An easy circular walk from Aberfoyle, climbing mystical Doon Hill, home of the fairies, and passing through woodland, open countryside and riverside, all with good views.
Way marked tracks and paths, only one uphill section.
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Aberfoyle car park. Map and directions.
Start from the far end of the car park (the furthest point from the Wool Centre) and turn left to cross the old bridge over the River Forth. Follow this road passing some houses on the right and Aberfoyle Cemetery on the left. The restored building of Kirkton Church can be seen through the splendid iron railings.
In the graveyard is the grave of the Reverend Robert Kirk who was minister here between1685 and 1692. An academic, the Reverend Kirk was interested in local folklore and supersitions and wrote a famous book telling the secrets of the fairies. Later this walk visits the scene of the fairies revenge. For now keep following the road as it bends round to the right and crosses pleasant countryside. Keep left at a fork in the road and continue past a house and keep left again (following green and red marker posts) follow the road as it becomes a rougher track. The track narrows and heads slightly downhill. Ignore two tracks to the left and go past a green metal gate to follow the track gently uphill.
Ignore another turning to the left and soon afterwards turn left onto a path signed, Doon Hill Fairy Trail. This is a half mile detour climbing to the top of Doon Hill with a short loop on top and then returning the same way to the track. Legend has it that the fairies, fed up with Rev Kirk's revelations about them, kidnapped him and encased his soul in the pine tree on top of the hill. The canny fairies put a changeling in his place, thereby allowing people to believe the Reverend had died of a heart attack on the hill and allowing his burial in the graveyard past earlier.
The path up the hill meanders through the trees, many of them oak, before the small summit is reached. Here people have placed many clouties (rags) in the hope that as the cloutie rots the illness or misfortunate affecting the person on who's behalf the cloutie was placed would also vanish. To descend from the top take the path just to the right of the path coming up which returns to the outward route quickly. When you have come down from Doon Hill turn left onto the main track to continue the circuit.
After a while the track crosses a bridge and turns left at a junction. The other routes are mainly used by cyclists and the husky sled teams. Follow the track across open ground with good views of Doon Hill to the left. Eventually a junction is reached, turn left here, signed for Aberfoyle. This route takes you over a wooden bridge and then along a path between fenced sections of fields.
At a T junction turn left to cross a small bridge and follow the old railway line back to Aberfoyle. Just after a children's play area on the left, there is a chance to detour for a half kilometre riverside circuit signed, Aberfoyle Community Wildlife path. Otherwise continue straight on, crossing a bridge and entering the car park near the Wool Centre.
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