Out and about from Callander

This page describes just some of the villages in the east and central Trossachs.

Villages near Callander

Doune is between Callander and Stirling at the junction with the Dunblane road. It was once famous for the manufacture of pistols and one or two street names reflect this industry.

Shops

The shops which interested me were the antique and 'collectables' shops. At the village cross are two 'collectables' shops. The best for me is 'Jimmucks' which houses an unbelievable collection of everything from the mundane to the unreal. Nothing is expensive and for those who know about antiques, there has got to be some real treasure in here! On the right just down the street towards Dunblane is another antique shop which is a 'higher class' establishment - although maybe not as much fun as 'Jimmucks'.

History

Apart from pistol making, Doune is also known for its castle which is at the east end of the village. The castle is well preserved and has quite a mottley collection of past residents. Note that the access to the castle is NOT via castle St. Towards the east end of the village, the castle is signed off a little street which goes off at an angle to the right as you start down the little dip in the road.

The bridge on the main road is said to have been built by James the (?) of Scotland when the ferryman acted up a bit awkward!

Things to do

Walk around, visit the Deanston distillery, visit the Blair-Drummond safari park between Doune and Stirling.

Strathyre

Strathyre is a small village some 7 miles west of Callander on the A84. Originally a settlement for disposessed crofters after the 45, Strathyre probably had it's hayday during the years of the old Dunblane - Oban Oban railway.

The railway is gone now and the original village which was on the other (south) side of the river was slowly destroyed by the railway. The railway has gone now and the activity in the village has gone with it but it remains a nice place for a visit and acces to the cylceway can be made here.

If you like water sports, there's a white water centre on the river at the east end of the village.

BONNIE STRATHYRE

There’s meadows in Lanark and mountains in Skye
And pastures in hielands and lowlands forbye
But there’s nae greater luck that the heart could desire
Than to herd the fine cattle in bonnie Strathyre

Oh its up in the morn and awa’ to the hill
When the lang simmer days are sae warm and sae still
Till the peak o’ Ben Vorlich is girdled wi’fire
And the evening falls gently in bonnie Strathyre

In the days of the train, the first stop northwest of Callander was Strathyre. The old village was on the other side of the river from where it is now but the appearance of the railway line in the 19th century pushed the village to where it is now on the north side of the river. The village itself is quite attractive, but of no great interest other than a lovely location. It was made famous through the song 'Bonnie Strathyre'.

An Incident at Strathyre!

In the days of steam a goods train was on its way up to Strathyre from Callander when a coupling broke. In those days automatic braking systems were still a thing of the future and the goods wagons rolled all the way back to Callander, picking up speed all the way before coming to an abrupt stop and creating mayhem when the line was switched to a siding which was a 'dead end'.

Brig-o-Turk

Brig o Turk is between The LADE INN and Loch Katrine on the Aberfoyle Road. It's a nice drive from Callander, with some excellent views of Lochs Venachar and Achray. Have a cuppie at the Brig o Turk tearoom.

The unusual name is derived from the Gaelic word 'tuirk' which means 'the boar' and applies also to one of the mountains behind the village.

Shops

Things to do

Walk up the road from the tea room and have a look in the old graveyard 200m on the right. There are some interesting stones, and also a wonderfull raised slab featuring a casting of a shepherds crook.

If you have a mountain bike, carry on up this road, taking the right fork for a wonderful ride up Glen Finglas and the loch of the same name.

Aberfoyle

Shops

Things to do

Spend a while at the Scottish woolcentre where you can learn about the Scottish wool trade and see some shepherds at work with their sheepdogs.

Visit the forest park as you approach Aberfoyle - good parking, information, activities and forest drives.

If you have the time take the 15 mile drive up by Loch Ard to Inversnaid for more scenery.

The old church of Aberfoyle has some interesting gravestones and two old 'mortsafes' at the kirk door, a relic from the days of Burke and Hare when even your body was not safe! The mortesafes were heavy iron slabs place on top of the coffin an left there until the deceased was of no possible use for research.

Inversnaid

Shops

Things to do

Take to the west Highland way and get someone to collect you at Ardlui or Rowardennan.

Call in to Stronachlacher at the eastern end of Loch Katrine and see the steamship 'Sir Walter Scott'.

Lochearnhead

Shops

Things to do

Walk up the old railway pathway and see magnificent Glenogle as you walk over the famous viaduct 200 feet above the modern road and the military road built by the redcoats.

Take a look at the Lochearnhead watersports centre - something there for most able-bodied people!

Balquhidder

Shops

Things to do

Visit the Grave of Rob Roy MacGregor, his wife, Mary and his two sons, Coll and Robert. You'll find them in the graveyard of the old church. Lots of other interesting grave stones and slabs.

Drive up Glen Buckie and walk past the ruins of the summer shielings once used by the highland families who thrived here before the Jacobite rising of 1715.

Visit the deserted clachan of Invercarnaig at the west end of Loch Doine to see the old burial ground of the Macgregors of Glencarnaig.

Park at the head of the glen at Inverlochlarig to climb Ben More and Stobinian. (boots and 4 hours) or take the less energetic walk past the site of Rob Roy's farm to 'Bealach nam Corp' - the pass of the dead by which route the dead of the MacGregor Clan were taken on their last journey to the burial ground at Loch Lomond.

Crianlarich

Shops

Things to do

Not much of a village, but the real interest here is the railway station where you can catch a train on the west highland railway to Oban or Fort William. From Fort william in season you can extend your trip by steam train to Mallaig and even cross the ferry to Armadale on the Isle of Skye.

Comrie

About 28 miles / 45 minutes from Callander via Lochearnhead and St Fillans. This was once a busier place due to the Army training camp at Cultybraggan. The railway from Perth to Lochearnhead once passed through Comrie by little trace remains although several stretches are accessible at pointe between Comrie anf St Fillans.

Shops

Essential stores for local people but not really for the visitors although there are one or two craft type shops.