Aberfoyle has many miles of cycling and walking routes starting right from the centre of the Village where there is free parking in the main car park if you arrived by car. From the Village its possible to cycle through the Loch Ard Forest to the south or in the Loch Achray forest to the north.
Loch Ard Forest is large and undulating with a few good hills but none lasting more than a mile uphill. The map below shows some short cycle routes suitable for family groups and cyclists of all fitness levels which are circular bringing you back to your start point.
The routes are used by walkers also and are colour coded with wooden posts along the way. The Forestry Commission Scotland have produced a combined map showing more routes in both forests and a copy of the map is here for download as a PDF or can be obtained from the David Marshall Lodge or the Trossachs Discovery Centre (Tourist Information) in the Main St Aberfoyle.
For more arduous cycling in Loch Ard use the map to plan longer routes heading towards High Corrie and Lime Hill which can be made into a long, sometimes hilly circular route returning via the Old Drymen Road and the village of Gartmore, with a stop at The Black Bull for topping up fluids lost.
Alternatively, it is also possible to cycle the south shore of Loch Ard and head out towards Loch Chon for some excellent scenery and a few hills. This is great cycling with a few places of interest along the way which are marked on the OS Map of the area (sheet 57). Again this can be made into a circular route by returning via the B829 and topping up fluids at Forest Hills Resort or returning to Aberfoyle. A quite recent addition to the trails is The Loch Ard Family Sculpture Trial which can be walked or cycled and adds some things to see and do along the route around the Loch Ard Forest.
Cycle Maps
The above maps have been provided courtesy of the Forestry Commission Scotland.Most routes are suitable for cyclists and walkers. Please click on the icon to show an enlarged map, information on the difficulty of the route, footwear etc.
Cross the river & follow the road past the old kirk. Through native woodland and tall conifers there’s a short steady climb as you enter the forest & then a gentle descent as the path meanders through the open mixed woodland. Crossing the Forth on a timber bridge the path follows the tarred cycleway back to the car park.
Shortly after you enter the forest, the Doon Hill loop is on your left. A narrower path than the forest road, the trail takes you to the top of Doon Hill before returning to the main path and back to the car park.
Through mixed woodland the trail rises gently into the Loch Ard forest to the picturesque Lochan Spling. Where the path follows the loch shore there is a short detour to a viewpoint. The path then completes the Lochan loop through the conifer forest & heads back towards the car park.
Enjoy the tranquility & variety of the forest environment as the trail rises gently through the mixed woodland of Loch Ard Forest. Past Lochan Spling, Ben Lomond comes into view and the trail continues to rise to its highest point where you can sit and enjoy the view of the forest and the surrounding hills before heading back to the car park.
Important Message from the Forestry Commission Scotland:
Many of the Forestry Commission Scotland’s trails and forest roads are suitable for walkers, cyclists and horse riders. Please show consideration and courtesy to everyone you meet. Some trails and paths are less suited to cyclists and horse riders because of the gradients and surfaces. Please behave responsibly in helping us to maintain these routes. Please remember also that forests are working landscapes and that forestry vehicles also use these roads.