Callander Meanders

Callander is a great starting point for cycling, with a large choice of shops and places to eat. We have chosen five of our favourite short meander routes all starting and finishing in Ancaster Square in the centre of the town.

Share the paths and trails responsibly and with respect for other users.

Follow the A84 north to join NCN7 Lochs and Glens Way on the left by the Leny Road pelican crossing. Stay on the former railway line through open fields, cross the A821 at Kilmahog and cycle through beautiful woodland past the Falls of Leny, to arrive at a small, often busy, car park. Views of Loch Lubnaig and surrounding mountains open up on the access road to the Forest Holidays cabins. Return by the same route or continue on the western shore of Loch Lubnaig and turn at the top of a short steep hill just over a mile from the cabins.

Follow Route 1(The Cabins) to the A821 road crossing, cross over and turn sharp left on a narrow path signposted The Great Trossachs Path. Turn left across Bochastle car park to a tall wooden gate and follow the path until it curves back down to the A821. Take the narrow road opposite to Gartchonzie Bridge, which featured in the 1959 film The 39 Steps. Turn left after the bridge on the NCN7 Invertrossachs Road, left at a mini roundabout and right into Manse Lane, passing around the school playground and across a footbridge to South Church Street, back onto Main Street to return to Ancaster Square.

Take the small lane behind the church that leads to Glenartney Road, turn right and, at the junction with North Church Street, turn left then sharp right onto the cycle path. Follow signs on residential streets to join the path again at Balgibbon Drive. Turn right at a large pond, go past the caravan park and link to the country road signposted McQueen Distillery. Follow the road for some great views (even of Stirling if you go far enough). Return by the same route or turn left before the distillery on forest tracks down onto the old railway that links back into the route at Keltie Bridge.

Follow the A84 north and turn left at the traffic lights on to the NCN7, then right at a mini roundabout and follow Invertrossachs Road to Loch Venachar, where there are lots of places to stop for a picnic. Turn right off the private road at Invertrossachs and turn at the wooden bridge close to a boathouse on the lochside. Or continue to Brig o’ Turk to visit Achray Farm for ice cream or the Tearoom in the village. Return by the same route to Bridgend, turning right into Manse Lane, past the school playground and across the bridge to South Church Street and back onto Main Street to reach the square

Follow the start of Route 1 to join NCN7 Lochs and Glens Way and continue past the Forest Holiday cabins on the western shore of Loch Lubnaig. At Strathyre, turn right through former forestry houses and left to cross the River Balvaig on a wooden bridge. Turn right and cross the car park to reach the café. Return by the same route and admire spectacular views down the ‘crooked’ loch (Lùbnaig means crooked in Gaelic).

Thank you to the Callander Cycling Meander Group for suggesting these routes.