Poachers Hut Guidebook
Things to do, see, visit close-by
The Poachers Hut is on the Cardross Estate on the edge of the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park in central Scotland. There are lots of things to do and see and a great base to visit lots of Scotland. These are just some places and there are more recommendations in the shepherds hut, along with maps, little books with walking and cycling routes.
20 minutes drive and fun to visit - even for grown-ups.
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Blair Drummond Safari and Adventure Park
20 minutes drive and fun to visit - even for grown-ups.
Beautiful spot and the only lake in Scotland. You can go fishing or a small boat out to the island. Or have lunch at the Lake Hotel which is on the water's edge and has wonderful views over the Lake. Wonderful sunsets.
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Lake of Menteith
Beautiful spot and the only lake in Scotland. You can go fishing or a small boat out to the island. Or have lunch at the Lake Hotel which is on the water's edge and has wonderful views over the Lake. Wonderful sunsets.
Take the little boat to visit the island in the middle of Lake of Menteith. Reopening April 2023.
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Inchmahome Priory
Take the little boat to visit the island in the middle of Lake of Menteith. Reopening April 2023.
15 minutes from the Shepherd Hut - tree top wandering and zip wire.
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Go Ape Aberfoyle
15 minutes from the Shepherd Hut - tree top wandering and zip wire.
15 minutes away and lots of walks and cycling options in a beautiful part of Scotland
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Queen Elizabeth Forest Park
Duke's Pass15 minutes away and lots of walks and cycling options in a beautiful part of Scotland
Half an hour away from the hut - enjoy a cruise on the loch which supplies Glasgow with its water. You can also walk round and hire bikes. Wonderful wee Tea Room at Stronachlacher Pier.
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Loch Katrine
7 Newcraigs DriveHalf an hour away from the hut - enjoy a cruise on the loch which supplies Glasgow with its water. You can also walk round and hire bikes. Wonderful wee Tea Room at Stronachlacher Pier.
Half an hour from the hut - amazing sculptures - lit up at night.
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Kelpies
The HelixHalf an hour from the hut - amazing sculptures - lit up at night.
Half an hour away from the shepherds hut, definitely worth a visit and you can climb Ben Lomond for spectacular views, sail the Loch, visit Inchcailloch Island or go shopping at Loch Lomond Shores.
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Loch Lomond
Half an hour away from the shepherds hut, definitely worth a visit and you can climb Ben Lomond for spectacular views, sail the Loch, visit Inchcailloch Island or go shopping at Loch Lomond Shores.
Wonderful small hill with spectacular views, just 25 minutes from the hut.
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Ben A'an
Wonderful small hill with spectacular views, just 25 minutes from the hut.
Another great hill half an hour away, quite steep for a lot of the way. You can enjoy the summit from the hot tub!
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Ben Ledi
Another great hill half an hour away, quite steep for a lot of the way. You can enjoy the summit from the hot tub!
Stirling Castle
Castle Wynd25 minutes away, great Scottish history and views
25 minutes away and AMAZING views and lots of steps!
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The National Wallace Monument
Hillfoots Road25 minutes away and AMAZING views and lots of steps!
Half an hour away, not visited - yet.
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Besökscentret för slaget vid Bannockburn
Half an hour away, not visited - yet.
Castle Rednock Trekking Centre
Just five minutes away, pony trekking and Segway trekking.
Our lovely neighbours run fabulous interesting and fun courses. Check their website for current activities. Just a lovely quiet scenic 50 minute walk or four minute drive.
Gartur Stitch Farm
Our lovely neighbours run fabulous interesting and fun courses. Check their website for current activities. Just a lovely quiet scenic 50 minute walk or four minute drive.
Another lovely neighbor with wonderful courses - flowers and beautiful rustic home wares . Check out their pop up stall on the road to the Kake and main shop at the Woodhouse cafe in Kippen - Twine.
Green Pea Studio
Another lovely neighbor with wonderful courses - flowers and beautiful rustic home wares . Check out their pop up stall on the road to the Kake and main shop at the Woodhouse cafe in Kippen - Twine.
Finnich Glen
Outlander location - Devils pulpit, just 20 minutes away.
Just 25 minutes away and another Outlander filming location.
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Doune Castle
Castle HillJust 25 minutes away and another Outlander filming location.
