Make your visit to Aberfoyle, Strathard and theTrossachs a memorable one.
Venture beyond Aberfoyle and discover the wild and beautiful lands of Strathard, Loch Katrine and Inversnaid. Follow the trail of lochs and unspolit Highland landscapes as history unfolds on the turn of each corner.
The sharp contrast as you cross the Highland Boundary Fault Line passing through Aberfoyle from the Lowlands to the Highlands of Scotland is reflected in the stunning mountain scenery as you wind your way through Strathard or over the Dukes Pass. This journey, whether by car, mountain bike or on an organised tour will take your breath away.
On your journey look out for some of the elusive wild life that inhabits this place of unspoilt natural beauty, peace and tranquillity. The proud red deer or the smaller gentler roe deer share these shady forests with foxes, badgers, birds of prey, and feral goats, and if you are lucky you might spot a shy red squirrel or playful otter!
Inversnaid, at the end of the road to wild side of Loch Lomond, has an RSPB reserve (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds), with a delightful nature walk starting close to the hotel.
The area offers something for everyone – small friendly hotels, where you can book accommodation and extend your visit or stop off for lunch or dinner, to larger hotels offering excellent leisure facilities and sophisticated dining. If the weather is fine why not stop in one of the car parks and picnic areas and relax whilst taking in the majesty of the scenery.
For the energetic and adventurous, Strathard and The Trossachs offers a host of activities. Choose from mountain biking through the forest tracks and around the lochs, water sports, including sailing, canoeing and short boat trips on Loch Ard, fishing on the many lochs or simply walking, whether it be on the famous West Highland Way which passes through Inversnaid, through the forests or around beautiful Loch Katrine, the source of Glasgow's water supply.
Strathard is steeped in history with many famous and infamous residents and visitors. You will be following in the footsteps of countless writers, poets and artists that have been drawn to this place of natural beauty. Sir Walter Scott captured the imagination of many Victorians with his great romantic literary works. On the publishing of Lady of the Lake in the early 1800s, tourism boomed. Thomas Cook even organised tours!
William and Dorothy Wordsworth, James Hogg, Gerard Manley Hopkins, and Patrick Graham, who wrote the first guide to the area, were all captivated by the wild beauty and ever changing light of the lochs and mountains. This is the land of the "Children of The Mist", the persecuted but tenacious MacGregors. Rob Roy MacGregor was born at Glengyle on Loch Katrine side, a short walk from Stronachlachar. Visit his cave on Loch Lomond, on the West Highland Way from Inversnaid Hotel.
