Loch Trool Circular

A strenuous circular lochside and forest walk. 8.5km/5½ miles -allow 3 hours. Covers hard surface paths and tracks.

Beaten earth,
soft in places, and steps to narrow bridge. Boots recommended.

From Newton Stewart, follow the A714 towards Girvan, turning right at Bargrennan to Glentrool village. Follow signs to Glen Trool visitor centre. Go past the visitor centre and continue to follow the road for 3km/1½ miles. Take the first tarred road on your right and follow it to reach a car park just before a bridge.

From the car park, follow the green waymarkers.

Follow the Southern Upland Way (SUW) past Caldons House, through remnants of the ancient woodlands that once covered most of Glen Trool. Continue uphill into conifers on the steep southern side of Loch Trool. Along the way, viewpoints offer fantastic vistas over the loch to the Fell of Eschoncan and Buchan Hill, foothills of the Merrick.

Near the head of Loch Trool, you pass the site of the Battle of Trool. At this spot, in March 1307, Robert the Bruce defeated a 1500-strong English army led by Sir Aymer de Valence. Bruce’s army numbered only 300 men but, by luring the enemy along the steep sides of Loch Trool, he managed to ambush them and knocked them into the water with boulders.

At the bridge at the head of Loch Trool, leave the SUW to follow the northern shores of the loch. The route winds through Buchan and Glenhead woods, passing waterfalls and burns rushing down from the hills above. Both are excellent examples of oak woodland and are home to a variety of wildlife, from roe deer to redstarts.

Soon you come to a car park where a short detour takes you to Bruce’s stone. This large, granite boulder was erected to commemorate the Battle of Trool and sits on a commanding viewpoint overlooking the loch. From here, continue to follow waymarkers back to the car park.