Lendrick Hill Walk, The Trossachs

Glen Finglas Walking Trails

Lendrick Hill and Dam Walk is one of the many interesting trails leading from the Woodland Trust's Lendrick Hill car park at Glen Finglas, close to Brig o' Turk on the scenic drive between Callander and Aberfoyle.

How long is it to walk up Lenrick Hill and Dam?

The walk is around 2-hours and just under 8km.

Where does the Lendrick Hill and Dam walk Start?

This is a circular walk from Lendrick Hill Car Park at Glen Finglas by Brig o’ Turk.

Parking Information for Lendrick Hill, Glen Finglas

At the free car park is a visitor centre with toilets and wi-fi. If closed, you should find a trail map and guide at dispensers outside the visitor centre and by the bridge at the start of the walk.

 

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Lendrick Hill & Dam Route

It's straightforward, stick to the orange way-markers, follow the posts and start your climb. It's a long and steady climb, passing the ruins of an old farmstead. By the bench which overlooks the ruins is some information about them.

Soon you will start to see the excellent views, which improve the higher you get. You will reach the route of the Great Trossachs Path, which if you were to take would lead to Callander. Stick though to the route shown by the orange marked posts.

There is a signed detour option, which will take you to a spot to view a waterfall. Back on the main path as you head towards the Glen Finglas Reservoir. The views back to Lochs Venachar and Achray are worth seeing; remember to take those views in as this is a loop, so you won't be retracing your steps.

Again, you can't go wrong thanks to the orange way=markers, which will lead you downhill with various places to view the reservoir. Eventually, you will reach the road to the dam leading to Brig o' Turk. However, before heading along, take the small extra walk to Ruskin Rock, which is well signed again.

Ruskin Rock

Ruskin Rock is where a portrait of famous nineteenth-century art critic John Ruskin was painted in 1853 by John Millais, capturing Ruskin's personality with his love of nature thanks to the dramatic backdrop of the falls. As the information board on the site explains, Ruskin was an early environmentalist, suggesting that everything should connect with nature. Ruskin and Millais had spent 1853 together at Glen Finglas.

This story doesn't end with the completed painting; the artist John Millais fell in love with Ruskin's wife, Effie, whilst working on the portrait. Effie had been helping the men whilst spending some time reading and sketching at Glen Finglas.

Despite their seven years of marriage, it had not been consummated, which Effie alleges was due to Ruskin's impotence, something he was to deny. The marriage was annulled, and Millais and Effie were married.

The Ruskin story is another example of the rich history of the Trossachs, and the poets, artists and writers that were drawn to the area. Thanks to Sir Walter Scott's 1810 poem Lady of the Lake, the Trossachs had been put on the map, which was the day's blockbuster.

Back to our walk, and it's onto the woods by the pretty village of Brig o' Turk. This stretch of the pathway was being repaired when we last walked Lendrick Hill, so we had to take a detour. The good news is that the repaired boardwalks are now back in use for this enjoyable walk. So eventually, you will arrive back at Glen Finglas car park.

Plan a Trip to the Trossachs

See our full range of guides to The Trossachs, as well as The Trossachs Trail website, plus check out our new book ‘101 things to do in Loch Lomond & The Trossachs’, a photo guidebook of things to do and places to explore, including lots of activities in the Trossachs. Click here to purchase. 

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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