduct and the Travel Insurance. arbitration scheme available to you if you have a Personal Equipment. complaint, contact ABTA, 30 Park Street, London Taxi transfers or public transport should you SE1 9EQ, tel 020 3117 0581 www.abta.com need to skip a stage.