Walk 14 - Loch Trool Circuit walking and hiking route
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Walk Instructions
Start: At the Caldons car park in Glen Trool about 11
miles north of Newton Stewart.
Refreshments: Seasonal visitor centre café in Glen
Trool. House o’ Hill Hotel at Bargrennan, Cafes and
pubs in Newton Stewart
A scenic walk around Loch Trool in Galloway
Forest Park. Loch Trool is one of the real gems
of the Galloway Forest park, a beautiful and
tranquil body of water that was once the scene
of a fierce battle.
1. The walk starts from the Caldons car park in Glen
Trool. This is reached by turning right along a track
about two miles beyond the Glen Trool visitor centre.
From the car park, cross the bridge and follow the
waymarked signs for the Southern Upland Way
through the open area that used to be the Caldons
camping site.
2. The woodlands in Glen Trool are semi-natural oak
woods that have been growing in this area for over
a thousand years. They are featured as the “Forest
of Buchan” on Pont’s map of 1654. There are many
fine oak specimens along with a mix of hazel, rowan,
hawthorn, holly and ash. The oak in this area was
coppiced from around 1820 but this had ceased by
1900. At this point you can continue along the main
Southern Upland Way trail or follow minor trails that
stay closer to the edge of Loch Trool.
There are views across the loch to Glen Trool Lodge
and Bruce’s Stone which we will visit later in this walk.
3. As you approach the far end of Loch Trool you will
reach the site of the Battle of Glen Trool where Robert
the Bruce defeated The Earl of Pembroke’s forces in
one of the early engagements of the first Scottish
War of Independence, culminating at Bannockburn
seven years later. Bruce’s forces attacked the English
cavalry by rolling granite boulders down the slopes
of the Steps of Trool as they progressed in single file
along the narrow path. The path now climbs up and
over a broad ridge with steps on the steeper parts
before descending to the Glenhead Burn. There is
a bridge over the burn, and you can follow the path
of the off-road variation of Cycle Route 7 to the
left below Glenhead Farm. The track improves and
soon crosses a bridge over the Gairland Burn at an
impressive little gorge.
4. You can scramble down on the downstream side
of the bridge to get a better view up into the gorge.
Continue to follow the track along past the lower slopes
of Buchan Hill. The track crosses the Buchan Burn then
rises more steeply to zig-zag up to meet the end of
the surfaced road up Glen Trool. You can take a steep
short-cut on this last section to climb straight up to the
impressive monument of Bruce’s Stone.
5. Bruce’s stone (one of several in the area) is
a monument to the Battle of Glen Trool. The
huge granite block is carved with an inscription
commemorating the battle that took place across
on the opposite side of the loch. To return to your
starting point walk down the road for about a mile
then look for a footpath sign pointing to the left a
couple of hundred yards after passing the entrance to
Glen Trool Lodge. This path leads down closer to the
edge of the loch and winds its way through an area of
regenerating forest before arriving back at the car park.
6. If you follow the Southern Upland Way path a few
hundred yards downstream from the car park you will
come to the Covenanters’ Grave. An inscribed stone
inside a square walled area marks the communal
grave of six Covenanters who were killed by soldiers
while they were holding a service in Caldoris Wood in
January 1685.
It would be a great help to future walkers if
you could record any inaccuracies you come across
during this walk and report them to reception so that
appropriate amendments can be made. Thank you
for your help. Happy walking.
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Disclaimer: This route was correct at time of writing. However, alterations can happen if development or boundary changes occur, and there is no guarantee of permanent access. These walks have been published for use by site visitors on the understanding that neither HPB Management Limited nor any other person connected with Holiday Property Bond is responsible for the safety or wellbeing of those following the routes as described. It is walkers' own responsibility to be adequately prepared and equipped for the level of walk and the weather conditions and to assess the safety and accessibility of the walk.
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