This walk, in the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, starts in the centre of Aberfoyle and takes an anti-clockwise circular route through the surrounding forestry land. It passes Dounans Scottish Outdoor Education Centre before entering the forest immediately to the north of Aberfoyle. The route takes in parts of the Rob Roy Way and Achray Forest. The footpaths are of reasonable quality throughout and the route, of about 8 miles, should provide for a very pleasant day’s walk in the great outdoors.
Getting there: 27 miles/55 minutes
Take your favourite route out of Glasgow towards Strathblane on the A81 (or towards Carbeth on the A809 and turn right onto the B834 and then left to join the A81 towards Aberfoyle). At the Rob Roy Hotel by the roundabout on the outskirts of Aberfoyle turn left (A821) and in the town centre turn left at the sign Parking/Scottish Wool Centre. Parking is free and there are toilets.
Stirling FK8, UK
The Walk: Aberfoyle Forest Trails – 8.0 miles
The walk starts at the car park and heads east past the Scottish Wool Centre and picks up the Rob Roy Way. Cross the A821 and take the Rob Roy Way past the Dounans Centre. As the path/Land Rover Track (LRT) enters the wooded area leave the Rob Roy Way and turn left. Continue on the LRT and as it swings right, turn off left onto a smaller track (behind David Marshall Lodge). When the track meets another track turn sharp right and follow this until the path meets the A821. Cross the road carefully and continue on the rising track which circles Srath Buidhe until it meets the A821 again. Cross the road and take the LRT into the forest. At the T junction turn right onto another LRT for about a kilometre. At the ‘cross-roads’ of LRTs continue ahead until a smaller path goes off to the right. Continue climbing towards the mast (at the top of the hill) and pick up an LRT. Follow this downhill ignoring two LRTs going off sharply to the right. Ignore the LRT on the left just before the route does a 180˚loop to the right. At the next junction turn right onto the Rob Roy Way. Follow this past the Dounans Centre, retracing the outward route back to the car park.