AberfoyleA NATIONAL PARKFOR EVERYONE

Loch Lomond and the Trossachs NationalPark covers 720 square miles (1,865 squarekilometres) of varied countryside, from therolling hills of the Lowlands to the mountains andlochs of the Highlands. The National Park Authorityaims to care for the area’s natural and culturalheritage and use its resources wisely. Through ourvisitor facilities, publications and programmes, wehelp people understand the Park and enjoy it; andwe work with the Park’s communities to sustaintheir economic and social development.

If you would like further information aboutpaths in the National Park please contact:

Trossachs Area Ranger TeamAberfoyle Discovery CentreTel 01389 722110

or

Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park HeadquartersThe Old Station, Balloch, G83 8BFTel 01389 722600email: info@lochlomond-trossachs.orgweb: www.lochlomond-trossachs.org

Large print version of this leaflet is available on request

LOCH LOMOND & THE TROSSACHS NATIONAL PARKPrinted on recycled paper

Photographs have been kindly supplied by:Members of the Strathard Paths Group and Loch Lomond & TheTrossachs National Park Authority.

The wildlife site is rich in plant life, attractive to a greatdiversity of invertebrates. The abundance of summerflowering plants provides foodfor many species of butterfly.

From the WoolCentre look forthe blue and redsign and followthe tarmac National Cycle Route 7.

Cross a wooden footbridge over a burn, the Allt a'Mhangan, and turn right into the wildlife site at theplinth marking its entrance. The path follows theburn, which joins the River Forth after 150m.Continue by the river for another 400m, and justbeyond the second of two benches thatyou pass, take a path on the leftthat leads to the hillock known asRabbit Hill. At the top you havefine views of Doon Hill, westtowards Ben Lomond, and ofCraigmore.

Continue down theother side of the hilland turn left at thecycleway to return tothe car park.

This route goes throughmature, productive forest with a mix of regenerating andexpanding native woodland.Enjoy the open views and thepeace, tranquillity and diversityof the forest.

From the west end of the carpark, cross the stone bridgeinto Manse Road. Pass theold kirkyard whichcontains the grave of RevRobert Kirk (1644-1692),the Faerie Minister, andbear left at the next roadjunction. The tarmac endsand as you enter theforest there is a short risebeside Doon Hill before the road descends to afour-way junction where you go left. After 500m go left again where a path leaves the forest road. The route crosses the river and joins National CycleRoute 7 along the old railway. Turn left and follow it

back to the village.

An additional loop or extension to the path(marked on the map with white dots)

follows a well-defined but much rougherpath. Although its surface is narrow, generallyuneven and sometimes muddy, it is attractive andoffers good views of the forest and the surroundinglandscape.

Distance: 1kmTime: 20-30minutesType of route:Surfaced cyclewayand informalfootpath. Mainlylevel with onesmall incline.Possible users:Walkers

Distance: 4.5kmTime: 1- 11/2 hours Type of route:Generally level onsurfaced paths and forest roads.Possible users:Walkers/cyclists/horses

WILDLIFE CIRCUIT

Leave Aberfoyle by the B829(marked Inversnaid) andfollow this road beside theRiver Forth for 2kms as far asMilton. Turn left, cross abridge and go right at the fork.Then bear left and follow aforest road to a large car parkby a junction. Go into the carpark and take the path goingdownhill just beyond thenotice board.

The path leads to another river, and crosses abridge. Follow it as it wanders through nativewoodland above the riverbank before swingingright into denser woods. At the next junction bearleft for Lochan Spling. Follow the shore; at its farend the track bends sharply right before reaching a four-way junction. Turn left to return to the village, passingthe historic Inchrie CastleHotel, and turn left at theroad junction back to thecar park.

