Cashel Forest - Pine Path, near Balmaha

Summary

Cashel Estate is owned by the Royal Scottish Forestry Society who are slowly restoring the area to more natural forest. They have waymarked 5 different walks of various length; the route here follows the longest - the Pine Path which is waymarked in black and offers great views of Loch Lomond.

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Grade

Bog Factor

Rating

Terrain

Well-made paths and tracks through natural woodland with a fair amount of ascent, steep in parts. An easy walk for grade 2.

Getting there

Start

Cashel Native Forest car park (charge).

Public Transport

No public transport to start of walk. .

Start Grid Ref

NS399940

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Walk Statistics

Distance: 5.9km / 3.75 miles
Time: 2 - 2.5 hours
Ascent: 310m (Profile)

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OL39 Loch Lomond North

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Walk Description

User reports (6)

Stage 1

Park at the Cashel Native Forest car park, which is signed from the east Loch Lomond road heading north from Balmaha; there is a parking charge. There are several waymarked walks here - a couple of short ones that start on the left, and three others that start along the track past the long building; our description covers the longest, the Pine Path, which is waymarked in black. Head to the far end of the building and then turn right before a metal gate. Then fork to the left of a large wooden barn, keeping to the right of the picnic table in the open area and following the waymarkers.

Stage 2

The path now heads up into the trees, climbing a zig-zag and continuing through the mixed woodland. Pass a small pond and keep right at a junction, ignoring the blue waymarked Birch Path which leaves off to the left. Soon there are good views of Loch Lomond and the path runs briefly alongside a drystone wall to the right before bearing left again to pass through a gap.

Stage 3

Continue along the path, crossing a small burn. The path then bears left by a fence, and climbs quite steeply. At the next signed path junction our route turns right, waymarked in black. The red waymarked Aspen Path continues ahead here and can be used if you wish to shorten the walk. Otherwise, continue uphill. There are stunning views over Loch Lomond and its scattered islands - best seen from a viewpoint just off the path to the right.

Stage 4

Further on, there's another signed viewpoint, this time on the left. The path eventually reaches a track coming down from the hill. The viewpoint up the track to the right is now obscured by trees, so omit that and instead turn left down the track.

Stage 5

Soon there's a viewpoint with two benches just off on the left. Continuing down the track, the Aspen Path red route eventually rejoins in from the left. Continue down the track; it zig-zags left and right on its way back to the white-washed Cashel Farm far below.

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