Information for visitors to Callander
An Introduction to Callander, Scotland
Callander is about 15 miles north west of Stirling at the southern end of the Pass of Leny. Ben Ledi, the first 'Ben' is 2 miles away.
Main road access to Callander from other parts of the UK is very simple as Callander is just 14 miles from the M9 motorway, yet totally highland in nature and surroundings.
Public transport to Stirling is adequately provided by the national bus and rail network from all parts of the UK and Scotland. There is a frequent local bus service from Stirling to Callander. At peak periods, trains run from Glasgow and Edinburgh to Stirling about every half hour. Timetable information may be obtained at local bus stations, bus stops and from any rail station.
Geography
Being centrally located in Scotland, a huge variety of day trips are possible within easy driving distance. Scotlands main shopping towns of Stirling, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Perth are all within one hours drive. These also offer a range of other attractions such as museums, art galleries, historical buildings etc.
Callander town
Callander itself is an attractive town at the convergance of two highland rivers and in an area of outstanding natural beauty known as The Trossachs on the edge of the Scottish highlands. Within a 5 minute drive of Callander are Loch Vennachar, Loch Achray and Loch Lubnaig. Add 10 minutes to that and you can include Loch Katrine and the Lake of Menteith. Loch Lomond is just an hour away. These Lochs between them offer sailing, water ski-ing, steamer trips, fishing and of course magnificent scenery. Callander is the eastern gateway to Scotland's Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park.
These scenic surroundings combined with the numbers and variety of Lochs and rivers make the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park a natural playground for even the most demanding visitor.
Things to do, places to see
Here is a small selection of things to do around callander
Callander |
Balqhuidder |
Doune |
The Meadows Walk to Strathyre
The Meadows car parks at the west end of Callander Main Street give access to a walkway
beside the River Teith. The footpath starts at the foot of the old preaching 
mound of
'Tom na Chessaig' and beside the ancient graveyard then follows the river Teith upstream
to the point where the Garbh Uisge and Eas Gobhain meet to become the River Teith.
Follow the path to the old Oban railway line which is now a cycleway / footpath leading past the remains of a Roman marching camp to the Pass of Leny. Turn right at the road crossing then right again after the Lade Inn to follow the road back to Callander.
Bracklinn Falls and Callander Crags
This walk a mixture of woodland and crag-top walking, and includes a visit to some waterfalls. This route is not suitable for walkers with dogs as it passes through pasture with animals.
From Callander Crags which overlook the town there are good views of the mountains to the north and west and over the Callander and the Trossachs towards Ben Lomond and Loch Lomond, as well as towards Doune and Stirling.
At the East end of Callander, walk up Bracklinn Rd for about half a mile to the
Bracklinn Falls carpark. Go down the three steps from the car park and turn along
the path to the Falls. At first the view to the right is hidden by trees, but it soon
opens up and the main road can be seen crossing the level plain towards Doune. Follow the
signs and descend to the Falls 
crossing them by the
footbridge. Bear left and onto a path which follows the river upstream then rises to the
woods and onto a track which curves around the hill. Ben Ledi and Ben Lomond beyond the
Trossachs are seen to the west.
The track passes through a gate into a forest. It now drops down to cross Keltie Water . Here is another waterfall and deep pool (Scouts pool) below the bridge . Climb the path up the other side of the bridge and walk up the track to the public road then turn left for nearly a mile. As you walk down this quiet lane, watch for a path on the right marked ‘Callander Crags’. This climbs steeply up through awkward paths in scrubby woodland to the ridge. At the top is the cairn built to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Jubilee and restored in 2000. This affords a magnificent view to Ben Ledi, Ben Lomond beyond the Trossachs and to the peaks of Ben Vorlich and Stuc a’ Chroin on the north side. To the south-east are Stirling Castle and the Wallace Monument with the Ochil Hills beyond.
The path descends after the cairn, and immediately after a scramble to a small bridge turns left off the main path down steps through the trees. There are many steps before coming to a forest track. Turn left onto this and then left again when it meets the road which leads back to the car park where the walk began.
Back at the bridge on the ridge, this walk may be extended by continuing along the ridge and then decending to the west end of Callander. This unfortunately means walking back through the town to get your car.
Toy Museum
See almost every toy imaginable in this family run museum. Enjoyed by adults and children. Over five rooms packed with childhood memories, and two collectors shops filled with toys old and new, books and bric a brac.
Open Easter to end October (closed Mon) 11am to 430pm.
Museum charge: - £1.50 adults, £1.00 concessions, SOp children. Family tickets available.
