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| Tommy approves of the spectacular viewpoint at Creag an Tuirc, Balquhidder! (click / tap to enlarge) |
Taking advantage of the dry weather this past week, we headed over to Balquidder for a walk out to one of our favourite viewpoints at Creag an Tuirc, before continuing up Kirkton Glen to the hidden Lochan an Eireannaich.
Our walk starts at the 19th century Balquidder Church which is well worth a visit and contains displays on the history of the church and area. You'll also find the ruins of the 17th century kirk here and the disputed location of the graves of Rob Roy and his family. Dogs are allowed in the graveyard but as you'd expect, they are not allowed in the parish church itself. We then continue up Kirkton Glen, deviating out to Creag an Tuirc (Boar's Crag), rallying place of Clan MacLaren, for the stunning view across Loch Voil. Returning to the forest track, we continue up the glen. Be alert for the sign-posted left hand turn off the forest track to Glen Dochart.
The walk now climbs up through the hills towards Glen Dochart and affords superb views of Kirkton Glen behind us. As the walk levels off, we pass a huge boulder, named Rob Roy's Putting Stone and shortly afterwards, the hidden Lochan an Eireannaich (Loch of the Irishmen) appears before us. It's definitely worth carrying on beyond the loch a little way for the awesome views of the mountains beyond, before heading back.
The walk is a mostly there and back route covering a total distance of approximately 7 miles. It's fairly strenuous and includes the best part of 600 metres of ascent; most of it is gradual, with some steeper sections. It can be pretty muddy out to the viewpoint in bad weather but the path up the glen is a good quality forest track. Be alert to any forestry work that may be taking place though. Once into the hills, it's a grassy path which is boggy in places. Dogs will need to be kept close / on lead once in the hills as there are often sheep present. Also be sure to check for ticks (Jasper picked a few up). Incidentally, I wouldn't be tempted to come back via the path on the other side of Kirkton Glen as it's often pretty boggy and muddy.
Limited parking is available at the church and it's often quite busy. That said, most visitors only come to see Rob Roy's grave and don't stay long. There is more parking down the road at the village hall if the church is too congested. You'll find a Google Maps link and a map of the route at the end of the article. Information is current as of our last visit in May 2023. All images can be clicked / tapped to enlarge.
Here are the photo highlights:
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| Ruin of the old kirk |
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| Rob Roy family graves |
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| Balquhidder Parish Church |
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| Creag an Tuirc viewpoint overlooking Loch Voil |
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| Creag an Tuirc with the Clan MacLaren memorial cairn |
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| No forestry work going on when we walked through but there were obvious signs that they had been working there. Keep the dogs and kids clear of the log stacks! |
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| Keep an eye out for the narrow left turn to Glen Dochart (you'd miss it if it weren't for the sign!) |
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| A pretty little waterfall on the Glen Dochart path |
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| Jasper and Tommy on the hill path |
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| Jasper chilling out as Kirkton Glen stretches out behind him |
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| Looking back down Kirkton Glen |
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| Rob Roy's Putting Stone |
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| Jasper investigates Lochan an Eireannaich |
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| Jasper with his little pet Cavalier! |
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| Fantastic views over Glen Dochart down below and out to the mountains in the north |
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| The early evening sun makes for an attractive return trip back through the forest |
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