Hello and thanks to everybody who helped me in planning our trip to Scotland which will begin in about 10 days.

I have a question about the route to take on the day we drive from Oban to Stirling. We would like to drive through the Trossachs area between Aberfoyle and Callander. Would it be too much driving (or too much time) if we drove there via the route around the southern end of Loch Lomond? (Oban - Crianlarich - Balloch - Aberfoyle), or should we bypass Loch Lomond and drive through Lochearnhead? It's the middle of June and I have no idea if it will be slowgoing driving along the shore of Loch Lomond. Also I don't know how long it will take through the Trosasachs area. We would just like to drive through and enjoy the scenery.

Thanks in advance.

Unless it's a weekend, drive shouldn't be too bad. The road is pretty winding, in places, narrow, so don't count on averaging more than 40 mph, and 30 mph through villages. The straight route to Stirling on A85 and A84 is around 85 miles, taking a bit over 2 hours. With a loop around the southern shore of Loch Lomond, it will be extra 40 miles, taking a further hour. So that's doable and will be a pleasant drive, with a couple of stops en route. Or from Oban you can take a pretty route to Inveraray (Duke of Argyle's castle is worth a stop) and join Loch Lomond at Tarbet, cutting out Crianlarich .

Oops, I see it falls on a Sunday. Thanks.

It being a Sunday, I would avoid the A82 like the plague. It tends to turn into a virtual parking lot north of Luss. I would take the most direct route, A85 to A84. It will take you through Callandar, and you could then take the more scenic route from here, over Duke's Pass to Lake Menteith, Doune and into Stirling.

Thanks!

Regarding driving through the Trossachs,what's the best route to take? Should we visit Callander first, and then drive back a couple of kilometers to Kilmahog and then take route A821 west through Brig o'Turk, and on to Aberfoyle and then lake Menteith? Or is there some advantage to another route or from the other direction or even skipping part of it?

sssteve: That route is perfect. be sure to stop at the Lake and visit Inchmahome Priory on the island.

Hi, again Janis!

I assume you mean Lake Menteith, correct?

Hi,

Yes - the Lake of Menteith (the only "lake" in Scotland)

Now that I've been warned off A82, I will be driving the northerly route (A85 to A84). Is Killin worth a visit on the way?

absolutely! The Falls of Dochart in the middle of the village are amazing if the water levels are at all close to normal.

It is only a short detour off your route.

Steve, you are a real traveler--hard to keep up with you.
FYI, my wife's maiden name was Stirling---3rd generation from Scotland---and we have yet to see Scotland together. You can blaze the path for us.

Killin is a lovely village - went there last summer, with the waterfalls the main attraction. But also it's situated in a valley with steeply sided mountains, which gives a splendid setting.

We have JUST made this drive!!! Arriving home (USA) this past Monday evening.

We drove from Iona to Oban through the Trossachs to Aberfoyle, via Loch Katrine.
From Oban we took A85 to Tyndrum, to Crainlarich to Lochearnhead where we headed southeast toward Aberfoyle/Loch Katrine. This is where we picked up A84, sign reading to Callander. Just before Callander, we turned onto A821 toward Loch Katrine & Aberfoyle.

Our GPS was wonderful as our Michelin map didn't have all the small roads on it - so between the two Frommer book maps ("Scotland's best loved driving tours" and "Scotland") we did well

ABSOLUTELY gorgeous drive! We took A821 through Queen Elizabeth's Forest Park, drove Duke's Pass through the Achray Forest on the way to Loch Katrine. We didn't get to the Loch in time for a cruise as recommended in "Frommer's Scotland" as we were there May 21 and the summer hours started that weekend. The only way to describe the drive was "OH MY" literally around every curve. The vistas were magnificient.

We had decided to do this drive instead of coming down by Loch Lomond - as time was getting to a premium. I had seen Loch Lomond three years ago on a tour though this was all new to both my husband and our relatives who were traveling with us. After seeing the various Lochs throughout Scotland which were gorgeous, we weren't disappointed! If you have time, I'd highly recommend this scenic drive. It truly gives you a feel for the Trossachs - which means "the land between".

Stirling is just around the corner from Aberfoyle - we'd visited the Stirling Castle (one of THE best), Bannockburn center, and climbed William Wallace Monument. Stirling is a gorgeous area!

IF you don't have a place to stay, I'd/we'd highly recommend the B&B "the Bild" in Aberfoyle. Unfortunately, we were only there for one night, but wished we could have stayed longer and used it as a base. We've already submitted our review to "Trip Advisor". I believe it is a AA rated 4 stars - and well deserved: gracious home; excellent food; a lovely room in which to visit others, relax, read, etc - that's made available for guests. Our travel mates were as pleased as well!!

One thing we enjoyed while in the Oban area - we stayed in Ft. William - was the Jacobite Steam train ride (as seen in the Harry Potter movies). It leaves Ft. William and travels to Mallig and return - about 6 hours all told with a lunch break of almost 2 hours in Mallig. Reservations are a good idea - www.steamtrain.info/Jacobite. The B&B we stayed in in Ft. William was supurb!

If you are in the Edinburgh outskirts, another B&B we'd recommend is:
B&B: Aaron Glenn B&B:
7 Nivensknowe Rd, Loanhead, Midlothian, EH20 9AU
Inn Keepers: Carolyn & Les Davidson
Telephone: 00 44 (0) 131 440 1293
e-mail: [email protected]

Have a wonderful trip! I'd love to do it all again just slower this time!

Dottie

Dottie: Thanks for the great description and advice.

Bob: I'm sure you just got back from a trip yourself....

Janis: Thanks.