GPS Cycle and Walking Routes

Loch Venachar and Loch Drunkie

19 miles (30 km)

This route in Queen Elizabeth Forest Park follows National Cycle Route 7 through the Achray Forest to two beautiful lochs in the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. The route starts in the village of Aberfoyle and follows good woodland paths to Lochan Reoidhte and then on to Loch Drunkie. You continue on more forest tracks before a long lochside stretch along Loch Venachar. There's great views across the water to the surrounding woodland, hills and mountains.
If you'd like to explore the area further then you can head to the nearby Loch Katrine for more wonderful waterside cycling and walking trails. Loch Ard also has some great woodland cycle and walking trails while the fascinating Inchmahome Priory is only a few miles east of Aberfoyle.
Just to the north of Loch Venachar you can pick up a nice waymarked trail through Glen Finglas. Here you will find rivers, streams, waterfalls and the lovely Glen Finglas Reservoir.
The walk to Ben Venue also starts from near to Loch Achray, just to the west of Loch Venachar. It's a popular climb with great views back down to the loch.

Loch Venachar and Loch Drunkie OS Map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Loch Venachar and Loch Drunkie Open Street Map - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Further Information and Other Local Ideas

Just to the west there's a nice circular trail to follow around the scenic Loch Chon. Just to the south east there's the tranquil Loch Rusky and the Torrie Forest to explore.
For more walking ideas in the area see the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs Walks and the Queen Elizabeth Forest Park pages.

Photos

Loch Venachar - geograph.org.uk - 995882

Loch Venachar. Ben Venue can be seen in the distance.

Shoreline of Loch Venachar - geograph.org.uk - 736265

Shoreline of Loch Venachar

Burn near Loch Venachar - geograph.org.uk - 173057

Burn near Loch Venachar. Taken from the dead-end road (apart from for cyclists and walkers) which leads to the south side of Loch Venachar.

Loch Drunkie - geograph.org.uk - 72992

Loch Drunkie. Looking E, from the edge of the cycleway through the Achray Forest.

Loch Drunkie - geograph.org.uk - 881134

This view of Loch Drunkie with Loch Venachar in the background was taken from a model aircraft.

Loch Drunkie view indicator - geograph.org.uk - 1607599

Loch Drunkie view indicator

Video

GPS Files

GPX File

Loch Venachar and Loch Drunkie.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>'Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Share>Save to Files')

Memory Map Route

Loch Venachar and Loch Drunkie.mmo (On Desktop:Right Click>'Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold >Share>Save to Files)