Walk 3647 - printer friendly version

Callander, Samson's Stone & Coilhallan Wood Walk

Author - Lou Johnson

Length - 4.7 miles / 7.6 km

Ascent - 650 feet / 197 metres

Grade - easy

Start - OS grid reference NN629081
Lat 56.2455820 + Long -4.2140340
Postcode FK17 8EL (approx. location only)

This Trossachs walk starts from the bustling town of Callander and explores the interesting landscape to the west. The route follows a section of the Great Trossachs Path, climbs onto Bochastle Hill to visit Samson's Stone (a huge erratic) before passing through Coilhallan Wood back to the start. The walk offers some fine views along the way and is a relaxing and undemanding route to explore this beautiful area.

The start is the Station Road pay and display car park on the north side of the A84 in Callander (grid ref. NN629081). After parking return down Station Road to the A84 (Main Street). Turn right along the A84 and walk along the road to the first pedestrian crossing. Cross the road, turn right and then immediately left to join the Great Trossachs Path (grid ref. NN623080) which follows the old railway from Callander to Oban. Continue for just under two kilometres through pleasant farmland, pass under a road bridge to reach the A821 (grid ref. NN608082).

Cross the A821, turn left onto a path and continue to Bochastle car park. Reaching the car park turn left and then, after a short way, turn right continuing on the Great Trossachs Path into the Glen Finglas Estate. After 180 metres leave the main path and turn right onto a grassy path (blue waymark). The path initially climbs west before swinging left to reach the summit of Bochastle Hill. Head straight across the summit to reach Samson's Stone from where you can enjoy an excellent view across the area.

Follow the descending path which veers left through a gate and shortly after re-joins the Great Trossachs Path. Turn right and continue to a path junction (grid ref. NN602074) below Dunmore Hillfort. Turn left to Invertrossachs and pass through a gate to reach the A821.

Cross the A821 onto a minor road (signed to Invertrossachs. Continue along the road crossing Gartchonzie bridge to reach a T-junction. Turn left towards Callander. After 300 metres, turn right into the entrance to Coilhallan Wood. Follow the access road and pass the car park on your left. Continue ahead on a wide forestry track gently climbing through the trees. After a while, the trees thin and you are rewarded with a view across the valley to Callander. The track narrow to a path and shortly after reaches a path junction (grid ref. NN624072). Turn left and follow the path to the A81.

Cross the road to the pavement on the other side, bear left and continue down to a mini-roundabout where you keep right staying on the A81. Follow the road across the River Teith to reach Main Street. Turn left and then first right to regain the car park used at the start of the walk.

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