Callander to Loch Katrine

Scotland · Stirling · The Trossachs

Two days out in the Trossachs, back to back — Killin one day, Loch Katrine the next.

Ridden 22–23 September 2024, two consecutive days out from Callander into the Trossachs — the first to Killin, the second the shorter trip out to Loch Katrine, the loch made famous as the source of Glasgow's drinking water and as one of the settings for Sir Walter Scott's The Lady of the Lake. Both rides carry the same knee-recovery thread running through the rest of home turf that year.

Route data (from Strava): Callander–Killin: 66.7km, 677m climbing (22 Sept). Callander–Loch Katrine: 44.5km, 453m climbing (23 Sept) — the shorter, easier day of the two.

My own notes from the ride log — day one: "Mega hard today. The knee continues to be an issue. No forward momentum when climbing out of the saddle." Day two: "Much better day today. Shorter trip and less hills. Knee was turning almost 100% give or take the final piece of the circle."

The Route, From My Own GPS Track

Real GPS route map showing the ride from Callander towards Loch Katrine — The actual recorded route for the Loch Katrine day, plotted from my own Strava GPX/FIT data onto a real OpenStreetMap base.

What It Actually Looks Like

A swan on a wetland pool near Callander — Wetland near Callander — from a visit to the area earlier in 2024.

A loch shore path in the Trossachs under a cloudy sky — The Trossachs, on the way toward Loch Katrine.