Callander Crags

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This circuit takes you high above Callander through mixed woodland to visit Callander Crags (Craig on OS maps) and the Jubilee Cairn. From the top there are sweeping views of Callander and into the wild area of moorland to the north. This woodland walk can be combined with a visit to Bracklinn Falls by walking up the road from the car park to join the Bracklinn Falls route.

Terrain

Waymarked forest paths and tracks, some steep sections, can be slippery when wet.

Public Transport

None to start. Buses to Callander 1km from start.

Start

Callander Crags car park, Callander. Open start point in Google Maps for directions.

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Walk Statistics

Distance: 4km / 2.5 miles
Time: 1.5 - 2 hours
Ascent: 300m (Profile)
Start Grid Ref: NN633081

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Walk Description

Stage 1

Start from the Callander Crags car park which is found by taking the minor road north from the main street in Callander signed for Bracklinn Falls and the Golf Course. At the entrance to the golf course bear left and follow the road uphill for another 300 metres until the car park on the left is reached. From here follow the marked path uphill passing the barrier. This route follows the red marker posts.

Stage 2

Follow the track uphill through lovely mixed woodland. Soon a clear junction is reached, turn right here and head uphill. Cross a small bridge and ignore a path which crosses the main route and keep climbing uphill with a couple of wide zig zags. A picnic bench is passed and soon after the path emerges into an area of clear ground with a bench at the top. From here the line of crags can be seen straight ahead. The path climbs steep stone steps to reach the top of the crags, with great views back over Callander.

Stage 3

At the top of the steps turn right for a short, but strenuous, detour to the Jubilee Cairn. Erected in 1897 to celebrate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, the cairn commands an excellent viewpoint out over Callander and as far as the Wallace Monument near Stirling and to the north into an empty landscape of rolling hills, with a tremendous contrast between the two directions. From the cairn return back to the top of the steps and then continue straight ahead to follow the line of the Crags downhill.

Stage 4

The wide path descends gently through birch trees and then more mixed native woodland. To the right Ben Ledi can be seen and also excellent views over Callander to the left. Take care in wet weather when the tree roots and rocky sections can be slippery.

Stage 5

After a while a small bridge is crossed and pine trees dominate. Later there are beech trees and the path continues to descend, steeply in places. Near the bottom, houses come into sight and the path bears left. Ignore a wide path leading right into Callander and continue in the woods.

Stage 6

Just before a bench is reached turn left uphill following the red marker posts. The path climbs through the woods before reaching the end of a track and turning right. Heading gently downhill, it is only a short walk back to the car park and the start of the walk. If you fancy combining this walk with a short trip to view the Bracklinn Falls turn left out of the car park and follow the road uphill until a metal sign points the way along the footpath to the Falls.

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