Lochearnhead: Loch Earn, Trails and Railway Heritage

Lochearnhead combines the landscape of Loch Earn with a variety of trails, outdoor art and a remarkable railway heritage. If you are planning a trip where nature experiences, activity and local history come together, the village offers several different ways to structure your days. It is particularly interesting to consider whether you would like to focus on the loch and its wildlife, a section of one of the various trails or the traces of the former railway line.

Loch Earn and the landscape around Lochearnhead

Loch Earn is the source of the River Earn and therefore forms a prominent landscape feature. Kingfishers, herons, cormorants, birds of prey, mountain hares, red deer and wild goats are reported around the loch. Those who enjoy observing nature and taking time to appreciate their surroundings will find a different way to experience the area here than on a day focused exclusively on attractions.

The water also offers a different perspective on Loch Earn. Sailing courses are offered at Loch Earn Sailing Club. With Loch Earn Wakeschool, you can explore the landscape of Loch Earn from a unique perspective. These activities complement the trails on land and make your trip planning more varied, without requiring you to limit yourself to just one way of experiencing the area.

Art, walking and railway paths

The BLiSS Trail connects Balquhidder, Lochearnhead, Strathyre and St Fillans. It includes art and decorative installations as well as a collection of outdoor sculptures. For your planning, this means you can treat the trail as a cultural focus or combine individual sections with a drive along the entire length of Loch Earn. Walking or cycling is also possible on various sections.

The Glen Ogle Trail begins at the car park of Lochearnhead Scout Station, just off the A85. The section of the Loch Earn Railway Path near Lochearnhead, including the cutting previously described as impassable, has been paved. In addition, the third construction section of the Loch Earn Railway Path has been opened to the public. Anyone wanting to put together a trip with several shorter and longer activities can take these different trail options into account when choosing their holiday location.

Railway heritage and notable structures

Lochearnhead railway station opened in 1904. The large facility was intended to support the development of the sheep trade in Perthshire. Today, Lochearnhead Scout Station continues to highlight this history: its station canopy received the National Railway Heritage Award on 4 December for its restoration.

Another highlight of the railway path between Lochearnhead and Killin is the Glen Ogle Viaduct along National Cycle Network Route 7. This creates a travel experience that combines landscape with the history of infrastructure. Depending on your interests, you can therefore place greater emphasis on the loch, art installations, cycle paths or historic railway remains.

Which accommodation suits your trip planning?

When looking for a holiday apartment or holiday cottage in Lochearnhead, it is worth first deciding on the rhythm you want for your trip. For nature-focused days, Loch Earn and the wildlife take centre stage. Those who prefer activity and changing scenery can include the various sections of the BLiSS Trail, Glen Ogle Trail and Railway Path in their plans. Visitors interested in culture can combine these experiences with the outdoor sculptures, the railway history and Glen Ogle Viaduct. Accommodation in Lochearnhead can therefore serve as the starting point for a trip whose focus you can flexibly set between water, trails and railway heritage.

You can find more destinations to choose from at Kinbuck, Stirling, Kinlochard, Strathyre, Balfron, Callander, Drymen and Bridge Of Allan.

Back to the main travel overview: Stirling.