Loch Katrine Scenic Tower

The hand-built stone path climbs through ancient woodland to a linked set of boardwalks and two viewpoints. The front side looks down to Trossachs Pier and along Loch Katrine; the back side points towards Ben A'an. The three levels change the angle as you climb, and the black timber screen makes the tower feel like a carefully framed lookout rather than a platform dropped onto the hill. From the upper boardwalk, frame the timber fins with the loch and hills beyond; then turn around for the tower rising out of the ferns.

This is more than a new structure with a good view. In the 1700s, Roderick Dhu and his clan used the headland to warn Rob Roy MacGregor about approaching Redcoats. Lady Drummond of Perth later provided two wicker huts here for artists and writers, and Sir Walter Scott drew on the view when he wrote The Lady of the Lake. Published in 1810, the poem brought crowds to the Trossachs and helped start Scotland's first tourism boom. Look for the interpretation and quotations around the tower; they give the climb a story as well as a payoff.

Start from the Trossachs Pier car park. The approach is roughly 200 metres uphill, with a steep stone path, steps and boardwalks; there are benches if you need a breather. The pier has accessible bays and toilets, but the tower route itself isn't described as level-access, so treat it as a separate choice from the smooth lochside facilities. The Steamship Cafe at the bottom serves Scottish cafe food including pizza, soup, afternoon tea and cakes, with a licensed bar. Dogs can join you on the patio, but not inside except as assistance dogs. If steps are a deal-breaker, stay at the pier and enjoy the loch without forcing this stop.