Make
your visit to Aberfoyle, Strathard and the Trossachs 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 along the B829 through Strathard. 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 otter!
Inversnaid, at the end of the road, 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 surrounding scenery.
For the energetic and adventurous, Strathard 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. |