Callander Crags walking and hiking route
A varied walk with some ascent but also some excellent views. A couple of sections of the path are slightly rocky & you may need to use your hands for balance.
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Walk Instructions
Start Point
The Lodge. The lower car park (Forestry Commission) on the Bracklinn Falls Road.
Turn left as you leave Tigh Mor and drive to Callander. Once you have passed the 3rd set of traffic lights look out for a small road on the left signposted 'Bracklinn Falls' and also 'Golf Club'. If you pass the 'Roman Camp Hotel' (pink) on the right you have just missed it. Continue past the golf club and the car park is on your left (NN633082).
12a - Shorter Walk
Face the information board. Take the track on your right, past a green metal barrier & climbing gently following red wayposts. In about 150m a path on the right climbs more steeply. Follow this across a wooden bridge in approx 100m (1½ min).
In another 150m (1½ min), ignore the faint path on the left and a few metres further also ignore the path straight ahead. Keep left round a sharp elbow, still following the red wayposts and in about 150m (2 mins) cross another wooden bridge.
Continue to ascend steadily, zig-zaging upwards through open ground just below the crags before coming out onto path running along the top of the crags at Point 4 (NN631089) in approx 30mins from the car park. Turn left and continue as for 'Both Walks'.
12b - Longer Walk
Walk up road to the Bracklinn Falls car park in 500m (6 mins). From this car park take the track to your right signed 'Bracklinn Falls'. At a gap in a dyke in about 500m (7 mins) ignore a track going downhill to the right then reach a fork in 150m (2 mins). Either direction will bring you to the fine bridge over the spectacular falls in 300m (3-4 mins), though the path to the left is easier.
Cross the bridge & turn left upstream. In about 100m (1 min) you pass through a dyke then in another 100m (1 min) you almost drop to the river bed and there is a fence on your right. The path follows this fence along the river for about 100m (1 min) and then turns uphill. Eventually it turns away from the river and shortly afterwards reach a forest track at Point 1 (NN644089) in about 800m (12mins) from the bridge.
Follow the track through mature forestry plantation for another 800m (12 mins) to a stone bridge & a fork. Keep left downhill, cross a bridge over the river and pass through a gate to meet the road in 700m (10Mins) at Point 2 (NN638101).
Turn L along the road and in around 350m (5 mins) pass a wishing well on your left. In another 500m (7 mins) a small path goes uphill to the right at Point 3 (NN637092). It is on a distinct left hand bend about 100m beyond a passing place and is signed 'Crags'... but you will only see the back of the sign.
Take this narrow path winding uphill to join a dyke + fence in about 400m (5 mins). The path now follows the line of this boundary up to an 1897 diamond jubilee memorial cairn at NN632090 in about 500m (10 mins). Carry on beyond cairn. In 150m (2 mins) pass through a gate & in a further minute cross a bridge and meet a track ascending from the left at Point 4 (NN631089).
This is where shorter walk joins. Continue as for 'Both Walks'.
Both Walks
Carry straight on along the edge of the crags, descending gradually & in 800m (12 mins) cross another bridge & start to descend more steeply through beech trees. The track zigzags down to the back of Callander eventually come to a Forestry Commission sign 'The Crags' at Point 5 (NN624082) in about 600m (10 mins).
Carry straight on gradually uphill. At Point 6 (NN629083) in 600m (9 mins) a track with red wayposts joins from the left immediately after which is a bridge. Cross the bridge & in 500m (7 mins) arrive back in car park.
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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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