Loch Ard Forest walking and hiking route

This is on tracks through varied forestry, with fine views of Loch Ard and also some sculptures.

Walk Instructions

Start Point

Forestry Commission car park at Milton. From Tigh Mor, cross over the Dukes Pass to Aberfoyle. In the village turn right at the T junction at the foot of the hill (by the bank), and onto the B829 signposted to Inversnaid. In approx 1½ miles take a left fork signposted ‘Loch Ard Forest' and follow signs to the car park in a further ½ mile at NN499011. (Note that although cars are often parked in it, the pull-in on the left at the end of the tarmac is not the car park!) This is on the left in another 200m and has an information board. The route described is the ‘red' one & you will follow red wayposts all the way round.

Turn right out of the car park, following the blue/red/black wayposts signposted ‘Loch Ard/The Crannog'. This is the track on which you have just driven in.

In 200 - 300m (3-4 mins) you will reach Point 1 (NN501013) - a junction beside a house called ‘Woodlinn'. Turn left here (signed ‘Loch Ard') & continue to follow the blue/red/black wayposts.

Pass a wooden gate, Lochend Cottage and a metal gate to arrive at Point 2 (NN497015), another junction, approx 500m (8 mins) from the previous one. Ignore the blue wayposted track which goes uphill to your left past a metal barrier & carry straight on following the red/black wayposts past another metal barrier & along by the loch shore.

In another 500m (8 mins) there is a good view along the Narrows - the stretch of water connecting the two parts of Loch Ard and shortly after this the first sculpture can be spotted in the woods on your left.

Pass two more sculptures and in approx 1Km (15 mins) reach Point 3 (NN482011), a junction on your right with a wooden barrier and two red/black wayposts. Turn right here to follow the shore line, Tigh Mor Walk Pack v3.0, December 2015. Contains Ordnance Survey data. Crown copyright and database right 2015 then up a slight hill to some wooden fencing - about 500m (8 mins) from the junction. One of Rob Roy's many hiding caves is below you - but unfortunately is not safely accessible.

Continue along the path, down a steepish section and round a small headland from which you can see the full length of the loch. The path now bends to the east & eventually joins a wider track, about 700m (10 mins after the fence).

In a further 200m (3 mins) there is a small path to your left. Follow this for 30m or so to look down on the ruins of the crafting township of Blar an Rois.

Return to the wider track, turn left and in approx 200m (2 mins) rejoin the main lochshore track at Point 4 (NN479011) where there are the remains of another wooden barrier and two more red/black wayposts.

7a - Shorter Walk

Turn left & return to car park along the lochshore track. Slightly more than 2Km (about ½ hour).

7b - Longer Walk

Turn right. In 300m (4 mins) you come to Point 5 (NN477011) a junction with some squirrel sculptures. Turn sharp left uphill following red wayposts and signed ‘Milton Car Park 1¾ miles'. Climb steadily through the forest & in 500m (8 mins) turn right at Point 6 (NN480009), a junction at the brow of a hill. In 150m (2 mins) you will reach Point 7 (NN479008) a metal barrier at a T junction. Turn left to follow the red/black wayposts, now signposted ‘Milton car park 1½ miles'.

In about 300, (4-5 mins) there is an ideal spot to pause where a wooden bench overlooks the attractive Loch an Gleannan snuggling in the woods. Continue downhill, past the lochan, and in approx 750m (10 mins) from the seat you come to another junction at Point 8 (NN489008). Ignore the track on the right & carry straight on. In 300m (4 mins) at Point 9 (NN491008) a path on the left leads to a viewpoint (blue waypoints).

Either:

a) (Note - as at Dec 2016, this path currently closed for upgrade work). Turn left here & follow the track uphill to the viewpoint. Then carry on down the other side of the hill to Point 10 (NN491012) a T junction at which turn right and continue to follow the blue wayposts down to Point 2 - 1½ Km (25mins). Now turn right and follow the blue/red/black wayposts back to the car park in 700m (10 mins).

b) carry on downhill following the blue/red/black wayposts back to the car park in 800m (12 mins).

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.