Three Lochs Forest Drive View Point

Three Lochs Forest Drive Viewpoint View

The Hill - Three Lochs Forest Drive View Point 

Location: First Carpark, Three Lochs Forest Drive, North of Aberfoyle
Grid Reference: NN52140

The Walk

Ascent: 3m
Distance 100m each way 
Terrain - good path, suitable for a wheelchair
Parking - plentiful in the carpark

Despite being too small to be classified on any hillbaggers ticklist this hill was too delightful not to blog about. I climbed it in late August, and it was an absolute feast for the senses. The views were stunning, the birds were singing, and the minute you left the car you were bathed in the honey sweet scent of heather. 

Interpretation panel with map showing the Forest Drive. You are here in top left marks the carpark for the viewpoint. 
Note: Map is upside down, the hillbagger found this quite disturbing.

The viewpoint is at the very start of the Three Lochs Forest Drive near Aberfoyle, which should get a commendation for accessibility. It's a loop of forestry track passing three different lochs and open to slow moving vehicles as well as walkers and cyclists. It's maintained to a standard that our Fiat Panda was perfectly happy with and there are public toilets half way round, which when we visited were delightfully clean. Best of all, there are tiny parking spaces with room for a couple of cars every few hundred metres. It's hard to overemphasize the joy that that level of choice for walking options gives when you are limited to only walking a few hundred metres from the car park. There is a parking meter at the start of the loop, just past the viewpoint carpark, and a day's parking at any point round the loop is £2, payable here. It's probably worth bringing that in cash, as the card machine is somewhat temperamental. It's also worth noting that the forest drive is one-way.

The drive is partly forestry plantation - I suspect this is why the road was originally put in, but there are also some patches of native woodlands and of course the three lochs, Lochan Reoidhte Loch Drunkie and Loch Achray.

Loch Achray, Three Lochs Forest Drive

The viewpoint I really wanted to tell you about however was before the Forest Drive properly began, at the very first car park. This is situated before you reach the Forest Drive parking meter, so presumably parking is free. Also, you can loop back to the main road from here instead of continuing onto the Forest Drive, if 7 miles of driving on a somewhat bumpy track doesn't sound like your idea of fun. 

To get there turn off the A821 at the Forest Drive signposts, then take the first available right (signposted carpark). Park and then just follow the path straight up to the summit. It's around 100 metres, with maybe a 3 metre climb. The path is made of hardpacked gravel, and has a good smooth surface. It isn't too steep, but it still has all the fun of a good summit, in that you don't see the view until you get there. There are even benches half way up if you need to stop for a breather.

View towards the summit at the viewpoint

At the top there's a kind of tiny amphitheater. We had a picnic there, and enjoyed the view. I think we were probably there around half an hour, and while a dozen cars went past us and onto the Forest Drive no one else came up to the car park we were parked in, let alone the summit. 

Amphitheater at summit - the large rocks were ideal for sitting on to have a picnic 


View back down to the carpark and our lonely Fiat Panda.

All in all, highly recommended. And as a bonus we found a huge patch of blaeberries on the way down.  

The hillbagger picking blaeberries in the sunshine by the carpark











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