We are the Cunninghame Ramblers. We open the way for everyone in our local community to enjoy the pleasures of walking.
Scott Ward
An 'A' grade walk with glorious views if the weather is favourable.
Note that this walk will use a 'different' route than the usual 'tourist' route that we originally considered.
Starting at Loch Ard, we take the path following Ledard Burn and its waterfalls through a pretty oak then birch woodland carpeted with blaeberries and ferns. We will have a break where we cross the river then climb gradually onto open hillside where the grandeur of the Trossachs and the first glimpse of Loch Katrine come into view. The incline increases and our walk becomes a fun scramble to the first and optionally second summits of Ben Venue. If we do both summits the walk will be around one hour longer following a loop around the tops. We return by retracing our steps. Views on the return leg are amongst the mountains of The Trossachs and towards Loch Ard and Loch Ard Forest.
Whereas the usual 'tourist' route can be busy, this route is stunningly beautiful and apparently much less well known. On the recce we met other walkers only at the top.
There is limited parking at the start of the walk so car sharing is strongly recommended.
Good boots, gaiters and poles are all good ideas although we suggest stowing poles whilst scrambling.
There are public toilets, restaurants and cafes in nearby Aberfoyle.
Morrison's supermarket, Stevenston. The corner of the car park that's nearest the big roundabout on the A78 bypass. We meet here to share cars and offer lifts.
The A821 goes through Aberfoyle. In town, where this road bends right and heads steeply uphill to Trossachs Road, instead go straight on (actually a left turn) onto the B829 marked as 'no through route'. In itself, this is a beautiful 4 mile drive along Lochard Road, the coast of Loch Ard, through Milton and just past the Forest Hills timeshare homes there's a layby on the shore side. See grid reference or What 3 words to nail it.
