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18/09/206 – Summer Walks Strengthen Connections
A Summer of Walking in Killin
This summer, our Killin Walk in the Park group has enjoyed exploring some of their favourite local routes and beyond, taking in the beautiful scenery and spending time together outdoors. The group have enjoyed utilising the great path network along NCN7 at Strathyre and closer to home have walked the new railway path and boardwalk. The walks have provided the group with lots of opportunity to spot wildlife, soak up the summer sun and spectacular views and take quiet moments of reflection. The benefits of spending time outdoors continue to shine through, with 67% of participants reporting a stronger connection to nature and the natural world.
Join us every Wednesday at 10.20am, see schedule below for meeting location and routes. Suitable for all abilities, no booking required, just turn up and walk with us. Check out our walking schedule here for more details! We always welcome new faces and look forward to walking with you.
17/09/206 – Lomond Plant Nursery
Celebrating the Musical Launch
A huge thank you to everyone who joined us for the Musical Launch of Lomond Plant Nursery. Visitors enjoyed a unique performance from Curlew Makes Music, helped collect Rowan berries at RSPB Loch Lomond, and got creative in the polytunnel with embroidery inspired by native plants and imaginative artwork of “trees of the future”. Special thanks to Caulders Garden Centres Loch Lomond for keeping everyone fuelled, particularly with their much-loved gluten-free vegan chocolate brownies!
If you’d like to get involved in nursery activities, seed collecting across the National Park, and future volunteer events, we’d love to hear from you. Contact Hamshya, Nursery Volunteer Coordinator, at [email protected]
Getting here: Find us on Google Maps!
- By bus: Take the 309 bus from Alexandria to Balmaha and, if possible, kindly ask the driver to stop at the RSPB Reserve entrance.
- By car: Parking available but limited – please car-share where possible.
- By bike: The National Cycle Network Route 7 passes nearby, running between Balloch and Gartocharn
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What3Words: nerves.shorten.elect
With thanks to support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Photos: Philip Houston and Annie@trustinthepark
07/09/206 – Community Conversations
Help Shape our Future Programmes
Join us on Tuesday 22 September, from 12 pm noon to 1pm, at Three Villages Hall, Arrochar to share your experiences, thoughts and ideas about how our programmes can continue to support you and your community.
Whether you’re involved in Walk in the Park, or Strength & Balance, work with local communities, or live nearby but have never taken part in our activities, we’d really value your perspective.
We’ll have small group discussions, plenty of opportunity to chat, and of course, tea, coffee and cake! To find out more please drop us an email to [email protected] or drop in on the day!
20/07/206 – Killin
Big Fit Walk brings our Health Walks Together
In July, we were delighted to host our Big Fit Walk in Killin, with over 60 participants joining us for a fun, interactive and sociable community walk including a special heritage walk hosted by Mons, exploring Finlarig Castle. It was wonderful to see so many people coming together to enjoy being active, meet new people and celebrate the benefits of walking for health and wellbeing. One visiting participant noted: ‘The walk was a great success, enhanced by the sunshine. The walk was interesting and informative, and the warm welcome, delicious food and drink supplied by our hosts was very much appreciated.”
If you didn’t manage to make the event don’t worry, you can join us for our weekly walks! Our Killin group meet every Wednesday at 10.20am, either at the Sports Pavilion and Recreation Hub or Monemore – see details here. We always welcome new faces and look forward to walking with you.
26/05/206 – All Group Community Walk
81 Walkers made it a Blooming Brilliant Day in Aberfoyle.
30/04/206 – Movement Together
Anniversary April
April has been a busy and celebratory month for our Movement Together project, with several group anniversaries marked across the region.
15/2/2026 – Loch Lomond & The Trossachs Landscape Connections initiative
£10 Million to Restore Woodlands & Support Communities
We’re delighted to be part of a major new partnership putting communities at the heart of long‑term nature recovery across Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park.
