the foot of the crags, with an old wall hidden in bracken just below. Head downhill through patchy bracken, some of it unpleasantly thick, for 300 metres, to reach a well-used path. This runs back southwest, along the base of the ridgeline. After 1km it enters forest at a metal gate. In another 800 metres it reaches the beginning of a forest road and runs to its right, then joins it to go through a gate.
This track runs ahead to Braeval car park, but for better views in 100 metres turn off right on a small path. This heads up steeply to a higher forest road, and follows it left (southwest) with views of the Lake of Menteith. After 1km, take a track down left then to the right just below. In 200 metres, a path down left (with waymarker) would lead to Braeval car park but stay on the main track ahead.
The track runs along the top of Aberfoyle golf course. A smaller track forking down left is signed for Aberfoyle but bear right on the track that re-enters woodland. Watch out for a small path forking left and running in the woods just below the track. It crosses a turning spur of the track, then contours to a footbridge. (A wider, waymarked path comes straight to this bridge from the track just above.) Cross and go up a short rise to meet a wide earth path.
For David Marshall Lodge Turn right, up to right of the stream. Soon join a gravelled bike path, up to the arched footbridge below Little Fawn Falls. Don't cross, but turn left on the path of the outward walk to the lake and car parks at the lodge.
For Aberfoyle urn left, heading down to right of the stream. Green-top posts mark the path that rambles back right into the woods. After a short rise on steps, the waymarked path turns down left, through a gateway in a high fence. At the junction just below, turn down left, leaving the waymarked trail. The path runs down into the main street of Aberfoyle.
ROUTE 5
Aberfoyle Fairy Knowe
| Start/Finish | Aberfoyle Riverside car park NN 521 009 |
| Distance | 7km/4½ miles |
| Total Ascent | 100m/300ft |
| Time | 2hr |
| Terrain | Waymarked paths |
| Max Altitude | Doon Hill 77m |
| Maps | LR 57; Expl 365; Harvey Ben Venue |
This hill, so regularly formed, so richly verdant, and garlanded with such a beautiful variety of ancient trees and thriving copsewood, was held by the neighbourhood to contain, within its unseen caverns, the palaces of the fairies: a race of airy beings, who formed an intermediate class between men and demons, and who, if not positively malignant to humanity, were yet to be avoided and feared, on account of their capricious, vindictive, and irritable disposition.
‘They ca’ them,' said Mr Jarvie, in a whisper, ‘Daoine Schie, whilk signifies, as I understand, men of peace – meaning thereby to make their gude-will.’
Walter Scott in Rob Roy (1817) was describing Doon Hill, his information coming from The Secret Commonwealth, the detailed account of fairy lore published by the Aberfoyle minister Robert Kirk in 1691. The Revd Kirk has an official gravestone in Kirkton graveyard, but actually was snatched away in 1692 while walking on the Doon.
Don't believe in fairies? Neither do I. This is still a great little walk of riverside and woodland, particularly fine in bluebell time.
From Aberfoyle's Riverside car park, start along the tarred Riverside Walk downstream, with the River Forth on your right. In 300 metres you can either cross the small stream ahead, or else follow the tarred path left to a tarmac cycle way, turn right over the stream, and at once right again on a community path, to rejoin the River Forth.
The grass path continues downstream for 500 metres, then joins the tarred cycle way. As the river bends away again, take an empty gateway on the right to follow a fisherman's path, again rejoining the tarred cycleway. In another 400 metres, just after a small bridge, turn right on a gravel path with green waymark post. Here and elsewhere the Forestry Commission's trail layouts and colours tend to change every decade or so. This crosses the River Forth to a forest track.
Turn left, past a green-top waymarker post. Turn off left onto a riverside path that leads to a small car park called Lemahamish (NS 529 991). There's a path map here.
Double back right on a forest road past a barrier, then in 50 metres turn up left on a good path to cross Fairy Knowe. The path drops to join a forest road. Keep ahead, downhill, to another junction. Again keep ahead, across a bridge. The track rises past some open ground with view of wooded Doon Hill. Just past the track's high point, turn right on the path whose signboard has a fairy toadstool. The path runs up onto Doon Hill. The summit is decorated with votive offerings, some apparently left by adults. Most of them dangle from the summit pine, inside which the spirit of Revd Robert Kirk is supposedly captive.
Slightly to right of the upward path, a red waymark shows the descending one. At the hill foot it meets a track where you turn left, then right on the continuation of the track you arrived on.
The track runs into Kirkton village. Keep ahead on a street, past the graveyard supposedly containing the earthly remains of The Revd Kirk, (his grave is just behind the reconstructed chapel and is marked by coins scattered to appease the fairies). The street leads to the bridge of the Forth at Aberfoyle.
Votive offerings at the summit of Doon Hill. The spirit of Revd Robert Kirk is imprisoned within this tree.
SUMMIT SUMMARY: BEN LEDI
Low routes
| 7 | Finglas Woods |
| 10 | Kilmahog: Lowland to Highland |
Ben Ledi routes
| 6 | Ben Ledi and Benvane from Brig o' Turk |
| 8 | Ledi from Lubnaig |
| 9 | Ardnandave Hill to Ben Ledi |
ROUTE 6
Ben Ledi and Benvane from Brig o' Turk
| Start/Finish | Little Drum car park, Loch Venachar head NN 548 062 |
| Distance | 21.5km/13½ miles |
| Total Ascent | 1350m/4500ft |
| Time | 8¾hr |
| Terrain | Hill paths and some pathless hillside |
| Max Altitude | Ben Ledi 879m |
| Maps |
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