This
circular walk of four miles starts at the magnificent 18th century
Gartmore House in the Loch Lomond and
Trossachs National Park.
it was built in 1793 by William Adam for the Graham Family and since
2000 it has been established as Gartmore House Trust with charitable
status.
It is used as a centre for residential conferences and activity
holidays.
From
the House the walk turns left at the crossing onto the driveway to
the north and Gartmore village, passes by the outbuildings, “The Mews‘,
and at the white house turns right onto a gravel track to pass through
a wood and exit at “Crinigart Lodge’ onto Gartmore Road. It tums right
( take care of traffic ) and after passing farm sheds it enters a
vehicle track on the left signed, “Lemahamish" and into Loch Ard Forest.
At the track junction and vehicle turning point, look out for the
narrow path ahead into a wood. The path twists and turns and at the
fork it is best to take the path on the right which continues through
the wood and
descends a set of steps into an open field with caravans. Taking the
left path at the fork shortens the walk but involves crossing a stream
overlarge
stones which can be a problem if the stream level is high.
In the campsite, the walk turns left and at the “cycle” sign it turns
right along the riverside and exits the Campsite onto an open green
field beside the Lemahamish Pool part of the flowing River Forth.
There is an option here to take the forest track or the preference is
to continue along the river path, it being more interesting, ( take
care as there are awkward tree roots ) and loop round onto the forest
track. Turning
right and after a short distance, the walk leaves the track and turns
right onto a new path between fields which crosses a hump wooden bridge
over the
Forth and onto the Aberfoyle - Gartmore N7 cycle path. It turns right,
proceeds along this straight tarmac path to the Gartmore Road junction
and tums right to pass the sign “Gartmore via Barbadoes 4" on the left.
Pause on crossing the narrow road bridge over the downstream Forth, and
view on one side, the campsite, and the above path entry point, and on
the other, the high structured A81 Glasgow stone bridge.
After the crossing and with the entrance to the campsite on the right,
the walk turns left and passes the “Riverside” cottage on the left
before turning right onto the busy A81 Glasgow Road. Take care and best
to
walk on the grass verge for a short distance before turning right
through the gates into the driveway to Gartmore
House.
This is a lovely
driveway to walk along and passes the house on the left with its small
boat pond and island summer house. Looking round there are picturesque
views of the Menteith Hills and the
Carse of Stirling, before it passes
the walled garden, which, presumably at one time, would be filled with
vegetables and fruit trees and returns back to the house. Finally, on
passing the house. there are some picnic tables to relax in and take in
the
splendour of its location.
::
Loch Spling
Gallery 
