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Callander to Loch Katrine
Approximate distance: 9.7 miles
Starting in Callander, heading west on the main road from
Stirling, with Ben Ledi dominating the view, leads to the small village of
Kilmahog. This was once where the millers that worked in the area lived. From
here the main road continues into Strathyre while the A821 heads into the heart
of the Trossachs. This road soon crosses the Garbh Uisge, also known as
the River Leny, which flows from Loch Lubnaig towards Callander where it
joins the Eas Gobhain and forms the River Teith.
Bochastle Hill is just beyond this crossing and on top of
this hill is a large rock, known as Samson’s Stone. According to legend,
this landed here during a putting competition between a family of giants, which
was won by Samson who lived on Ben Ledi. A more modern interpretation says that
the stone was carried here from Glen Dochart by a glacier during the last Ice
Age. Southwest of this is Dunmore Fort.
 The A821 now follows the northern shore of Loch Venachar,
which, along with Lochs Achray, Katrine and Arklet, provides water to Glasgow.
At the eastern end of the loch the Eas Gobhain, also known as the
River Venachar, flows from Loch Venachar towards Callander.
Just past the western end of the loch is the small village
of Brig o’ Turk. The name is derived from the Gaelic word tuirc, meaning
wild boar, as it is meant to be here that the last of that species was killed in
Scotland. The bridge that gave its name to the village crosses the Finglas
Water, which flows through the Glen of the same name, to the west. The
middle section of the river is now a reservoir, which was created between 1958
and 1965 as part of the water supply to Glasgow. The Finglas Water
eventually joins the Black Water, which flows between Lochs Achray and
Venachar.
The A821 then follows closely to the northern side of Loch
Achray to Achray View. At this point the main road heads
south to Aberfoyle, however a
branch continues west, through the Pass of Trossachs,
the rough or bristly country of the actual Trossachs, to Loch Katrine.
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