Visit Callander in the Trossachs

For this guide, we're back onto the Trossachs Trail for the town of Callander, a destination in its own right as well as an excellent base for exploring the nearby waterfalls, lochs, forests, hills, glens and mountains.

Getting to Callander

Callander is in the Trossachs, at the heart of Scotland. Located within Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park. The town is easily reached from Scotland’s central belt cities, Glasgow (50 minutes/40 miles), Edinburgh (1 hr 15 / 54 miles) and Stirling (30 mins / 16 miles). Use the map below to zoom in or out for the exact location in Scotland.

 

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Callander History

The town was part of the original Victorian-era Trossachs Tour when the town had a railway station. It was also a settlement for the Roman Army. In the 1990's it was the location for Doctor Findlay's Case Book, a popular TV programme set in the 1940s. Read more about the rich history of The Trossachs in our guide.

Callander Town

A bustling high street with interesting shops and cafes runs along both sides of the A84, which runs through the town. The view west is framed by the imposing Ben Ledi just a few miles away.

Callander Events

Callander Events

Callander has been a great host of events, especially festivals, where a series of small and medium-sized events form a two-week activity programme. Callander's festivals include a Jazz and Blues Festival, Winterfest, Summerfest and Highland Games. Hopefully, these will start to return after the pandemic.

Bracklinn Falls

In the woods above the town are the impressive Bracklinn Falls. A drive up the steep hill will take you to the car park for the falls, but a warning, it gets hectic here, so do go early, or better still, walk up from the town. From the car park, it's a one-mile trail to the falls, which can extend into a longer circuit.

Celebrating Park People

A decade ago we produced a series of short films for Friends of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs, celebrating Park People and their stories. Here is one of those films, set in Callander, including Bracklinn Falls.

Callander Meadows

Callander Meadows is a pretty spot on the River Teith, with a large car park. From here, there are wheelchair accessible walks along the level paths. The meadows are on the route of Lochs and Glens Way, read more below.

Angling on River Teith

A significant occasion for anglers occurs on the 1st of February each year, with the start of the fishing season celebrated by a special event. A pipe band sets off from Ancaster Square, arriving at Callander Meadows, for the official opening. At that time, anglers seek to be the first to hook a salmon.

Cycling to Callander at Loch Venachar

Cycling in Callander

The Lochs and Glens Way is the National Number 7 Cycle Path from Glasgow to Inverness. The route goes through Callander, with a beautiful section to Aberfoyle, passing Lochs Venachar, Drunkie and Achray. In the opposite direction, the trail runs alongside Loch Lubnaig to Strathyre, a pretty flat and easy cycle until the last mile or two (before Strathyre). Read more about the route here.

Callander Visitor Information

We have worked with the local community to create an online guide to Callander, a resource for the local Visitor Information Centre. That website deliberately contains the answers to the most frequently asked questions by visitors.

The Visitor Information Centre website, along with the Trossachs Trail website (another project that we have worked on) are excellent resources, with places to explore, things to do and an accommodation directory. You will also find lots of information on this website to help you plan your next trip to Callander.

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Thanks for reading

Words and photography by Paul Saunders. Visit Paul’s Marketing and Photography websites for details of his services in Scotland.

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