Local Attractions

Blair Drummond Safari and Adventure Park

Fun for all the family! A visit to the park combines a mixture of driving through animal reserves then parking and walking through pets farm, playing in one of the many adventure areas, taking in the sea lion and falconry displays and visiting chimp island. There are many picnic and BBQ areas around the park as well as restaurant and bar facilities. We recommend about 3 - 4 hours to visit and see all the animals and attractions.

Blair Drummond Safari Park and Adventure Park Blair Drummond by Stirling FK9 4UR Tel: 01786 841 456 Fax: 01786 841491 Email: info@blairdrummond.com Web site: www.blairdrummond.com

Stirling Castle

Without doubt one of the grandest of all Scottish castles, both in its situation on a commanding rock outcrop and in its architecture. The Great Hall and the Gatehouse of James IV, the marvellous Palace of James V, the Chapel Royal of James VI and the artillery fortifications of the 16th to 18th centuries are all of outstanding interest.

Strirling Castle Castle Wynd Stirling FK8 1EJ T: 01786 450000 Website: www.historic-scotland.gov.uk

Loch Katrine

Loch Katrine was enlarged in 1859 to become the first reliable piped water supply for the city of Glasgow. The loch is famous for its magnificent scenery and for the Steamship Sir Walter Scott which makes daily trips up the loch with its cargo of tourists. Glengyle, at the west end of the Loch was the land of the MacGregors, birthplace of Rob Roy and the MacGregor Clan burial ground is on an artificial island at the west end of the loch.

Loch Katrine Steamship Sir Walter Scott

Loch Katrine Steamship Sir Walter Scott is a major attraction to visitors in the Trossachs but few realise the story behind the old steam ship which has plied these waters for over 100 years.

'Sir Walter Scott’ is named after the 19th Century poet who wrote "The Lady of the Lake" and is the last of a series of ships to ply the loch. The story goes that the first steamer on Loch Katrine was sent to the bottom by the sailors who had been employed to row the previous craft!

She is 110 feet long, 19 feet wide and weighs 115 tons, and has sailed the waters of Loch Katrine since 1900. S.S. Sir Walter Scott was built by Denny Bros Ltd at Dumbarton on the River Clyde, transported by barge up Loch Lomond and then dragged by horse-drawn cart up the unbelievably steep hill from Inversnaid and then overland to Stronachlachar at the west end of Loch Katrine where she was re-assembled and launched. She still has the original 3-cylinder triple expansion engine and has two locomotive-type boilers. The vessel has a crew of five, and is the only surviving screw steamer in regular passenger service in Scotland.

For more information and times of sailings, tel 01877 376 316. (8 miles west of Callander) Website: www.incallander.co.uk/steam.htm

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 Charlies 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 miles east of Callander on A84). Website: www.historic-scotland.gov.uk

Rob Roy's Grave (can you see his ghost?)

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.

Callander Golf Club

Callander Golf Club is a picturesque, undulating partially wooded parkland course set in the heart of the Trossachs.

Tom Morris designed the original first 9 holes and Willie Fernie the second 9 giving a par 66, 5126 yard challenging 18 holes medal course.

The view from the 15th green looking over the course to Ben Ledi is breathtaking and when recalling the course, the one which most visitors remember.

Callander Golf Club Tel: 01877 330 090 Fax: 01877 330 062 E-mail: callandergc@nextcall.net

National Park Cycling

The national park has options for all kinds of cycling; from short hour-long rides to full scale long distance touring; on-road, off-road or on dedicated cycle track.

Waymarked Cycle Routes

Forest Enterprisehas way-marked cycle routes in many of it’s woodlands within the park boundary.

• Loch Ard Forest Cycling Queen Elizabeth Forest Park Tel: 01877 382383
• Achray Forest Queen Elizabeth Forest Park Tel: 01877382383
• Ardgartan Visitor Centre, near Arrochar, Argyll Forest Park. Tel:01877382383
• The Lowland Highland Trail, part of National Cycle Network Route 7, passes through the park. It runs between Killin in the northeast and Drymen in the south, via Glen Ogle, Lochearnhead, Strathyre, Callander, Aberfoyle and Gartmore. The route uses forest tracks, traffic-free trails and minor roads and is regarded as one of the highlights of the National Cycle Network.

For more infomation and maps please visit this website: www.incallander.co.uk/trossachscycling.htm