Great Trossachs Path
The Great Trossachs Path is one of Scotland's Great Trails. The path, between Inversnaid and Callander, goes through the second-largest nature reserve in Britain, an area the size of Glasgow.
The path connects with other Great Trails, Rob Roy Way, West Highland Way and Three Lochs Way. It is also ideal for cycling, with sections on NCN7 and alongside Loch Katrine.
Great Trossachs Reserve
The reserve has had over 2.5 million native trees planted in the last decade, part of a 200-year plan to revitalise the forest for animals and people. The path provides easy access to multiple walking and cycling trails.
More Information
This guide details the route of the path, with ideas of detours for shorter walks and experiences close to the trail's route. You can also follow links to many of our more detailed local guides. I also recommend visiting The Trossachs Trail, Great Trossachs Forest and Loch Katrine websites.
Great Trossachs App
The Great Trossachs Forest also has a free app available at mobile app stores. The app uses GPS to pinpoint the location on an interactive map, highlighting the route, point of interest and other information. This useful app has been available for some time. It is now even more effective whilst walking or cycling, as network data coverage has significantly improved in the Trossachs, with some blackspots taken out thanks to new connectivity.
Here are some answers to questions that you may have about the Great Trossachs Path.
How long does it take to walk Great Trossachs Path?
The Great Trossachs Path is 30 miles long and takes 2-3 days to walk. You could book a night roughly halfway in one of the Loch Katrine Eco Lodges by Trossachs Pier, or at Loch Achray Campsite. Note there are camping bylaws in operation.
Which direction should I walk Great Trossachs Path?
We've based this guide on travelling between Inversnaid and Callander, but you could choose to walk or cycle in the opposite direction.
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Arklet Falls
Great Trossachs Path Route
We’ve broken the Great Trossachs Path route into smaller chunks, from Invernsaid to Callender.
INVERSNAID PIER TO RSPB INVERSNAID VISITOR GATEWAY
Inversnaid, by Loch Lomond, is on the West Highland Way and one of the two RSPB reserves in the National Park. Loch Lomond is one of the five lochs on the walk, with the beautiful Arklet Falls close to the pier.
At Inversnaid, there are many excellent walks. You can read about the West Highland Way route south to Rowardennan and north to Inverarnan at our guides. North of Invernsaid is Rob Roy's Cave, a hiding spot by the outlaw and before him Robert the Bruce.
The reserve has an excellent trail to a magnificent viewpoint across Loch Lomond to Loch Sloy. Cruise Loch Lomond run a water bus service to Invernsaid from Tarbet.
From the start of the Great Trossachs Path by Loch Lomond at Inversnaid, it's 1.2 miles to the RSPB Gateway.
RSPB INVERSNAID VISITOR GATEWAY TO STRONACHLACHAR
From the RSPB gateway, the next 3.8 miles to Stronachlachar is mainly along an old military road, passing the ruins of the former garrison and alongside Loch Arklet. At Stronachlachar, there are toilets at Pier Café.
Stronachlachar
STRONACHLACHAR TO TROSSACHS PIER
At Stronachlachar, the trail follows the smooth tarmac road that follows the shores of Loch Katrine until Trossachs Pier, which is 12.4 miles away. At the Pier in Stronachlachar, there is a café, with boat cruises arriving from Trossachs Pier. Nearby is the Loch Katrine waterworks, opened by Queen Victoria in 1859. Loch Katrine is responsible for much of the water supply for the west and central Scotland, including Glasgow. The aqueduct installed by the Victorians dramatically changed the fortune of the health of Scotland's largest city.
The lochside path passes Portnellan, the birthplace of notorious outlaw Rob Roy MacGregor. There is also the dramatic lochside McGregor Burial Site. A detour close to Brenachoile Point is Primrose Hill, a beautiful walk with elevated views of Loch Katrine.
Brenachoile Point is a popular picnic spot, a nice walk, or a cycle from Trossachs Pier, one of the many locations in the Trossachs area used by the TV programme Outlander.
Brenachoile Point, Loch Katrine
TROSSACHS PIER TO GLEN FINGLAS VISITOR GATEWAY
Read our Loch Katrine guide to discover more about the facilities and experiences available at Trossachs Pier, including the return for 2023 of Sir Walter Scott Steamship which began sailing in 1900.
The Steamship is named after Sir Walter Scott, whose Lady of the Lake poem of 1810 put Loch Katrine on the map. Read more about the history of the Trossachs in our guide, which has more about Scott and the other writers, artists and poets whose vivid writing and painting of Loch Katrine resulted in the Trossachs being the birthplace of Scottish tourism.
Onwards from Trossachs Pier to Glen Finglas Visitor Gateway, this section is 6 miles and includes thick woodland and the pretty village of Brig o' Turk. The route goes close to more Trossachs highlights, including Loch Achray, Three Lochs Forest Drive, Ben A'an and Ben Venue.
Loch Achray
GLEN FINGLAS VISITOR GATEWAY TO KILMAHOG
Glen Finglas Visitor Gateway has toilets and is the start of several good walks, including Lendrick Hill and a children's play trail. From the gateway, it's 5.4 miles through ancient forest and open hillside to Kilmahog with views down to Loch Venachar, the fifth and final loch viewable from the Great Trossachs Path.
KILMAHOG TO CALLANDER
The final 1.2 miles follows a former railway line track into the Trossachs town of Callander.
Callander
Thanks for reading
Words and photography by Paul Saunders. Visit Paul’s Marketing and Photography websites for details of his services in Scotland.
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Buy our guidebook, 101 Things to Do in Loch Lomond and the Trossachs, packed with attractions, views, and activities to enjoy.