Episode 91: ‘The Last Days of Summer’ – Exploring the Trossachs (September)
Let’s explore the Trossachs on an autumnal trip to Loch Katrine, Aberfoyle and Loch Ard.
‘The Last Days of Summer’ is part of the series A Year in Scotland. This is the September episode.
In this story, we slowly watch the seasons change on an active trip to the Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park.
We start with a short hike at Loch Katrine – the birthplace of Scottish tourism. We’ll hear about Sir Walter Scott, Rob Roy and new ways the national park tries to make this place more accessible. We then follow the waterfall trail at The Lodge Forest Visitor Centre before returning to Aberfoyle. Our last stop is Loch Ard, one of the many lochs in the Trossachs.
After the story, I share my top tips for a trip to the Trossachs.
Disclaimer: All information provided in this podcast is based on personal travel experiences. Companies mentioned in the story or tips were active at the time of release. If you listen to episodes at a later point, note that this information may have changed in the meantime.
Resources
Book a cruise on Loch Katrine
Read up on the history of Loch Katrine and its role in tourism
Find out more about the trails at the Lodge Forest Visitor Centre
The history of the Women’s Timber Corps
Read up on the role of pine martens for red squirrel populations
5 Travel Tips for the Trossachs
1) Get aboard the Trossachs Explorer
The Trossachs Explorer bus runs from Drymen to Aberfoyle and on to Callander, and back. It is currently on its second pilot season and continues to run until Sunday, the 5th of October 2025. There are car parks in the villages, but you can also reach those more sustainably by bus from Glasgow or Stirling. Hopefully, the second year is as successful as the first and the Trossachs Explorer returns in years to come.
2) Hire bikes at Loch Katrine
If you’d like to spend more time on Loch Katrine, I recommend hiring some bikes from Katrine Wheelz by the pier and exploring the area on two wheels. You could start by taking the SS Sir Walter Scott across Loch Katrine to Stronachlachar – the journey takes about 2 hours. From there, cycle back for 13 miles on the paved road along the northern shore of Loch Katrine.
If you prefer a guided experience on e-bikes, get in touch with Trossachs EBike Tours.
3) Hike in the Loch Ard Forest
Loch Ard is surrounded by a large forest with hiking and cycling trails. One of my favourite paths leads to the Forth Valley Viewpoint, which is actually where I recorded my interview with Francesca Lo Verso last year. We spoke about nature connectedness and mental health – go back to season 6, if you haven’t listened yet.
The walks at Loch Ard are particularly beautiful in autumn, when the leaves of the mixed forest around the loch change colours. It’s a great spot at this time of the year.
4) Get a camping permit for the National Park
From the beginning of March until the end of September, you need a camping permit to legally wild camp in the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park. There are many designated camping areas in the places we visited in today’s story. The site on Loch Achray offers incredible views of Ben A’an, but there are also lovely spots along the Three Lochs Forest Drive – a scenic route through the Forest Park near Aberfoyle.
There’s nothing quite like camping in the Trossachs, waking up to a morning swim in a loch, and beating everyone else to the trailheads in the forest.
5) Paddle at the Narrows
If you have a paddleboard, I’ve got a very special place for you, because Loch Ard is my favourite paddleboarding spot in the Trossachs.
Launching from a small beach near the eastern end of the loch, you can paddle a bit further east until you reach a calm river running off from the loch. It’s usually deep enough to paddle through, and widens out every now and then to form tranquil ponds with lily pads and reedbeds. Keep going as far as you like and return the same way – the water doesn’t flow very fast and it’s easy to paddle back upstream to Loch Ard.
