Queen Elizabeth Forest Park
Queen Elizabeth Park is 50,000 acres of stunning forest park. It starts along the eastern shore of Loch Lomond and then stretches through Strathrye. Within these acres, you can find mountains, loch woods forests and moorlands. Whether you come for the peace and quiet, or for an activity-filled day, this beautiful park is unforgettable.
The Lodge
The Lodge lies at the entrance to the park. From here, there are several different walking routes suitable for all levels of walker. For the adventurous, you can climb to the treetop and “Go Ape”. This gives you a chance to bound through the trees like a squirrel, and you can enjoy a whole new perspective on the forest.
If you prefer to watch the wildlife rather than emulate them, then you are still in luck. There is hide for viewing red squirrels. CCTV feeds show you the favourite spots of the local wildlife you might spot the wild deer water voles or red squirrels that call the forest home.
If you want to stretch your legs and your map reading skills, you can try out the orienteering routes. There are three different courses to choose from all of which start from the lodge.
When it’s time for a break from your exploring, there is a lovely cafe on site where you can get a snack or a hot meal.
Parking is available at the lodge. It’s only £3 for the whole day. The lodge is open most days, only closing for Christmas and New Year’s Day.
Cycling
The park is home to Britain’s largest off-road cycling network. It’s great for families or for mixed ability groups. At Loch Ard, you can find a mix of paved and gravel routes to try your hand at. For a whimsical journey why not try out the Sculpture Trail? It’s one way to guarantee you’ll see some ‘wildlife’ and where else will you see ‘Star Wars Squirrels’?
Loch Katrine offers you a wonderful cycling experience. Take the steamship to one end of the loch. Then spend the day cycling back along the shoreline. You don’t even need your own bike as you can hire one at the pier before you board the boat.
