Visit a Martyrs Tomb where six Covenanters were killed when at prayer on this enjoyable circuit through the forests, woods and beside the rivers of Glen Trool.
Wide, hard forestry tracks, beaten earth and grassy paths. Boggy in places.
None to start; nearest bus stop is in Glen Trool village.
Glen Trool Visitor Centre.
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Park at the Glen Trool visitor centre, where there is also a cafe. The route is extremely well waymarked and follows the yellow waymarkers that begin alongside the red squirrel sculpture. The path moves easily through the forest, passing a variety of more exotic species such as grand fir amongst the standard sitka and Norway spruces. Pass through a gap in a drystone wall and turn right to enter a cool dark passageway between the damp and mossy stone wall and the dark foreboding forest - a real treat on a hot summer day.
Rejoin the main forest track to pass numerous mountain bike routes heading off into the trees - remain on the waymarked route as it narrows to a thin earth trail carpeted with fallen needles. Cross the bridge under Spout Head and begin a fairly steep descent that soon levels out as the path emerges from the forest to reveal spectacular views of Lamachan and Larg Hills across the glen.
Descend to the road and cross over to approach Caldons House and a small car park. Cross the bridge and turn right to join the Southern Upland Way (SUW), waymarked thereafter by a white thistle. Shortly after passing the house through ancient native woodland, take a short detour to the Martyrs' Tomb. This memorial commemorates six Covenanters who were shot when caught at prayer near to this spot. Continue along the SUW as it reaches the Water of Trool. This section occasionally floods, and if you are forced to turn back it is a simple matter of returning to the road on the north side of the river, turning left and following this back to the Visitor Centre.
Otherwise continue along this grassy path accompanied by views towards Craignaw to the south and the slopes of Rig of Stroan to the north until you reach a very new wooden bridge that has replaced the 'Twin Bridges' built by the Royal Engineers in the 1970s. Cross the bridge and turn left to follow the track alongside the river to the Visitor Centre, passing the rapids and falls at Stroan Bridge.
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