Take A Trot Round - The Trossachs

Scotland is a pretty small country, though we manage to pack in almost as much in the way of scenery as we do in unpredictable weather.

- Alison Daniels

Yet, whether we’re visitors or have lived here all our lives, many of us have never seen much of our own country. Beyond the cities lies a mysterious mix of heather-clad hills, toecurlingly cold lochs, undiscovered wilderness and petrol stations that close inconveniently on Sundays.

If you’d prefer to enjoy the scenery without being too far from urban civilisation, then the Trossachs offer a way of packing in much of the best that Scotland has to offer into a couple of days. You’ll find everything from mountains and walking trails in Scotland’s first national park, to sleepy little towns, outdoor activities and even an outlet shopping mall.

Roughly speaking, the Trossachs area runs from Tyndrum and Killin in the north to Drymen and Balloch at the southern end of Loch Lomond. And from Callander in the east, to the Cowal Peninsula in the west. All in all, the National Park covers 720 square miles, complete with 21 Munros, 20 Corbetts, 22 larger lochs and the UK’s largest National Nature Reserve – the Great Trossachs Forest. There are also a dozen whisky distilleries in the Trossachs, as well as microbreweries and boutique gin producers.