Cashel estate is owned by the Royal Scottish Forestry Society who are attempting to restore the ground to natural forestry. They have waymarked three good walks through the birchwoods; this is the middle one in terms of length and has good views of Loch Lomond.
Summary
Well-made paths through natural woodland with a fair amount of ascent; an easy walk for grade 2.
Terrain
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1. Park at the Cashel Native Forest car park, which is signed; there is a parking charge. A Visitor Centre here gives background information on the project and on the history of the woods. The walk we describe, which is the middle one in terms of difficulty, is waymarked throughout in red. Head to the far end of the Visitor Centre building and turn right, ignoring two tracks heading straight on (these are the return route). Instead head through an iron gate and head towards a large wooden barn. Bear right towards a fence and then left to reach an old drystone barn - which sometimes houses leather-working demonstrations in the summer.
2. Turn right in front of the barn and follow the waymarked path up into the woods. After giving good views back over the farm the path bears left and continues through the mixed young woodland. Continue following the red waymarkers at any junctions; the shortest of the three routes eventually leaves off to the left. Soon there are good views of Loch Lomond and the path runs briefly alongside a drystone wall to the right before bearing left again.
3. At one point the path crosses a small stream. It then bears left by a fence. At the next signed path junction the longest of the three Cashel routes turns off to the right - this crosses the hillside at a higher level. Ignore this and go straight ahead to remain on the red route.
4. Just off the path to the right is a reconstruction of an old shieling. This one is built onto the side of a large boulder, with a roof of turf and sections of heather thatching. Shielings were used as homes by shepherds during the summer months, to enable them to remain close to their livestock. After detouring to visit the shieling continue along the 'red' path.
5. The path, which has now levelled off, continues across the hillside. At one point a branch path heads off to the left - turn here to make a short detour to visit a grassy knoll which provides the best views of Loch Lomond, with its scattered islands to the left and steep mountains to the right. Just below the knoll is a standing stone sculpture engraved with the words 'The sun will shine again'. Return to the main path and continue along it.
6. The path eventually reaches a track coming down from the hill, where the long waymarked route is rejoined. Turn left down the track; it zig-zags left and right on its way back to the white-washed Cashel Farm far below. Look out for the 'insect hotel' on the left just before reaching the car park.
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