"One of Scotland's great woodlands, hiding place of the Stone of Destiny and birthplace of the Scottish Parliament"
Walk directions
Leave from the west end of the car park and turn left into Manse Road. Cross a narrow bridge over the River Forth (the river has its source near here although it is more usually associated with Edinburgh) and continue along the grass beside the road until the first junction on the right. Turn right and head uphill, passing the spot where the Covenanters' Inn used to be. A short distance past here you'll find open countryside and the start of the Great Forest of Loch Ard.
Head straight on along the forest road. Continue straight ahead until you come to a turning on the right with a green waymarker, signposted Milton Car Park. Turn right here.
Follow this waymarked trail through the forest almost to the banks of Duchray Water. This rises on the north face of Ben Lomond and joins with the Avondhu from Loch Ard to create the River Forth near Aberfoyle. The path now curves round to the right, continues to descend slightly and then reaches a junction.
Turn right and follow the path through the trees to the north banks of Lochan Spling. The path then swings left and, at the end of the Lochan, comes to a crossroads. Turn right at a waymarker pole, cross a small stream and head slightly uphill.
When the path reaches the T-junction, turn left and rejoin the main forest access road continuing along it to the T-junction.
Continue past the site of the inn, then turn left on to Manse Road and return to the start.
Lying between Aberfoyle and the foothills of Ben Lomond, this area of woodland is part of the Queen Elizabeth Forest Park. It stretches from just north of Drymen almost to the banks of Loch Katrine. It may look like just another conifer plantation but a walk through any part of it will reveal a... surprising variety of landscapes, flora and fauna. Forestry Management Most of the forested land was purchased by the Forestry Commission in the early 1930s. It was planted straight away and by the closing years of the century consisted of mature woodland. Ongoing thinning started in the 1950s and areas were felled towards the end of the century. Some 60,000 tons of timber are extracted each year from the park as a whole. With Britain importing about 90 per cent of its timber needs, the increase in harvesting the park's mature trees will help to reduce this figure. The area south of Lochan Spling was initially planted with Norway spruce, Sitka spruce, larch and Scots pine. Most of the spruce together with some of the larch and pine was felled in the 1980s and replaced with Douglas fir, larch and Sitka spruce. But native broadleaves have been planted too, including 10,000 oak trees to augment the remains of the ancient oak woods that once covered most of the area. Birch and rowan have been regenerating naturally. Part of this area has been left to mature to provide magnificent specimens, the equal of anything in European forests. The entire area is enclosed within a deer fence to let the trees establish. Wilderness Areas Wildlife is abundant, including red squirrels and capercaillie. Decaying pines, which have been uprooted in gales or just collapsed, support woodboring insects and provide a ready food supply for a whole host of birds. There are peat bogs and wilderness areas like the one just south of Duchray water in the old wood of Drumore. Here there are no trails, but amidst this jungle-like habitat can be found blueberry, chickweed, wintergreen, cowwheat and cowberry. You will probably see some evidence of red and roe deer. If you're quiet, you may see rare birds like blackcock and woodpecker. Changing attitudes to conservation and forestry management have helped to bring about a gradual reshaping of the forest to provide diverse tree species, a wider range of habitats and an environment rich in wildlife. The Covenanters' Inn, which was at Kirkton, was where the Nationalists, led by John McCormick, met in 1949 to launch a petition, which they called the Second Covenant. The signatories called on the government of the day to give Scotland a devolved parliament. Over 2 million people signed the petition but it was not until the closing years of the 20th century, and after much argument, campaigning and voting, that their wishes were granted.
"One of Scotland's great woodlands, hiding place of the Stone of Destiny and birthplace of the Scottish Parliament"
Walk details
2hrs
Difficulty:
Easy
Gradient:
Gentle
Distance:
3.5 miles (5.7kms)
Ascent:
98ft (30m)
Walk directions
Leave from the west end of the car park and turn left into Manse Road. Cross a narrow bridge over the River Forth (the river has its source near here although it is more usually associated with Edinburgh) and continue along the grass beside the road until the first junction on the right. Turn right and head uphill, passing the spot where the Covenanters' Inn used to be. A short distance past here you'll find open countryside and the start of the Great Forest of Loch Ard.
1 of 6
Head straight on along the forest road. Continue straight ahead until you come to a turning on the right with a green waymarker, signposted Milton Car Park. Turn right here.
2 of 6
Follow this waymarked trail through the forest almost to the banks of Duchray Water. This rises on the north face of Ben Lomond and joins with the Avondhu from Loch Ard to create the River Forth near Aberfoyle. The path now curves round to the right, continues to descend slightly and then reaches a junction.
3 of 6
Turn right and follow the path through the trees to the north banks of Lochan Spling. The path then swings left and, at the end of the Lochan, comes to a crossroads. Turn right at a waymarker pole, cross a small stream and head slightly uphill.
4 of 6
When the path reaches the T-junction, turn left and rejoin the main forest access road continuing along it to the T-junction.
5 of 6
Continue past the site of the inn, then turn left on to Manse Road and return to the start.
Lying between Aberfoyle and the foothills of Ben Lomond, this area of woodland is part of the Queen Elizabeth Forest Park. It stretches from just north of Drymen almost to the banks of Loch Katrine. It may look like just another conifer plantation but a walk through any part of it will reveal a... surprising variety of landscapes, flora and fauna. Forestry Management Most of the forested land was purchased by the Forestry Commission in the early 1930s. It was planted straight away and by the closing years of the century consisted of mature woodland. Ongoing thinning started in the 1950s and areas were felled towards the end of the century. Some 60,000 tons of timber are extracted each year from the park as a whole. With Britain importing about 90 per cent of its timber needs, the increase in harvesting the park's mature trees will help to reduce this figure. The area south of Lochan Spling was initially planted with Norway spruce, Sitka spruce, larch and Scots pine. Most of the spruce together with some of the larch and pine was felled in the 1980s and replaced with Douglas fir, larch and Sitka spruce. But native broadleaves have been planted too, including 10,000 oak trees to augment the remains of the ancient oak woods that once covered most of the area. Birch and rowan have been regenerating naturally. Part of this area has been left to mature to provide magnificent specimens, the equal of anything in European forests. The entire area is enclosed within a deer fence to let the trees establish. Wilderness Areas Wildlife is abundant, including red squirrels and capercaillie. Decaying pines, which have been uprooted in gales or just collapsed, support woodboring insects and provide a ready food supply for a whole host of birds. There are peat bogs and wilderness areas like the one just south of Duchray water in the old wood of Drumore. Here there are no trails, but amidst this jungle-like habitat can be found blueberry, chickweed, wintergreen, cowwheat and cowberry. You will probably see some evidence of red and roe deer. If you're quiet, you may see rare birds like blackcock and woodpecker. Changing attitudes to conservation and forestry management have helped to bring about a gradual reshaping of the forest to provide diverse tree species, a wider range of habitats and an environment rich in wildlife. The Covenanters' Inn, which was at Kirkton, was where the Nationalists, led by John McCormick, met in 1949 to launch a petition, which they called the Second Covenant. The signatories called on the government of the day to give Scotland a devolved parliament. Over 2 million people signed the petition but it was not until the closing years of the 20th century, and after much argument, campaigning and voting, that their wishes were granted.
