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Trossachs scenic drive
Stirling Castle visit
· Entrance to Stirling Castle is paid by voucher.
· Call ahead re tours & special events, which are often staged in the castle grounds – historic battle reconstructions, concerts in chapel etc…
· You can either stop for lunch in Callender or continue for one mile out of the town to the Kilmahog Woolen Mill. Good food, Highland cattle and weaving demonstrations. Aberfoyle is also an option, Woolen Mill.
Stirling Castle – Visit
Arrive at Stirling Castle. Coaches are generally allowed to stay on the esplanade. However, they sometimes send coaches away to return at an appointed time. Bring the group through the first entrance, toilets are on the left-hand side. As group use the toilets, TM can deal with tickets. There is now a charge for audio guides Visitor will be given a ticket which needs to be scanned upon entry. Guided Tours of the Castle depart at the Castle Well on the hour and are half hourly at peak times. Castle has toilets, shops and a restaurant (light lunches).
On arrival point out:
The Wallace Monument on Abbey Crag (the hillside opposite)
Ensure that group is aware that once they have left the castle complex (that 2nd gate) after their visit, they will not be able to re-enter.
TROSSACHS DRIVE:
From Stirling take the A84 to Callander/Kilmahog. Take the A821 from Kilmahog and drive along banks of Loch Venachar & Loch Achray (past the Trossachs hotel) Continue through Queen Elizabeth Forest Park, Down the Duke’s Pass to Aberfoyle. There is a Scottish Wool Centre in Aberfoyle, (toilets, tartans, shortbread, hot & cold food etc.) This route can also be done in reverse.
Potential Lunch Stops:
Aberfoyle – a pretty little town – The Scottish Wool Centre has a sheep show and sometimes sheep dog demonstrations.
Callander has cafes and stores. Parking with toilets on Station Road.
Kilmahog Woollen Mill, (on right, 1 mile after Callender). Home of the descendants of Hamish the Highland Cow. If you have not seen any other evidence of the “big hairy beasties”, makes for a good photo stop.
A Loch Lomond Photo Stop can be made at Duck Bay on Loch Lomond, but it adds time.
En route to Edinburgh
Junction 9 – see signs for Bannockburn.
Junction 6 “The Kelpies” . Folklore in sculptural form.
Junction 3 & 4 Linlithgow Castle on the right.