111 Main St, Callander
Rob Roy and Trossachs Visitor Centre
Situated
in Ancaster Square, Callander, in a redundant church seen here before its convertion, the
Rob Roy Tourist Information Centre provides tourist information for The Trossachs (
and the rest of Scotland ) and an audio visual exhibition about Rob Roy, a folk hero
of Scotland from times just before 'the 45'. You can read his story from an unusual
source on the Rob Roy page. When you come here as a visitor you can see Rob Roy's Grave in
beautiful Balqhuidder glen in the heart Scotland .
Rob Roy and The Trossachs were featured in the 19th century in the novel 'Rob Roy' by Sir Walter Scott who was a visitor to the Trossachs and who lodged in a castle between Callander and Doune.
Weekends only January & February.
March to May & October to December 10.00 to 17.00
June to September 09.30 to 18.00
The Trossachs and Kilmahog Woollen Mills
Trossachs Woollen Mill.
Watch the Trossachs Lady operate the 1920s looms, manufacturing the popular "Macgregor" and Trossachs travel rugs. A selection of ladies and gents outerwear & country wear is always on offer. The Trossachs larder shop offers a range of whiskies, wines, beers, preserves, honey and haggis. Speciality Scottish pancakes are a speciality in the coffee shop.
1m west of Callander
Open daily all year
Kilmahog Woollen Mill.
An 18th c. mill which today offers Highland dress, top quality tartans, kilts and a
large selection of Aran, cashmere and 100% lambswool knitwear.
The Crofters Restaurant serves a special Rob Roy’s lunch and you can indulge in a
Scottish Big Breakfast before you set of for your exploration of Scotland.
Open 7 days a week all year. Free Parking.
(1 mile west of Callander)
Loch Lubnaig
Reputed to translate as 'the Bent Loch' Loch Lubnaig is about 3 miles in length.The A84 trunk road is on the east side and the Callander to Strathyre footpath / cycleway on the west. A number of picnic spots with parking are to be found on the east side by the road. In still weather, the unbelievable reflections are a joy.
Loch Venachar
From
Callander, walk, cycle or drive to the car park on the Invertrossachs road enjoy some
great scenery and a little haven of quiet just a mile from town. To the North can be seen
Scotlands first highland Ben - Ben Ledi. Interesting rock samples can be found when
water levels are low. On the northern side lies the road from Callander to the Trossachs
and Loch Katrine via Brig o' Turk. Several Loch-side parking / picnic spots offer superb
views.
(1 mile west of Callander)
Rob Roy's Grave
Situated
in the grounds of Balquhidder Church, Rob Roy's Grave lies in a beautiful spot at the foot
of Kirkton Glen and is only a short distance from Callander. As well as Rob Roy's grave,
beside which lie the graves of his wife, son and brother, there are other interesting
tombstones here as well as the ruins of the old church. An interesting information board
giving information about the graveyard is fixed to the wall of the old church
If you continue up the road past Loch Voil and Loch Doine you come to the end of the public road at Inverlochlarig where you may leave the car in the car park whilst you walk up the glen past the site of Rob Roy's house. His earlier home 'Monachyle Tuaragh' was on the south side just at the narrow point between the two lochs. If you are an enthusiastic walker, you may continue from here over the 'Bealach nam Corp' (the pass of the dead) to Loch Lomond. .
Blair Drummond Liesure and Safari Park
Drive-through Wild Animal Reserves; Boat Safari round Chimps Island and Waterfowl Sanctuary: Pets Farm; Performing Sea Lion Shows; Adventure Playground, Amusements Galore; Giant Astraglide; Pedal Boats; Barbecues; Picnic Areas; Restaurant and Bar; Gift Shops; Face Painting; Flying Fox Cable Slide across Lake; Facilities for Disabled and much morel Exit 10— M9-A84.
Open: Daily 1st Apr-2nd Oct. lOam-5.3Opm
Last admission 430pm.
(10 mile east of Callander on A84)
Doune Castle
A magnificent 14th century
courtyard castle, once the ancestral home of the Earls of Moray. It is steeped in history
and was occupied by Bonnie Prince Charlie’s Jacobite forces in 1745. It is now run by
Historic Scotland.
Open all year. Closed Thursday afternoons and Fridays in the winter months. Situated at the easterly end of the village of Doune on the right as you look towards Dunblane.
(6 mile east of Callander on A84)
Inchmahome Priory
Situated about 8 miles from Callander on the Lake of Menteith, these are the
ruins of a 13th 
century
Augustinian Monastery. At Port of Menteith take the ferry for the trip to the island
and watch for some of the birds that visit or live on the Lake, including grebe,
goldeneye, tufted duck, mallards, geese, herons and swans.
The priory was founded in 1238 and in 1547 was used as a safe haven from the English army by the young Mary Queen of Scots. With a little imagination you can take yourself back to those tumultuous times and guess how young Mary felt here.
Open April to September, Monday to Saturday 09:30 - 18:30 and Sunday 14:00 - 18:30.
8 mile south of Callander on A81)