A welcome funding boost has been awarded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund to help restore woodlands and support local communities. The first phase- over £670,000 – will see us, alongside Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority and RSPB Scotland , develop the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs Landscape Connections initiative. This work could unlock a further £9.2 million to restore some of Scotland’s rarest native woodlands and create a connected woodland network more than twice the size of Glasgow. It will also open up new opportunities for local people and strengthen rural economies.
The project will focus on restoring globally threatened woodland habitats including temperate rainforest, ancient Caledonian pinewoods and upland woodland. And importantly, local communities will be involved from the very beginning, shaping projects that matter to them, such as:
- Practical training and green job creation
- Future-proofing sustainable local business models
- Nature-friendly land and deer management, supporting a healthier local venison market
- Creating more places for people to connect with nature
Our CEO, Alistair Whyte, shared:
“We’re going to be working with local communities and volunteers and land managers to expand the woodland habitat to end up with something which is much, much healthier, much, much more natural and will be fantastic for wildlife and for people. Quite often projects are relatively short term. This programme of work is very, very different”.
“If we get this right, what we’ll be able to do during that 10-year time is put in place structures and mechanisms to actually allow what we’re doing to be sustained well into the future and to be rolled out across a much larger area”.
05/02/2026 – From Uplands to Leadership:
Meet our New CEO
We’re delighted to welcome Alistair Whyte as our new Chief Executive of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs Countryside Trust. A dedicated conservationist, Alistair brings extensive experience in land management, ecological restoration and partnership-based projects across Scotland.
Alistair is particularly drawn to the Trust’s hands-on, community-driven approach. One of his favourite spots in the National Park? The iconic summit of Ben Lui, where there’s always something new to discover. Ben Lui is also part of the Wild Strathfillan area. He’s excited about being involved with this ambitious initiative and our other nature restoration projects.
He’s also looking forward to joining in with some of our weekly wellbeing activities. If you spot him on one of our 𝘄𝗮𝗹𝗸𝘀 or at a 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵 & 𝗕𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 session, please do extend a warm welcome – he’s keen to meet the community participants and volunteers that make our programmes and our work so special!
22/12/2025 – Strength & Balance Burns, Ballads & Balance: Killin Pupils Light up Our Session!
Our Killin S&B session were joined at the end of January by local pupils from Killin Primary School who put together a great performance celebrating Scottish Song and Poetry and of course Robert Burns. After a short movement warm up led by our trained volunteers, we settled down to performances of ‘The Birks of Aberfeldy’, ‘Coulars Candy’ and ‘Donald, Where’s Your Trousers’.
20/12/2025 – Walk in the Park
Festive Fun and Community Spirit
This December, 231 of our wonderful participants joined us to celebrate the season through our health walks and Strength & Balance sessions. Together, we enjoyed Body Boosting Bingo with a festive twist, sang Christmas carols alongside local primary schools, and shared plenty of laughter over delicious Christmas lunches, mince pies by the tree, and even a festive cream tea.
A huge thank you to everyone who came along – and an even bigger thanks to the fantastic local venues and staff who treated us to amazing food and service. Moments like these remind us how important connection and community are – especially at this time of year. We can’t wait to welcome you back in the New Year for more walks, wellbeing, and friendship. See you soon!
30/11/2025 – Strength & Balance
Fall Prevention Starts Here
During November we were thrilled to welcome Matthew Gallagher, Falls Lead for Clacks and Stirling HSCP, to our Strength & Balance sessions (main image of Drymen and inset with Killin). Matthew shared practical tips on reducing fall risks, boosting bone health, and making the most of community support – including our popular Strength and Balance classes. Over 100 participants joined in, and the feedback was fantastic! With thanks to funding from: Stirlingshire Voluntary Enterprise (SVE), Loch Lomond and the National Park Authority, Peoples Postcode Lottery, Scottish Forestry.
