Three Lochs walk in the Trossachs. Loch Drunkie, Loch Achray and Loch Venachar. Sir Walter Scott Inspiration

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Trossachs, Three Lochs. August 2014

Helen Rose Outdoor Diary

On a lovely warm summer’s day, I went with the Wednesday Wanderers http://www.bearsdenandmilngavieramblers.org.uk/ for a walk in the Trossachs. The Trossachs straddle the boundary between the Highlands and the Lowlands in Scotland to the north of Glasgow, east of Loch Lomond and west of Callander. The Trossachs Pass begins at the west end of Loch Achray – our walk starting point. The Trossachs, with its mountains, stunning scenery and lochs, the walks, fishing and cruising has been famed and visited for its beauty ever since Sir Walter Scott wrote ‘Rob Roy’ and ‘The Lady of the Lake’. In the early 19th century Sir Walter visited the Trossachs and stayed in accommodation near Loch Katrine. Knowing the local history and legends, he was inspired to write ‘The Lady of the Lake’ which was completed and published in May 1810. The book was widely read and as transport improved and the railway arrived and area became better known. This mountainous area with its beautiful glens and valleys became a popular tourist destination.

The area is within the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park and the Park provides little extra touches such as musical instruments along the way. Jane tried her hand at playing them although we did not have time on the walk for her to provide a full serenade! The walk started at Loch Achray and was all on good paths. The views to the surrounding mountains were beautiful. I have to be careful as I shall run out of superlatives in describing the scenery. Although it does not quite have the rough grandeur of the highlands, it has a great beauty in the softer wooded scenery and there are wonderful climbs to be had on the mountains of Ben A’n, Ben Venue and Ben Ledi. Ben A’an is a lovely little rocky mountain and overlooks Loch Katrine which incidentally provides the drinking water to Glasgow from the reservoir.

The walk progressed through the wooded scenery with views over the loch as we passed to Loch Drunkie. It is the smaller of the lochs. You can be lucky in the woodland and see red squirrels but not today unfortunately. I think the crowd of us chattering on the walk probably frightened them away! The walk was about seven miles in total and was sandwiched between morning coffee and lunchtime. This is a very civilised way to walk starting at a cafe and finishing at a pub.

The walk continued to Loch Vennachar, the largest of the lochs. There are actually five lochs as tributaries to Loch Katrine but this walk was planned as a circular to complete in the time available. As usual, the Gang of Four had it well programmed having done a previous reccie. Every so often we could not resist leaving the path and sneaking through the trees to glimpse a view of the loch. There were so many photo opportunities; I had to limit the photos. As it was a hot day by Scottish standards, we were shaded by the trees on the walk which was very pleasant.