Aberfoyle in The Trossachs - Scotland

Little Fawn waterfall, Aberfoyle

Aberfoyle in The Trossachs area of Scotland

Aberfoyle - once spelt 'Aberfuil' - lies on the highland boundary fault at the very edge of the Highlands. The river Laggan, the source of the river Forth passes through the village at the foot of Craigmore hill. A high pass known as the Duke's Pass after its builder the Duke of Montrose who replaced the old pony track with a surfaced road to allow easier access to the Trossachs at Loch Katrine. This pass has become a much loved pleasure drive with views and forest walks accessible from well placed car parks.

Until 1859 Aberfoyle was on the rail network and had its own station but this line was closed in 1959. Until about 1950 there were slate quarries on Craigmore which supplied slate throughout The Trossachs and well beyond. These quarries were closed but the remains can still be visited and the inclined plane which carried the slate down the hillside can still be inspected. Tourism is now the main industry in Aberfoyle with the Tourist information centre and Scottish Woollens Centre forming an important part of the attractions. Aberfoyle Golf Club was built in 1860 and is located just south of town near the Rob Roy restaurant.

Aberfoyle's most famous resident is the Reverend Kirk. He was the misister of Balquhidder before moving to Aberfoyle and was the author of a book titler 'Secret Commonwealth' in 1691. This was a study of ' the nature and social structure of supernatural beings or fairies'. The legend tells how the faery folk were so angry as a result of their secrets being revealed in the book that they imprisoned his spirit in an old pine tree on Doon hill near to the old parish church. The old tree on Doon hill is usually festooned with ribbons and scraps of paper bearing 'wishes' to be granted by the faeries.

Loch Ard in The Trossachs

Venturing deeper into the Scotland's Trossachs

Heading east from Aberfoyle over the Duke's Pass involves a steep climb at first and on the left during the climb is the David Marshall Lodge with its large car park beside a small scenic lochan. The C7 cycleway and many woodland walks may be accessed here. The David Marshall centre is also a popular spot with several attractions to entertain the many visitors to the Trossachs:

North from Aberfoyle on a winding road you soon reach the pleasant little hamlet of Milton where a road on the left leads to a forest car park where a variety of tracks lead through woods, up and down hillsides and beside loch Ard. These tracks are eminently suitable for both walking and cycling.

Just beyond Milton the road follows the shoreline of Loch Ard and Loch Chon with spectacular views over the water to forested hillsides and to Ben Lomond. Loch Ard is well frequented by photographers for the splendid reflections in its often placid waters - especially in Autumn.

This road leads through some of the most spectacular of the Trossachs scenery and eventually to Stronachlachar and Inversnaid - another story!