This enjoyable waymarked forest walk has plenty of interest, including a restored black house at the site of an old clachan, and an ancient ring fort. The route begins from near the Queen's View, famed for its outlook over Loch Tummel.
Bog Factor
Good waymarked forest trails throughout.
Allean Forest car park.
None to start.
NN858599
The Queen's View is a fine viewpoint looking up Loch Tummel to Schiehallion. Queen Victoria visited here together with her much-loved servant John Brown in 1866, but it is thought that the name may date back to a visit by Mary Queen of Scots. Today there is a (seasonal) cafe and information centre, and it is a compulsory stop for most travellers in these parts. The walk actually begins from the Allean forest car park, just along the road toward Kinloch Rannoch from the Queen's View, where there are picnic tables and composting toilets. There is a parking charge.
Start up the waymarked trail from the information board, climbing uphill and passing the toilets. Further on the path crosses a footbridge as it leads through the pine woods. When the path emerges onto a track turn left following the red and yellow marker posts. Soon a track junction is reached; turn right here, then after a ort while takes a left to plunge again into the forest on the opposite side. Go over another footbridge and continue along the path the path. There are many different plants on this section of the forest floor and in spring and summer wood anemone, fox gloves and sorrell flowers can be seen.
After a short while, the path emerges into a clearing where an old black house has been partially restored to the right - it can be entered. This house would have been one of several in this settlemenent - or clachan in Gaelic. A black house was a basic stone shelter with a turf or heather roof and few windows and no chimney so the inside was coated in soot, hence its name. Continue on the path past the house and then follow the marker post as the path turns to the left away from the information board.
After a short distance a short detour path off to the left leads to a viewpoint over Loch Tummel. Whilst the view has become obscured by the trees there is a beautiful wooden sculpture by Charlie Easterfield. Return to the path and continue along it, soon passing over another wooden footbridge and then climbing uphill. Further on the path meets a track; cross this and take the path leading off almost opposite.
The path climbs up through the trees to eventually reach another track. Turn right along this, heading downhill. Ignore a path off right marked with a yellow (unless you want a short cut) - instead stay on the track. After another 650m the main track curves left, take the right hand track off right here, with a red waymarker. This soon narrows to a path and heads downhill following marker posts. When a track is reached turn right along this, and continue until the short detour path to the ring fort off to the left is reached. This large stone structure is the remains of a timber roundhouse used during the Iron Age (500BC to 300AD). The walls - which are 4m thick - enclose an interior would have had a large roof supported by wooden poles. The peaceful spot enjoys good views over Loch Tummel.
After the fort, return to the the track and continue downhill - now with better views of Loch Tummel - until returning to the t-junction from near the start of the walk. Turn left here to head back down the path to return to the car park and the start of the walk.
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