MILTON AND LOCHAN SPLING

Distance: 6kmTime: 11/2 - 2 hoursType of route:Surfaced paths andforest roads withgentle gradients.Possible users:Walkers/cyclists/horses in forest(horse box parking areanear Milton car park)

FAIRY KNOWE

Follow the Little Fawn falls walkto the path junction 70m beyondthe top of the steps. Now gostraight ahead, signed “DavidMarshall Lodge” and after 40mturn right on to National CycleRoute 7. Follow this to thenotice-board below the LittleFawn falls. The path now windsup to the left, and after 200mcrosses a miniature stone bridge.Immediately after this turn right up a path that leadsquite steeply up to the road, crosses it and zig-zags up

the open hillside. At the secondzig-zag keep left and not straightahead. Further up the pathsteepens and eventually reachesa slate-built embankment,which is a relic of the dismantledtramway that connectedAberfoyle with the slate quarry

to the north. Turn left on to the trackbed and traversefor 250m to a point where it suddenly drops awaysteeply. If you wish to shorten the walk you candescend directly from here.

The Craigmore path, however, leads up tothe right, very steeply at first before easing.

This section can be muddy. After a dip itclimbs to the summit which has a small

cairn. Enjoy the surprise view to the westacross Loch Ard with Ben Lomond toweringover it and the Arrochar Alps to the right.

Return to the dismantled tramway, thencarefully descend the steep path to the

road almost opposite the entrance to theDavid Marshall Lodge. From the Visitor Centrebuilding rejoin Little Fawn falls walk back to Aberfoyle.

MONIEVRECKIE HILLS

Follow the Craigmore walkalmost as far as the Little Fawnfalls. 150m before the falls crossthe burn by a footbridge, go rightto join a forestry road, turningright on to it. This road runsabove Dounan’s Outdoor Centreand the golf course, and afterabout 1.5km look out for a pathon the left immediately after theroad crosses a small burn. Followthis path steeply up to joinanother forestry road; turn right for 300m and thensharp left at a junction. After 350m look out for a pathon your right, shortly before a hairpin bend where theroad crosses the burn.

This path leads through woodland up to a gate whichgives access to open ground with the MonievreckieHills ahead. The path is faint in places, but you shouldaim for the crest of the ridge at a point just before itsteepens noticeably, then climb to the first summit(393m).

The views extend fromArran, 70km to the south-west, to the twin peaks ofBen More and Stobinian tothe north-west. For mostpeople this will be farenough, as thecontinuation to the 400msummit initially involves an

ankle-wrenching descent to a dip in the ridge. Returnby the same route – do not attempt to descend theprecipitous south-eastern flank of these hills.

Distance: 9kmTime: 21/2 - 31/2

hours Type of route:Steep & strenuousin places. Roughhill path towardssummit. 370m ofascent/ descent.Boots essential.Possible users:Walkers

Distance: 5kmTime: 2-3 hoursType of route:Upper section verysteep & strenuouson rough hill paths.360m of ascent/descent. Bootsessential.Possible users:Walkers

At the west end of Main Street bythe Bank of Scotland, follow theA821 steeply uphill, signed toCallander (National Cycle Route 7). After 400m and justbeyond the end of the pavementturn right up a flight of slate-built steps. At the top of thesethe path bears right and after70m leads to a junction whereyou go right, signed “OakCoppice Trail”. After 50m the path turns sharply rightagain, and leads downhill for 250m. It then climbssteeply for a few metres and enters the enclosure ofthe Oak Coppice Project, which shows how timberwas managed more than a century ago to encouragerenewal. Turn left at each junction.

Shortly after leaving theenclosure the path follows aburn, Allt a' Mhangan. Stay onthe same side of the burn andafter 400m bear right at ajunction, passing an attractive

LITTLE FAWN FALLS LOOP

Distance: 2.5kmTime: 45min –1hourType of Route :Easy walking onsurfaced paths, but75m of ascent anda steep descentfrom Lodge.Possible users:Walkers

From the west end of thecar park near the old bridge,follow a surfaced pathdownstream beside thebank of the River Forth for300m. Beyond the WoolCentre the Allt a’ Mhangantributary joins the Forth and

the path turnsleft alongside it for 150m to ajunction with National CycleRoute 7.

Turn left to return to the car park,but you can turn right and followthe cycle route which is level andwell-surfaced for 2km. Returnby the same route.

Distance: 700m +Time: Dependenton abilityType of route:Level, surfacedpaths & cyclewayPossible users:Wheelchair users/walkers/cyclists

National Cycle Route milepost to reach LittleFawn falls, named from the burn.

