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Town in Stirling, Scotland
Photo: via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Callander is a small town in Stirlingshire in the Central Belt of Scotland. Tourist publicity calls it "The Gateway to the Highlands" and for once that over-used term is correct: the town sits right on the lowland-highland fault line, with crags looming just north of town, and streams racing out of the mountains to form the River Teith. Gaelic was spoken here until about 1900. The main reason to come is to see The Trossachs, the eastern part of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park.
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5-room museum of traditional children's toys (cars, model soldiers, dolls, etc.) and shop.
This is one of the few bodies of water in Scotland called a "lake" rather than a "loch." (By no means the only one, in spite of the tourist office blurb.) The name is probably a 16th century map-maker's misreading of laich meaning "low place". A little ferry boat takes you to the island with the ruins of Inchmahome Priory. Built in the 13th century, its royal visitors included the 4-year old Mary Queen of Scots, hidden away here after the Scots' defeat in battle in 1547. In 2022 the island is closed for masonry repairs.
Wooded parkland course with good views, white tees 5208 yards, par 66.
Pleasant coffee shop for lunch, does gluten-free.
A Belhaven pub with decent bar food and rooms.
formerly Gart Caravan Park
Large touring, caravan holiday home and glamping site, good scores for facilities and cleanliness.
Welcoming small hotel on main street with popular restaurant.
B&B a block north of main street, friendly and clean.
formerly Roman Camp Hotel
Luxurious 15-room hotel; parts of the building date from 1625.
This lakeside hotel was acquired in 2022 by Karma who have taken it upmarket, though they haven't added a spa. Dog friendly.
Briar cottages offer 2 holiday cottages for self catering on the banks of Loch Earn including 1 luxury cottage for 4 plus 1 pet-friendly cottage for 3 guests and 2 pets in the village of Lochearnhead Perthshire.
By car: the usual approach is M9 past Stirling, exit at Jcn 10 for A84 west through Doune.
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