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.

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.

Getting to the Forest Enterprise car-park at MILTON near Aberfoyle is easy. Take your favourite route to Aberfoyle (generally the A81 which you pick up either at Maryhill Road or Canniesburn Toll). The A81 takes you through the east end of Milngavie; round the roundabout at Homebase, etc (sign-posted to Strathblane); past the waterworks; on to Strathblane, Dumgoyne, Gartmore House to the new roundabout outside Aberfoyle where you turn left towards Aberfoyle.

YOU MIGHT LIKE TO STOP FOR THE TOILETS AT ABERFOYLE NEAR THE TIC

Then go back onto the main street and continue through Aberfoyle (without turning right up the hill) and drive straight on towards Milton (and Kinlochard and Stronachlachar). After just over a mile, at the restored mill in Milton, turn left off the main road, cross a bridge and follow the road around, bearing right (I think!) at the Forest Enterprise signpost. Turn left into the main car park.

The Walk

Your walk starts off straight over at the cross-tracks you drove up and continues through the forest to Lochan Gleannan, The lochan is lovely but the next two miles may be a bit of a hike through the forest although you get fine glimpses of Loch Ard below. Then it all gets interesting again as you reach the Aqueduct, the Valve House, Duchray Bridge and Duchray Cottage. .

Continue on past Duchray Castle to Lochan Splingen. If you have time you can go all the way round to take in all the sculptures.