The classic little Highlands of hill, loch and birchwood west of Callander, with a shapely peak and gentle paths by the water
People have been coming to the Trossachs for the scenery for a couple of hundred years, and it is still a fine sample of what makes the southern Highlands so likeable — knobbly hills, dark lochs and birchwood, packed into a small area within easy reach of the central belt. The scenic area itself is a compact forty-nine square kilometres.
Ben Venue is a shapely peak at the heart of the area, a full hill day with steep, broken ground near the top. Gentler by far is the Great Trossachs Path, which runs through The Great Trossachs Forest on good tracks by the lochs, grand for families and anyone building confidence. For a bigger summit nearby, Ben Ledi stands above Callander.
The tops hold cloud and slick rock, so save the summit for a clear day and keep an eye on your turnaround time. The low paths, by contrast, are walkable most of the year in sensible clothing.
