The Highland Boundary Trail is a waymarked route from David Marshall Lodge, an information and visitor centre run by the Forestry Commission. It takes in a wildlife hide, fine oakwoods, commercial forestry, high waterfalls and fine views; our route extends it with a detour to a very extensive viewpoint on the edge of the Menteith hills.
Summary
Waymarked forest tracks and paths, very steep in places.
Terrain
Users'
rating
1. Begin the walk from David Marshall Lodge, the main Forestry Commission visitor centre for the area; there is a charge for parking. Make sure you visit the lodge itself; during the spring and first half of summer there is live CCTV footage from a nearby osprey eerie. There are a range of waymarked trails beginning here; our route follows the blue markers of the Highland Boundary Fault trail for most of the way. Begin by descending the steps to the left of the Lodge. Take the left path; if you see people flying past overhead, don't worry, you haven't lost your sanity - it's part of Britain's longest zipslides and part of the Go Ape attraction - more of which you will see later.
2. The path zig-zags left and right as it descends into the glen below the lodge. Keep left at a junction, and then right at a second one - all the time looking for the blue markers. A wooden boardwalk leads across a marshy area; keep right at the junctions beyond until the trail descends once more into a beautifully wooded dell. To the left is a bench beside the stream - and beyond it is an impressive double waterfall. It is easy to go wrong at this point, as the blue markers seem to lead alongside a railing downstream; ignore them and instead head across the footbridge marked as part of National Cycle Route 7. On the far side of the bridge pick up the track heading left.
3. Look out for a boardwalk path going off to the right - this is a short detour to visit the Red Squirrel hide. There are feeders by the hide and if you are quiet there is every chance of spotting one of the Highland's cutest creatures. To continue the walk return to the track, turning left at a junction (Cycle Route 7 marker). This track begins a long and gradual climb up the hill. Part way up the rest of the 'Go Ape' attraction is passed - a network of rope-bridges, death-slides, climbing nets and rope ladders linking up the trees. Beyond this you can detour to a bench to the left of the track to view another waterfall. The track bends to the right a little here and continues the ascent.
4. When a cross-roads of tracks is reached turn right; further on, ignore a mountain bike path descending steeply into the forest. There are a series of interpretative boards on the Highland Boundary Fault, the dividing line between the Scottish Highlands and Lowlands and on which you stand. The climb ends at a more open area beneath a high crag - Lime Craig - formerly quarried. The blue route turns sharp right here onto a footpath and begins its descent, but if you have the energy you can detour to the top of the crag to a fine viewpoint. To do this, following a clear path (signed 'Viewpoint') which climbs steeply across the slope to the left of the crag onto the heather moorland. It then swings right between a pair of gateposts to join a track. Turn right up the track (ignoring the waymarkers) to complete the ascent to the top of the hill. There was once a communication mast here but all that remains is a concrete platform - ideal for a picnic on a fine day. The views are excellent and perfectly illustrate the Highland Fault, with the craggy hills of the Trossachs to one side and the fertile plans stretching away to the Campsies and Fintry Hills on the other. Return back down the track and path to the main trail beneath the crag.
5. You are now back on the blue route. The path descends very steeply through the woodland. The route is very straight - it follows the line of a wagonway built in the 1800s to carry the limestone down from Lime Craig to the kilns in the glen below. Take care and pause to admire the views over Aberfoyle. At the crossroads, continue straight on (following the blue markers), steeply downhill until you reach a forest track at the bottom where you turn right.
6. After 600m take a turn on the left, signed for David Marshall Lodge. This leads across a footbridge and then joins a wider trail at a signpost; this time, turn right. Go straight on at the next junction, following the blue markers to reach a final zig-zag climb back to the forestry information centre. Before leaving, it is worth continuing along the grassy ridge above the car park to see a statue commemorating the 'Lumberjills' - the women who carried out the forestry activities whilst the men were away fighting in World War 2.
Have you found an error or is any information wrong or missing?
Please let us know by using the error report form.
