This figure-of-eight walk explores the beautiful native woodland and open countryside around Brig o' Turk. It combines several shorter waymarked loops and gives some excellent views.
Waymarked paths; can be very muddy in places.
Trossachs Explorer shuttle bus service from Aberfoyle and Callander in July and August only.
Little Druim Wood car park off the A821.
Begin from the Little Druim Wood car park on the south side of the A821 almost opposite Lendrick Lodge. There is a large interpretative board giving details of the various waymarked loops. Begin the walk by heading up the path next to the board; it soon reaches a gate giving access to the road; don't turn through this but instead follow the waymarked path to the left. This heads through some lovely woodland, passing some wooden carved sculptures, and climbs to a path junction. Ignore the pink waymarked path off to the right for now and instead take the next (green waymarked) path off to the left. This winds through the woods and soon leads past more sculptures to a viewpoint overlooking the regenerating forests on the slopes to the north.
The path bends sharply to the right and continues to wind through the woods, at one point bending sharp right (following the markers). When the path meets a wider one at a t-junction, turn left at first to make a short detour to the shores of Loch Venachar. Pass through an iron gate to reach the grassy foreshore of this very attractive loch before returning and keeping straight on at the junction. The path now leads back to the start junction with tbe pink trail - turn left this time to head along this.
The path now climbs steeply and then follows a rocky crest above the woods. It soon turns right, passing a seat and crossing more open ground with good views towards Ben Venue. Keep following the waymarkers on this section as the path can be indistinct in places and is often very muddy in parts. Eventually turn right (sign on boulder) to head down to a gate giving access to a cycle path, with the main road just beyond. Head straight across the road to another gate on the far side.
Take the left hand path on the far side (orange markers), following a boardwalk across a marshy area. This was once the site of the village's curling rink - the climate has certainly warmed - but today has become an important habitat for wildlife - and a site of special scientific interest. At the end of the boardwalk the path climbs through a lovely birch wood.
Continue through the trees, turning right at a junction. Another open area is crossed with good views across lower Glenfinglas before the path descends to a minor road. Head straight across onto a grassy path between two fences. This continues alongside the River Finglass until reaching a gate just short of the main road.
Go through the gate and cross the track that leads to the main road to go through another gate onto the grassy path. The path soon joins the road; cross it and follow the pavement on the far side (do not follow the signs past the pub). The tiny village of Brig o' Turk is soon reached, complete with wooden tearoom that is open into the evenings serving meals during the summer. When the pavement ends a path just to the right of the road takes you off the tarmac and through the trees. Continue straight head until you return to the point where the path crosses the A821.
Cross the road and this time continue to the right after the gate on the far side (signed Car Parks). After a boardwalk and a short uphill section the route reaches the Glen Finglas car park. Keep ahead to the far end of this, taking the green waymarked path through the picnic area and over a footbridge. The path leads through the woods and emerges by a lodge - turn right along the track here, then fork left. When the road is reached, cross and head back to the Little Druim Wood car park on the far side.
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