Towns and Villages

Most Trossachs towns and villages have ancient origins and have adapted to modern life through the centuries. Town or village, bustling or secluded, each is a particular reflection of life in the Trossachs, past and present, and home to around 3,500 people. They offer a choice of holiday accommodation, unique independent shops, local art and crafts, and a huge range of places to eat or enjoy local music and culture.

From Aberfoyle and Kinlochard at the foot of the Duke’s Pass in the south west to the bustling Callander and Doune to the east, you will find small lochside hamlets like Stronachalachar, Brig O’Turk, and Port of Menteith, and Highland villages like Strathyre and Balquhidder. A warm welcome awaits!

Doune 

A traditional farming village with a dramatic history, Doune was a major venue for cattle markets, or trysts, and was known for the manufacture of Doune Pistols, one of which is said to have fired the first shot in the American War of Independence. Its medieval castle, once the ancestral home of the Earls of Moray, has found new fame as backdrop to Monty Python’s Holy Grail and TV drama Outlander. Browse small independent shops in town or for antiques and collectables at the nearby Scottish Antiques & Arts. Stroll around Doune Ponds community woods known for its wildlife, wildfowl and fungi or visit Argaty Red Kites to photograph wild and majestic red kites and other wildlife from their hides. 

Deanston

A small historic village close to Doune, which grew up to house workers from an 18th century cotton mill powered by the River Teith. It prospered, had its own currency and was the first village in Scotland to have gas lighting. The mill is now a world-class whisky distillery, which you can visit for tours, tastings or a meal in their café. 

Blair Drummond

Home to Blair Drummond Safari and Adventure Park, which has entertained families for 50 years, and the nearby Briarlands Farm with its outdoor play, soft play, strawberry-picking and café. The Smiddy Farm Shop is a popular meeting place with café, takeaway, butchery, farm foods and gifts.

Thornhill

A traditional village planned and founded at the end of the 17th century above the flat agricultural area known as the Carse of Stirling on rich soils reclaimed by draining and removing deep layers of peat. Stay in a yurt or a decommissioned Sea King helicopter, stroll among wildflowers and butterflies on North Common. Or wander the boardwalks of Flanders Moss National Nature Reserve on some of the only remaining peat bog, spotting birds, amphibians and insects, admiring the open views across the Carse to Ben Lomond and Stirling Castle.

Port of Menteith

A small peaceful village overlooked by the Menteith Hills and close to Scotland’s only lake, Lake of Menteith, which is popular for fishing and famous as a venue for the bonspiel, a curling competition that only happens in the most severe winters. The ferry to Inchmahome island and its ruined priory, once a hiding place for Mary Queen of Scots, leaves on demand from a small jetty (Easter to October). The Port is also known for its fine dining and unique accommodation at the Lake Hotel, Lochend Chalets, Nick Nairn’s Cook School and Nether Glenny.

Gartmore 

An attractive 18th century planned village on the edge of Queen Elizabeth Forest, with views to Ben Lomond, the Menteith Hills and Stirling. Its strong community runs the village hall, shop and post office and the Black Bull Inn pub. Gartmore House, built in the early 18th century, has been a family home, war-time barracks, residential school and now provides arts, crafts, and activity holidays in spectacular surroundings. 

Camp on the banks of the River at nearby Cobleland, stay in the Trossachs Holiday Park, or find tracks for walking and cycling at Lemahamish car park to the north of the village or Drymen Road car park about two miles to the south. 

Kinlochard

A small village by Loch Ard surrounded by the beauty of Queen Elizabeth Forest. A popular starting point, though parking is limited, for cycling and walking in the forest or for swimming, kayaking or canoeing. Go Country! has an obstacle course on the loch and offers other sports and activities in the water and on land. The village hall, with stunning views of Loch Ard, is a popular wedding venue.

Stronachlachar

A small isolated community by Loch Katrine, traditional homeland of the legendary Rob Roy. A cafe by its pier serves passengers from steamship cruises and cyclists and walkers on The Great Trossachs Path. Bring your bike on the boat and cycle back to Trossachs Pier. Nearby are the waterworks supplying fresh water to Glasgow since Queen Victoria opened them in the 1860s. 

Inversnaid

A small hamlet on the eastern shore of Loch Lomond, with holidays lets, hostels and the Inversnaid Hotel, a historic coaching inn on the 19th century Trrossachs Tour, now welcomes travellers of all kinds. The name comes from the Gaelic Eas Inbhir Snàthaid, meaning the mouth of the needle-like stream, which refers to the dramatic Arklet Falls just to the south of the hotel. The RSPB’s Inversnaid reserve is a haven for woodland and waterside birds including black grouse, fieldfare and wagtails. 

