Queen Elizabeth Forest Park

A little way to the north of the bustle and history of Glasgow and Edinburgh is the Queen Elizabeth Forest Park. With its still, tranquil lochs, wreathed in mists, its thickly wooded hills and its rugged mountains, it holds the kind of natural beauty which is so strongly associated with Scotland.

It is a 50,000 acre park with glorious scenery, ranging from mountains to moor and rivers to lochs, all set in endless woodland. It is unrivalled for its wildlife and outdoors activities: it holds Britain’s largest off-road cycle network and many pony treks that follow woodland trails or mountain ascents.

The Black Lodge

The Lodge is found near Aberfoyle and is a great place to start exploring Queen Elizabeth Forest Park. From here you can take the Three Lochs Forest Drive, which is perfect for those who don’t fancy a hike — the path will take you right to the heart of the Loch Achray Forest, where you can enjoy the astounding Trossachs views. Alternatively, Loch Ard’s peaceful, picturesque shores are an ideal place for a relaxed family stroll or cycle ride, and it’s not far to the famous Loch Katrine, where you can take a trip on an ancient steamship.

You’ve been framed

The Lodge offers the opportunity to watch the park’s wildlife, undisturbed and in their natural habitats, through live CCTV. The star of the show is undoubtedly the osprey, which arrive in spring and pair up with theirs mates, but you can also see eagles, peregrines, badgers, rutting deer, and the native red squirrel — so rare elsewhere in Britain these days.