Walk: Autumnal Loch Ard

📌 The Trossachs, Stirling
★★

The vast forests of the Trossachs explode into a spectacular array of fiery colours around late October, making this part of the National Park one of the best parts of Scotland to visit during autumn. Tracks around the south side of Loch Ard offer occasional glimpses across the sheltered waters of the loch, eventually revealing an ultimate, quintessential Trossachs vista on the higher return route. Long stretches of track could be a bit dull, especially at other times of the year (hence the lower star rating); nevertheless it’s a good spot to immerse yourself in peaceful surroundings.

📷 Chronological photo guide

🌍 Location

📌 Start / finish on minor road immediately south of Kinlochard

🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NN 447020

🛰️ GPS coordinates: 56.185493,-4.503515

❌ No public transport within 1 mi

🚗 Car park

📝 Key info

▶ 11 km / 7 mi | ▲ 350 m | ⌛ 3 hr

Features: 💧 Loch Ard

⬤ Moderate | Excellent forest tracks almost throughout; two short, steep paths link track sections.

➡️ Clockwise circuit: start – Blairhullichan – Couligarten – track along shore at 🧭 NN 461015 – leave track at 🧭 NN 464007 – rejoin higher track at 🧭 NN 463004 – aqueduct on north side of Druim nan Mial – leave track at 🧭 NN 446014 – start

Download file for GPS

🥾 On our last visit

Wildlife: A red squirrel, ducks on the loch, small birds and distant deer noises.

Weather: Low cloud lifting after overnight rain; soon mostly sunny (at low levels) with little wind and temperature in single figures.

October 2016