The only road access is on a the B829 from Aberfoyle and a single-track road from Stronachlachar, which can be congested on busy days, but you can also get there by boat with Cruise Loch Lomond from Tarbert or on foot on the West Highland Way, or cycle or walk on The Great Trossachs Path from Trossachs Pier, Aberfoyle or Callander.

Gerald Manley Hopkins (1844–1889) was inspired to write in his poem Inversnaid here. “What would the world be, once bereft Of wet and of wildness? Let them be left, O let them be left, wildness and wet; Long live the weeds and the wilderness yet.”

Brig O’Turk

A small village surrounded by hills, forests and glens at the heart of the Trossachs, close to Lochs Achray and Venachar, named after the Gaelic tuirc meaning wild boar. Popular with cyclists and a place to stop on The Great Trossachs Path for refreshments at the famous tearoom, Byre Inn, Achray Farm or the former village school, soon to be a café and community hub.  

It is also the starting point for family trails in Little Drum Wood and more challenging mountain hikes high above in Glen Finglas, once a cattle-droving route. Find out more at the Woodland Trust’s Glen Finglas Gateway visitor centre. A short walk from the village leads to a dam built in the 1960s on the River Turk to form the Glenfinglas Reservoir, the last phase of the Loch Katrine waterworks supplying water to Glasgow.

Aberfoyle

Southern gateway to the Trossachs, or as some would prefer the Faerie capital. Legend has it that former minister the Reverend Robert Kirk, disappeared under mysterious circumstances after publishing ‘The Secret Commonwealth of Elves, Fauns and Fairies’ with fairies taking revenge on him for revealing their secrets.

The bustling Main Street has been reenergised recently with new shops. Aberfoyle is a good centre for cycling with a bike park, cycling events and access to NCN 7. Don’t miss The Lodge Forest Centre on Duke’s Pass with wildlife hides, trails, events and a waterfall.

Kilmahog

A small hamlet with cottages, Victorian villas and two former mills, where the A821 turns off the A84 towards Brig O’Turk. Two car parks provide access to The Great Trossachs Path, Ben Ledi and the NCN7 cycle path on the former Callander & Oban Railway - north to Strathyre or south into Callander. A short distance on the Great Trossachs Path, Samson's Putting Stone sits on top of Bochastle Hill, the result of a legendary putting competition between giants, in reality deposited by a retreating glacier, and Dunmore Iron Age hill fort occupies a steep hill with great views. Enjoy meals, refreshments and music at The Lade Inn pub and Scottish Ale Shop.

Callander

A bustling tourist town laid out in the 18th century, overlooked by wooded crags and the imposing Ben Ledi (Gaelic for the mountain of God). It is the meeting place of two rivers, the Garbh Uisge or River Leny that flows from Loch Lubnaig and Eas Gobhain from Loch Venachar, to become the River Teith. 

Callander has much to offer visitors, from unique shops and cafes, like Deli Ecosse in Ancaster Square, and quality accommodation like Poppies Hotel and Callander Hostel, to places to sit quietly by the river and a network of paths. Walk through woods and to waterfalls, lochs, hills and mountains or cycle on forest tracks and National Cycle Network Route 7 -- north along Loch Lubnaig’s western shore to Strathyre, east towards Doune or west and south through the forest on to Loch Katrine and Aberfoyle. Cycle hire is available from Wheels Cycling Centre at Invertrossachs.

The whole area is steeped in history including a Roman camp, Neolothic burial cairn and Victorian and railway heritage linked to the Trossachs Tour. Events and festivals throughout the year include the annual opening of salmon fishing, music in local pubs, Summerfest that celebrates arts and the outdoors and an annual Jazz and Blues Festival.

Strathyre

A pretty highland village close to Loch Lubnaig that grew up in the 19th century by the Callander & Oban Railway, replacing the old Strathyre across the river that served cattle drovers in earlier times. It still provides a welcome stop for travellers on the road or the National Cycle Network Route 7 and Rob Roy Way long-distance path. Surrounded by mountains, Strathyre’s name comes from the Gaelic for sheltered valley. The BLiSS Trail starts here, connecting nearby villages with art and architectural installations – look out for Drover’s Bho, a small metal highland cow - bhois Gaelic for cow - by the cycle path near Balvaig Bridge. 

Balquhidder

A scattered Highland village centred on Loch Voil that, with its close and smaller neighbour Loch Doine, adds to the outstanding beauty of Balquhidder Glen. Visitors come for the seclusion, fine hill-walking and to see the resting place of legendary outlaw Rob Roy MacGregor, who spent the last years of his life in the glen and is buried in kirkyard. Cycle through on the NCN7 cycle path, which passes through on a loop, hike across to Glen Dochart from the village or climb a munro from the top of the glen at Inverlochlarig. Enjoy fine food at Monachyle Mhor by Loch Doine hosted by top chef Tom Lewis, or Mhor 84 at Kingshouse, close to the A84.