Scenic Drives Around Loch Lomond And The Trossachs
If you’re looking for a scenic drive in Scotland, then Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park is the perfect place to go. In this article we’ve chosen some of the most popular driving routes near our Loch Lomond Lodges, whether you are looking for a short trip, road trip or a full day of scenic driving. With many beautiful picnic spots along the way, be sure to stock up the car and make the most of the natural beauty of Loch Lomond.
Scenic Route Viewpoints
With 720 square miles of the National Park to explore, it can be difficult to know where to find the best views. As part of the Scottish Scenic Routes initiative, in 2015 a unique competition was launched for young architects to design a viewpoint that would blend in with the natural surroundings, encouraging visitors to take in the stunning landscapes of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs.
The four exceptional viewpoints are conveniently located along the main roads that loop through the northern and eastern parts of the National Park and are ready to be found on your next Loch Lomond road trip. Don’t forget your camera though, snap the perfect picture and tag us @cameronlodges on Twitter or Instagram.
Here are details of where you can find each of the four viewpoints
1. LookOut, Loch Voil
LookOut can be found on the land where the shores of Loch Voil meet Loch Doine, past Balquhidder, up the glen off the A84. As the structure has mirrored surfaces, you might have to have a good look to find it!
2. Woven Sound, Falls of Falloch
You’ll find Woven Sound at Falls of Falloch along the A82, around 3 miles south of Crianlarich. The viewpoint effortlessly blends into the natural landscape and provides a brand new perspective of the famous waterfall.
3. Faerie Hollow, Loch Lubnaig beag
Located close to the Highland Boundary Fault Line, you’ll discover Faerie Hollow by the small picnic site at Loch Lubnaig, between Callander and Strathyre on the A84.
4. Ac Ceann Mòr, Inveruglas
You’ll easily find An Ceann Mòr, also known as the Inveruglas Pyramid, just 17 miles up the A82 from Cameron Lodges, opposite Loch Sloy power station. From this viewpoint you can look forward to views of the Arrochar Alps and Ben Lomond, and there’s also a visitor centre where you can find out more about the local area.
Can You Drive Around Loch Lomond?
Unfortunately it’s not possible to drive round Loch Lomond. While the western shore is easily accessible by the A82, the majority of the eastern shore is only accessible on foot or by boat. This part of the loch’s shore makes up the Rowardennan to Inverarnan leg of the West Highland Way.
However, you can take the opportunity to explore other parts of The Trossachs National Park when you take the A85 towards Crianlarich and then the A84 down towards Stirling before taking the A811 back across to the A82. If you choose to take this route, you’ll visit the Queen Elizabeth Forest Park, home to iconic views of sparkling lochs including Loch Katrine and Loch Ard, wooded hills and rugged mountains including Ben A’an, Ben Vane and Ben Venue.
Three Lochs Forest Drive
The Queen Elizabeth Forest Park is also home to the Three Lochs Forest Drive, a scenic 7 mile drive that takes you past 3 picturesque lochs – Loch Drunkie, Lochan Reòidhte and Loch Achray. The starting point of the Three Lochs Forest Drive is on the east side of The Duke’s Pass (A821), about 2 miles north of Aberfoyle.
This circular drive offers plenty of opportunities to stop and enjoy a picnic. Loch Drunkie is a popular pit stop for families due to its accessible toilets and play facilities, available at a small charge between Easter and October. From the Little Drunkie Trail to the more challenging Loch Achray Trail, with its uneven rocks and pathways, and several steep slopes, there is a wide variety of walking trails to suit walkers of all ages and abilities.
For more information on the Three Lochs Forest Drive, visit the Forest and Land Scotland website.
The Duke’s Pass
Named after the Duke of Montrose, who built the pass in the 19th century to provide better access to his estate, the Duke’s Pass is a public road that connects Aberfoyle to Loch Katrine. The Duke’s Pass has been a popular driving route in Loch Lomond since the Victorian times, when it was reclassified from a private to public road to provide easier access for tourists flocking to explore the area that inspired Sir Walter Scott’s well-known poem, The Lady of the Lake.
Regarded as one of the best drives in Scotland, you’ll pass scenic spots such as Loch Achray, and when you reach Loch Katrine, you can take to the water on the famous Sir Walter Scott steamship, take a stroll along the loch’s edge, or cycle the north shore, or simply find a scenic spot to enjoy a picnic from.
After a long day’s driving, consider booking a luxury lodge stay at Cameron Lodges to relax and rejuvenate, ready for the day ahead. Positioned on the south western shores of Loch Lomond, our self-catering accommodation options include our luxury lodges, bungalows, cottages and apartments. Our idyllic location offers plentiful scenic driving routes or road trips to enjoy throughout your stay. While the Scottish Highlands are on your doorstep, you’re also within easy driving distance of Scotland’s two largest cities, Glasgow and Edinburgh.