Argaty Red Kites
Fabulous raptor experience, 25 minutes away
Glencoe
Stunning glen, and wonderful scenic hour and a half drive.
Wonderful scenic 40 minute drive and maybe onwards to Loch Fyne (great seafood restaurant) and Inverary ( lovely little town - George Hotel for lunch and best chips ever!)
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Rest and be Thankful Viewpoint
Wonderful scenic 40 minute drive and maybe onwards to Loch Fyne (great seafood restaurant) and Inverary ( lovely little town - George Hotel for lunch and best chips ever!)
everyone's favourite munro with fantastic views over Loch Lomond. Good path, not too difficult, usually busy.
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Ben Lomond
everyone's favourite munro with fantastic views over Loch Lomond. Good path, not too difficult, usually busy.
Lovely walks and river falls and wooden bridge in Callander.
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Bracklinn Falls Bridge
Lovely walks and river falls and wooden bridge in Callander.
Small village with busy Main Street of shops and cafes and restaurants and bars.
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Callander
Small village with busy Main Street of shops and cafes and restaurants and bars.
An alladin's cave of a place! Perfect on a rainy day, not just antiques, there's everything you can imagine, some old, some new, some interesting and quirky, some useful.
Also a lovely gift shop and the Cafe Cirque cafe - doesn't look much however surprisingly delicious quality food for breakfast, lunch and cakes! Totally recommend a visit.
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Scottish Antiques and Arts Centre
An alladin's cave of a place! Perfect on a rainy day, not just antiques, there's everything you can imagine, some old, some new, some interesting and quirky, some useful.
Also a lovely gift shop and the Cafe Cirque cafe - doesn't look much however surprisingly delicious quality food for breakfast, lunch and cakes! Totally recommend a visit.
Highest local munro with fantastic views over loch lomond and beyond. Good path, usually busy, few false summits! The alternative Ptarmigan ridge route back down is worth considering - quieter, great views. Casual lunch or dinner in Balmaha is worth considering - the Oak Tree Inn.
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Ben Lomond
Highest local munro with fantastic views over loch lomond and beyond. Good path, usually busy, few false summits! The alternative Ptarmigan ridge route back down is worth considering - quieter, great views. Casual lunch or dinner in Balmaha is worth considering - the Oak Tree Inn.
Our lovely neighbours who run smallholding farm visits and long-table dinners through-out the year. Check out their website.
Gartur Stitch Farm
Our lovely neighbours who run smallholding farm visits and long-table dinners through-out the year. Check out their website.
Famous loch as it feeds Glasgow with its water. You can walk, cycle round it. Also close to is is Ben Venue - lovely mountain to climb with incredible views.
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Loch Katrine
7 Newcraigs DriveFamous loch as it feeds Glasgow with its water. You can walk, cycle round it. Also close to is is Ben Venue - lovely mountain to climb with incredible views.
Local bike and ebike hire (will delivery to shepherds hut) - just 12 minute drive. Have lots of route options from Aberfoyle.
Aberfoyle Bike Hire
Main StreetLocal bike and ebike hire (will delivery to shepherds hut) - just 12 minute drive. Have lots of route options from Aberfoyle.
Places to eat and drink aroundabout
We have some lovely places, these are just some and there are more (and our favourites) detailed in the hut.
Great menu and tasty food. Craft beers and gins - recommended. 20 minutes away
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The Old Mill
6 Balfron RdGreat menu and tasty food. Craft beers and gins - recommended. 20 minutes away
Friendly local country hotel with bar and restaurant. Highly recommended for lunch or tea - hearty delicious food - with open fires in the winter.
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Lion and Unicorn station
Main StreetFriendly local country hotel with bar and restaurant. Highly recommended for lunch or tea - hearty delicious food - with open fires in the winter.
Stunning views over the Lake - perfect for a drink to take in the views. Sadly we cannot recommend for a meal - poor quality food, expensive, and service patchy. 4 minute drive or half hour walk. Taxi back is c.£10.
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The Lake of Menteith Hotel
Stunning views over the Lake - perfect for a drink to take in the views. Sadly we cannot recommend for a meal - poor quality food, expensive, and service patchy. 4 minute drive or half hour walk. Taxi back is c.£10.
Recommended - great country pub with food and fires. Sunday roast lunch fab! Just 10 minutes drive away. Taxis available.
