Our cottage is in an ideal situation to enjoy the walks in the area, and to take your wheels out on the loch road.   In summer months why not take your bike down to the pier, book it on the SS Sir Walter Scott and take the boat trip up to Stronachlacher - then cycle the 9 miles or so back home?   If you can't bring your own bikes up here there is a facility at Trossachs pier to rent.  During the winter months there are sometimes sailings on the Lady of the Lake at weekends only to take in the sparkling magic of Loch Katrine with glimpses of snow on the hills from November/December onwards.

Enjoy our special fishing rights on Loch Katrine - take one of our boats out in season and fish for trout, pike or atlantic char.  We have a couple of fishing rods if you just want to have a try and Gordon is more than willing to give you a quick lesson.   For fishing equipment, bait and a wealth of local information on fishing in other waters do visit James Baynes website - the shop is in nearby Callander or you will be able to online shop soon.

Our families have enjoyed a trip up to the "top road" which takes you far, far up above Loch Katrine with the most amazing views.  Weather permitting we drive you up in the back of the 4 x 4 truck (the kids love the bumpy ride!) and the choice is yours to either walk back down one of the tracks or hitch a lift back home.

This is Rob Roy Macgregor country!   Six miles down the loch road is Glengyle, where Rob Roy Macgregor was born, with many of his relatives buried in two graveyards in the vicinity.  Rob Roy himself was buried in Balquhidder, along with his wife and two of his sons.

Not far from the cottage is the Dukes Pass which takes you into Aberfoyle village.   En route take your car on the Three Lochs Forest Drive, open from April to September weather permitting and enjoy a picnic at one of the designated areas.   Out of season it is still possible to walk or cycle the route.

At the David Marshall Lodge, visit and watch the ospreys nesting, or if you're feeling energetic what about Go Ape - set in stunning scenery fly over 400m along the zip wire some 150 ft above the ground and a 90 ft waterfall.

Nearby Aberfoyle is a village that has become quite famous for its two festivals - T4 Great Outdoor festival in the spring, and in autumn, the very popular Mushroom Festival. In high season you can see and handle birds of prey from World of Wings outside the Woollen Mill (or go to Cumbernauld for the full experience including 4 x 4 offroad driving and archery, amongst other things). There is the Trossachs Discovery Centre and Tourist Information centre in the main street, full of exciting ideas of things to do and places to visit. From Aberfoyle head up towards Loch Ard and Kinlochard......

Go Country at the Forest Hills Watersports Centre on Loch Ard covers all kinds of outdoor activities on land and loch, and after expelling all that energy why not visit Shona at the Wee Blether Tearoom at Kinlochard for a much-needed cup of tea and a piece of homemade cake, or a lovely bowl of hot soup?

Visit Inchmahome Priory on the Lake of Menteith, an Augustinian monastery built in 1238 on a small island reached by boat.  Follow that with a lovely lunch at the Lake of Menteith hotel - either in the conservatory (bookings recommended) or in the lakeside bar, and watch the fishermen land their trout.

Just down the road is Nick Nairn's Cookery School - prebook a class and enjoy a day cooking (and eating!).   There is also a shop selling good quality cookware and ingredients.

In the evening visit our local pub in Brig o' Turk, The Byre Inn, for good food in relaxing surroundings (bookings recommended).   Lunch is also excellent - ale battered fish and chips is particularly good!  You can always be sure of a friendly welcome here;  dogs are allowed in the bar area where you can order a meal too.

We are 12 miles or so from Callander where there is a good selection of shops and restaurants.   We recommend The Old Bank for a good lunch of soup and sandwiches, and they have a delicious array of puddings (apricot and almond meringue is our favourite). Also Poppies Hotel has an amazing restaurant and a very friendly welcome.  Then there's Ciro's - a friendly Italian restaurant.  Visit the incallander website for all the information you could possibly want for the Trossachs area, or call in at the Rob Roy and Trossachs Information Centre in the centre of Callander.

Doune Castle is about 40 minutes drive away - parts of  Monty Python and the Holy Grail were filmed there.  Five minutes down the road from there visit the Argaty Red Kite Centre - central Scotland's only red kite feeding station.  

Dunblane Cathedral dates back to the 12th Century - visit the website for panoramic views.

Returning towards Callander, visit the Scottish Antique and Arts Centre at Buchany, a unique shopping experience that will certainly while away the time should the weather be against you.

For a day out with all the family visit Blair Drummond Safari and Adventure Park about 45 minutes away from Loch Katrine on the way to Stirling.

In Stirling itself, of course, a visit to the Castle is a must.  And the Wallace Monument, where you can follow the story of Sir William Wallace - martyr, patriot and Guardian of Scotland.  Enjoy a spooky afternoon at The Old Town Jail in Stirling, we've been told it's brilliant!

Drive up towards Crianlarich and stop off a Killin to visit the Falls of Dochert - a wonderful stretch of water with impressive waterfalls before the river tumbles into Loch Tay.  Visit at the weekend and then call into The Old Flax Mill restaurant for a fantastic carvery (at weekends) with all kinds of local meats cooked to perfection (on the A85).

For golf courses, Callander's 18 hole golf course has been voted among the top 10 of golf courses for visitors alongside Gleneagles, Turnberry and St Andrews.  Nearby Aberfoyle Golf Club is one of Scotland's most scenic and interesting golf courses with breathtaking views.  We have an assorted array of golf clubs we can rent to you at a nominal fee - including a left handed set!

We are only an hour or so from Glasgow and Edinburgh, where there is a massive array of shops and restaurants and wonderful places to visit.

This is just a sample of what there is to do and see in the area - we are sure there is something to suit all tastes.

For other information visit website - trossachs.co.uk, embracescotland.co.uk or incallander.co.uk