|
Trossachs B&B in Strathyre - Creagan House brings
you
A Trossachs Guide
The Trossachs, strictly speaking is the small, but very beautiful area between two lochs - Loch Achray and Loch Katrine, and two mountains - Ben A'an and Ben Venue. The name is said to come from the Gaelic word meaning 'the bristly region', which is quite a good description of the appearance of the hills around the Trossachs.
For centuries the Trossachs was the hideaway of bands of highland robbers or
'caterans', this being a possible origin for the name 'Loch Katrine'. There is a
mountain pass leading west from the Trossachs which bears the Gaelic name 
'Bealach
nam Bo', which means the 'pass of the cattle' - a legacy from the days of cattle rustling
when the 'lifted' cattle were spirited away into the hills.
Loch Katrine is the largest loch in the immediate area and is the home of the 100 year old steamer 'SS Sir Walter Scott'. Loch Katrine leads away to the north west where at the distant end you find Stronachlachar which can be reached by steamer on its morning cruise from the Trossachs pier. On the northern shore of Loch Katrine is a private road owned by the Scottish water board. This road is open to walkers and cyclists and makes a wonderful day out for the visitor with a little energy to spare. Bikes can be taken to Stronachlachar on the steamer and the return trip made by bike on the lochside road.
For the walker, the two mountains of the Trossachs are very rewarding climbs.
Ben A'an is less than 1500 feet but the summit provides a wonderful vantage point giving
unbelievable views down Loch Katrine to the 'Arrochar Alps'. Ben Venue, on the opposite
shore is about 2500 feet and on a good day provides views to the northern mountains, Goat
Fell on Arran and to the mountains of Jura on the west coast.
The Trossachs village of Brig o' Turk is the scene of a new acquisition of the Scottish
woodlands Trust - the Glenfinglas property. The trust are developing 
Glenfinglas
with woodland walks, walks by the Glenfinglas reservoir, and an excellent circular
route for mountain bikes taking the rider high into the mountains.
Leading to the west of the Trossachs heart is the 'Duke's Pass', named after a past Duke of Montrose. The Duke's pass leads over the high pass to Aberfoyle. This road affords splendid scenery and also provides access to the Queen Elizabeth Forest Park where a variety of forest tracks and roads are open to walkers and - for a small charge - to motorists.
The Trossachs is also the name now used within the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park to define the eastern part of the Park, that is the area between Aberfoyle, Callander and up to Balquhidder and including Strathyre - described in detail on the Strathyre page.
Tel: 01877 384 638
Email here
|