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The Cross Keys
Main StreetRecommended - great country pub with food and fires. Sunday roast lunch fab! Just 10 minutes drive away. Taxis available.
Very scenic 25 minute drive to this little tearoom on the edge of Loch Katrine - or take a boat from the other end of Loch Katrine - perfect.
The Pier Cafe
Very scenic 25 minute drive to this little tearoom on the edge of Loch Katrine - or take a boat from the other end of Loch Katrine - perfect.
great place, 20 minutes away - deli, butcher, shop, café. Great breakfasts, lunches and tea and coffee and cake! Recommended
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Blair Drummond Smiddy Farm Shop
great place, 20 minutes away - deli, butcher, shop, café. Great breakfasts, lunches and tea and coffee and cake! Recommended
Our favourite local place for breakfast and lunch and everything in between. It also has a butchers and small deli and shop. Very popular. Also has a little shop called Twine beside it - Greenpea studio owners - wonderful house and garden things to buy. If you love the hut you will love Twine :)
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The Woodhouse Kippen
Our favourite local place for breakfast and lunch and everything in between. It also has a butchers and small deli and shop. Very popular. Also has a little shop called Twine beside it - Greenpea studio owners - wonderful house and garden things to buy. If you love the hut you will love Twine :)
A lovely warm welcome and good menu, and beer garden.
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The Inn at Kippen
Fore RoadA lovely warm welcome and good menu, and beer garden.
Nick has opened a small restaurant in his Cook School open Thursdays to Sundays. Best to book, small delicious menu and cocktails. Lovely outdoor area with lights and heating and blankets. Everyone's favourite place, locals and visitors alike. Half hour walk or 4 minute drive. Taxis available.
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Nick Nairn Cook School
Nick has opened a small restaurant in his Cook School open Thursdays to Sundays. Best to book, small delicious menu and cocktails. Lovely outdoor area with lights and heating and blankets. Everyone's favourite place, locals and visitors alike. Half hour walk or 4 minute drive. Taxis available.
Pop up coffee bar between Doune and Dunblane. The best coffee locally, friendly staff and totally delicious toasted bagels and rolls and cakes! This pic is of our halloumi, saracha, pickles, salad toasted bagel - yum!
If you're heading home on the motorway north or south, worth considering for brunch, it's just one minute from the north/south on ramps.
James’ Speciality Coffee Bar
Pop up coffee bar between Doune and Dunblane. The best coffee locally, friendly staff and totally delicious toasted bagels and rolls and cakes! This pic is of our halloumi, saracha, pickles, salad toasted bagel - yum!
If you're heading home on the motorway north or south, worth considering for brunch, it's just one minute from the north/south on ramps.
Hires bikes and great sunny outdoor cafe. Will deliver (and pick up) bikes to shepherd hut. Also e-bikes which are amazing and let you explore further afield with little effort.
Aberfoyle Bike Hire
Main StreetHires bikes and great sunny outdoor cafe. Will deliver (and pick up) bikes to shepherd hut. Also e-bikes which are amazing and let you explore further afield with little effort.
Lovely farm cafe. Delicious ice creams, yogurts, pour your own pint of cows milk! Quite a nice wee shop too.
Knockraich Farm
Lovely farm cafe. Delicious ice creams, yogurts, pour your own pint of cows milk! Quite a nice wee shop too.
Lovely warm welcome at this community owned country pub with rooms. Food is really good too!
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The Black Bull Hotel
Main StreetLovely warm welcome at this community owned country pub with rooms. Food is really good too!
Balmaha on east side of Loch Lomond. Very tasty home-made food, buzzy place, lots of tables inside and out. You can also just have a drink. Fine to go in in walking gear.
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Oak Tree Inn
Balmaha on east side of Loch Lomond. Very tasty home-made food, buzzy place, lots of tables inside and out. You can also just have a drink. Fine to go in in walking gear.
Sightseeing
Lovely drive down the glen to Balquhidder Church (where we got married!) which is always open. Rob Roy’s grave is in the churchyard round the Church. Short walk up to great viewpoint.
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Balquhidder
Lovely drive down the glen to Balquhidder Church (where we got married!) which is always open. Rob Roy’s grave is in the churchyard round the Church. Short walk up to great viewpoint.