This forestry circuit explores the very heart of the Trossachs just above Loch Achray, including a stretch along the banks of the foaming Achray Water. In autumn the colours are spectacular.
Bog Factor
Forest paths (partial waymarkers) with some up and down.
Ben Venue car park off the A821, parking charge.
Trossachs Explorer bus service from Aberfoyle and Callander.
NN505068
The walk begins from the Ben Venue car park (charge), just south of the turning for Loch Katrine on the A821. There is an information board giving details about a short loop (blue waymarkers) walk which forms part of this route and also the ascent of Ben Venue which begins here. Two paths leave the car park, take the one from between the information board and the car park entrance. There are good views on the first section, both back to Loch Achray and up to Ben A'an. At a clear path junction turn right; the blue waymarked path straight ahead will be followed on the way back.
The path crosses a wooden boardwalk across a marshy area. Beyond this it reaches a tarmac road very near to the public road. Turn sharp left here to follow the private road, soon signed for the Loch Katrine dam. There are good views of Ben Venue ahead and the road runs close to the often-foaming Achray Water. The flow of this river is unpredictable as it is controlled by the dam hidden upstream.
Just before the road bends right look out for a path heading off to the left (usually an informal sign for Ben Venue) and follow this to the Achray Water bridge. Cross the attractive bridge and continue to reach a track. Turn right here - signed for Ben Venue. After a few hundred metres, turn left onto another signed path heading up through the trees. This undulates for a while before descending to reach another track. This time, turn left downhill - the Ben Venue path heads off to the right here.
The track descends slowly giving more good views across the forest to Ben A'an - from here it can be seen that the Ben is really only a shoulder of the higher, rolling hill behind. When a cross-roads is reached continue straight across.
When the track descends to the Achray Water and reaches a T junction, turn left (signed Ben Venue hill path). The track now leads back to the signed junction reached earlier. Turn right to follow the path back down to and across Achray Bridge. Turn right onto the private road on the far side and continue retracing your steps, turning right onto the path just before the public road is reached (near the bins). After the boardwalk turn right to follow the blue waymarked loop to return to the car park.
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