25/11/2025 – Strength & Balance
Celebrating one Year in Buchlyvie and Crianlarich
On November 7th, we marked a special milestone – the first anniversary of our Strength & Balance (S&B) sessions in Buchlyvie and Crianlarich. These classes have been a tremendous success, bringing health and happiness to two rural Stirling communities. Regular participants have shared how these sessions have improved not only their mobility and confidence, but also their social wellbeing. These achievements wouldn’t be possible without the dedication of our trained S&B demonstrators. Their commitment, care, and enthusiasm create a space where participants feel supported and connected. A huge thank you to them for the value they bring to our communities!
Image: @Trustinthepark Strength and Balance session, Crianlarich.
18/11/2025 – Walk in the Park
To Absent Friends Week: Walks of Reflection
Each year, from 1st to 7th November, Scotland hosts To Absent Friends Week – a people’s festival dedicated to remembering, sharing stories, and celebrating the lives of those we have known and who have passed away.
This year, several of our walking groups marked the occasion with reflection walks. These walks offered a meaningful space to talk, reminisce, and honour the memories of those no longer with us. Some groups shared music, others read poetry, but what truly stood out was the sense of support, connection, and community that our health walks provide and mean to so many.
14/11/2025 – Walk in the Park
Bonnie Boots – Best Walk Ever!!!
“Best Walk Ever!” That’s the glowing feedback we received after our latest walk in partnership with Glasgow based charity Bonnie Boots. On a crisp and sunny Saturday morning in October, we set off on a stunning 7.5 mile journey from Drymen to Balmaha, traversing the iconic Conic Hill along the famous West Highland Way. This scenic route offered a refreshing alternative to the traditional climb up Conic Hill from Balmaha, with a gentle ascent that rewarded us with breath-taking views over Loch Lomond.One participant summed it up perfectly: “An amazing day of hiking – best walk ever. Thank you to everyone who made it possible! I loved it!”
Our partnership walks are a wonderful opportunity to discover new trails, connect with nature, and build meaningful relationships along the way.
10/11/2025 – Birds, Binoculars & Big Discoveries
Our Killin group recently enjoyed a brilliant morning of bird spotting, joined by Scott from Kinross Ecology for a hands-on Bird Identification walk.
Armed with binoculars and curiosity, we followed the old railway line towards the head of Loch Tay, identifying an impressive 24 bird species by sight and sound – including sparrowhawks, nuthatches, and treecreepers.
Autumn is a fantastic time for birdwatching, especially as migratory visitors arrive. One highlight: the tiny wren, which makes an epic 8-hour flight across the North Sea from Scandinavia to reach Scotland! These nature walks are a great way to learn, connect, and appreciate the wildlife around us.
25/08/2025 – Walk Leader Training – update!
If you are feeling inspired to volunteer with us, then look no further as we provide training to give volunteers and any community members the skills and confidence to lead safe, welcoming and enjoyable Health Walks in a community setting.
Thank you to everyone who attended our recent Walk Leader Training course held at the National Park Head office, Balloch. The feedback from these sessions are that they are “always fun, interactive and engaging“. Should you wish to be involved and support your community in outdoor activities – we’d love to hear from you.
19/08/2025 – Body Boosting Bingo in Killin!
Instead of our usual Killin Strength and Balance sessions, participants this month enjoyed a Body Boosting Bingo session with thanks to Age Scotland. Body Boosting Bingo is a fun and engaging game designed to promote Strength and Balance through exercise. One participant noted ‘it was fun, a huge success and can’t wait to do it again.’
Whilst we do plan to do more Body Boosting Bingo in the future, for now you can come along to one of our normal weekly Wednesday sessions from 2pm-3pm in the Killin & Ardeonaig Parish Church! No booking required, see you there!
With thanks to funding from: Heritage Lottery Fund, Loch Lomond and the National Park Authority, Peoples Postcode Lottery, Scottish Forestry and Walking Scotland.