Kinlochard to Stronachlachar - and a perfect photoshoot!

Loch Ard, December 2025

This is a section of one of our favourite roads in the Trossachs. For more on the whole journey and location info, hop over to ‘Aberfoyle to Inversnaid’.

Kinlochard is the one place we didn’t stop when Ledi and I drove the route five years ago, and it’s an essential addition. Mid-way through the little hamlet, turn left at the red phone box and park up at/outside the village hall. There’s a little gate into the small field, so it’s pretty safe for dogs.

Turn left here

The view down Loch Ard is beautiful, with a very photogenic little concrete block pier jutting out from the wee ‘beach’ (not sure you can reeeaaally call it that!). This was the first time Luca had been to a pier since I adopted him back in March, and he didn’t disappoint, hopping straight on and heading down to get a better view of the water and scenery, giving me a perfect photoshoot!

Carry on out of Kinlochard and drive for about 10km, along a fairly wiggly road through the forest. After about 8km, the road straightens out and climbs for a couple of miles. You start to see the mountains surrounding Loch Lomond and then as you swing round a right-hand bend, you get your first glimpse of Loch Arklet.

A little further on, there’s a parking place on the right, and if you scramble up the heathery hillock, you get a super view.

On the opposite side of the road, there’s a path and you used to be able to get all the way to the water’s edge (see the ‘Aberfoyle to Inversnaid’ blog), but this time it had been gated off. Hopefully that’s not permanent…

You can then carry on to Stronachlachar (right at the end of the road) or Inversnaid (left). We just pootled to the Pier Café and took in the view down Loch Katrine. We didn’t go into the café itself, but I recommend you do. The food is great, the staff are lovely and it’s totally dog friendly.

Looking down Loch Katrine from Stronachlachar

To get home, we took Duke's Pass from Aberfoyle up towards Callendar. It's a beautiful drive at any time of year, but particularly stunning when there's been a frost and you get pockets of almost black and white where the sun hasn't hit between the autumny colours...Gorgeous!

And between April and October, it's well worth taking the Three Lochs Forest Drive - more or less the heart of the Trossachs.

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