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.
Bog Factor
Waymarked paths and tracks.
Glen Trool Visitor Centre - parking charge.
None to start; nearest bus stop is in Glen Trool village.
NX371785
Park at the Glen Trool visitor centre car park (charge), where there is also a cafe. The route is waymarked and follows the yellow waymarkers. Begin by heading towards the cafe from the car park, then turn right - just before the bridge - signed for Forest Trails. Keep straight ahead at two junctions, the second a forest track. The route then passes to the left of a drystone dyke. At the next forest track turn left briefly, then right to continue following the yellow markers.
The route soon meets a mountain bike trail - go straight across here. Keep left at the next junction as a path joins from the right, then straight on when a path goes off right again. There are beautiful views across the glen. The route runs beside a drystone dyke, then bears right to join a wider path. Keep across at a turning area, and later across a footbridge. The route then descends to the glen floor via a series of zig-zags. At the road, go left then immediately right along the track to Caldons car park.
At the car park continue over the bridge over the Water of Trool ahead and turn right to join the Southern Upland Way (SUW), waymarked by a white thistle, there is an information board here. A short way along the path, a small detour to the left at a fork leads to the Martyrs' Tomb. This memorial commemorates six Covenanters who were shot when caught at prayer near to this spot. Return to the main path and continue following the SUW as it passes through beautiful ancient native woodland.
The path eventually returns to run alongside the Water of Trool where there are a number of small pools and places to stop near the water. In spring there are carpets of flowering bluebells on this section. Keep following the wide path before leaving the SUW to continue on the main gravel path which descends to a bridge.
Cross the bridge over the Water of Trool and turn left on the path on the far side. This passes through an area of young trees and bracken before running alongside the Water of Minnoch. Here there are also some lovely pools and access to the riverside before it becomes more gorge-like as it nears Stroan Bridge. The path leads back to the Glen Trool car park with the visitor centre ahead.
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