These roaring waterfalls, celebrated by poetWilliam Richardson (1743-1814), are about 16 m.high. Once they were named MacGregor’s Leap,recalling Rob Roy. The path winds up to the leftfrom the notice-board for 300m; beyond herethere is choice of routes to the David MarshallLodge over to the left. This was slate-built in1960 as a focal point for the Forest Park. Aviewpoint commands a magnificent prospect,westwards towards Ben Lomond, southwards tothe Fintry, Campsie and Kilpatrick Hills, and,eastwards, of the Carse of Stirling dominated byStirling Castle.

Leaving the viewpoint the path dropsdownhill from the timber-built terraceand crosses NCR7. A short distancebelow the cycle track keep straightahead at a signpost to rejoin theoutward route.

.

ALL-ABILITIES LOOP CRAIGMORE

River Forth

River Forth

0 0.25 0.5 0.75

0 0.5 miles

1.0 kilometres

DAVIDMARSHALL

LODGE

BraevalCar Park

LOCH ARD

Milton

Craigmore

387m

Monievreckie Hills393m

Monievreckie Hills400m

Kirkton

B829

A81

A821

A81

L O C H A R DF O R E S T

A C H R A Y F O R E S T

To Callander

Balleich•

77m

ABERFOYLE

Waterfall

To Loch

KatrineTo Callander - 12 Miles (NCR 7)

To Kinlochard

To Gartmore -1.5 Miles (NCR 7)

ABERFOYLE PATHSLocal paths with something for everyone:

• for residents and visitors • for walkers, cyclists, horse-riders, dog walkers,

buggy pushers, joggers • to help you be more active and healthy• to help you enjoy the countryside and the

National Park’s special qualities

The seven walks in this leaflet all start and finish atthe main car park in Aberfoyle. They range fromshort strolls in the vicinity of the village to moredemanding hill-walks further afield whereappropriate footwear is essential.

Aberfoyle sits on the Highland Boundary Fault, thegeological crumple zone running diagonally acrossScotland where two ancient continents collided.

0 0.5 1.0 1.5

0 0.5 1.0 mile

2.0 kilometres

KNOW THE CODE BEFORE YOU GO ENJOY SCOTLAND’S OUTDOORS - RESPONSIBLY!

Everyone has the right to beon most land and inland waterproviding they act responsibly.Your access rights andresponsibilities are explainedfully in the Scottish OutdoorAccess Code.

Whether you’re in the outdoors or managing the outdoors, the key things are to : • take responsibility for your own actions;• respect the interests of other people;• care for the environment.

Find out more by visiting www.outdooraccess-scotland.com or phoningyour local Scottish Natural Heritage office.

The representation of features or boundaries in which LLTNPA or others have an interest does not necessarilyimply their true positions. For further information please contact the appropriate authority. The map is basedupon Ordnance Survey Land-Line.Plus® and Land-Form ProfileTM digital data with the permission of OrdnanceSurvey on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office © Crown copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Authority 100031883 2007

Roads

Forest Tracks

Rivers

ALL-ABILITIES LOOPLITTLE FAWN FALLS LOOPCRAIGMOREMONIEVRECKIE HILLSMILTON & LOCHAN SPLINGWILDLIFE CIRCUITFAIRY KNOWE

Plantation

Woodland

Mixed

Residential

Parking

Toilets

Tourist Information

National Cycle Route

Other Link Routes

KEYThe maps in this leaflet are for illustrative

purposes only. Always equip yourself with the appropriate map.

L O C H L O M O N D & T H E T R O S S A C H S N A T I O N A L P A R K

Rolling farmland to the south and east endsabruptly in a rampart of steep hills where theHighlands begin. The landscape you will walkthrough is one of great contrasts, with a wonderfulblend of river, loch, forest, mountain and moorland.

Against this backdrop, history and legend intertwine.This is the land of Rob Roy, whose exploits wereromanticised by Sir Walter Scott. And Aberfoyle isat the centre of one of Scotland's most celebratedsupernatural events with the strange tale ofReverend Robert Kirk, who vanished on nearbyDoon Hill, allegedly spirited away by fairies.

This leaflet part of a series of promoting opportunities to travel around theNational Park on its extensive network of paths.