Parking
From Aberfoyle, head west on the B829 towards Kinlochard instead of following the main road uphill. The signed Loch Ard Forest car park is on the left after about a mile. Parking is free; FK8 3TF is the nearest postcode.
Overview
About Forth Valley Viewpoint Trail
Why go
- A short loop earns a wide view over Aberfoyle and the Forth Valley.
- Free parking at the starting access.
Heads up
- Steep, loose or uneven sections and steps make it tougher than the distance suggests.
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs map
Full mapElevation32–141 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
4 active Loch Lomond & The Trossachs alerts
- CautionA82 restriction near Kings House HotelThe A82 is restricted in both directions near Kings House Hotel, Glencoe, because of planned roadworks. - Temporary traffic lights are in place; follow the traffic management.Official details
- ClosureDaytime A827 closure at KillinThe A827 at Killin is closed during the day for roadworks from 28 September through 9 October 2026. - Closure hours: 9:30am to 3:30pm; avoid the route during those hours.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Loch Lomond & The Trossachs Tour Guide
Your drive to Forth Valley Viewpoint Trail, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
Recorded for this trailhead
Loch Ard Forest Sculpture Trails0:00 / 0:26
“You're approaching Loch Ard Forest Car Park, start of the Sculpture Trail around Loch Ard and two smaller lochs.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Loch Lomond & The Trossachs Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- A Duke's Castle on Loch Ard
- The Lodge above Aberfoyle
- The Oaks That Grew Back
- The Lumberjills in the Woods
- 196 audio storiesacross Loch Lomond & The Trossachs’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Golden Eagle, Red Deer, Mute Swan, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 93 trails, 73 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Forth Valley Viewpoint Trail
A short forest loopForth Valley Viewpoint Trail is a 2-mile loop through Loch Ard Forest, climbing through…
Forth Valley Viewpoint Trail is a 2-mile loop through Loch Ard Forest, climbing through conifers to a viewpoint above Aberfoyle. Allow about an hour. The view takes in Craigmore and Aberfoyle, with the Forth Valley beyond; on a clear day you may pick out the Menteith, Ochil, Gargunnock and Fintry hills and the Campsie Fells. Choose it for a proper little climb and a wide valley view without committing to a full hill day.
The climb and the viewMost of the route is on firm gravel, though loose, uneven sections roughen the tread.
Most of the route is on firm gravel, though loose, uneven sections roughen the tread. It steepens near the viewpoint, where one flight of steps breaks up the ascent. The short distance understates the effort a little, so the moderate grade is a fair guide. Keep an eye out for vehicles and other users on shared forest tracks. At the top, pause for the view over Aberfoyle and wooded ridges; the far hills show best in clear weather.
Getting thereStart at Loch Ard Forest Car Park at Milton. Parking is free.
Start at Loch Ard Forest Car Park at Milton. Parking is free. Aberfoyle has public toilets and places to eat and drink, but they are a separate stop. Dogs are welcome in these woods; follow Scotland’s access code, keep them under control, and use a lead around wildlife or livestock.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Loch Lomond & The Trossachs
14 sightingsGolden EagleMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
37 sightingsRed DeerMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
100 sightingsMute SwanMost seen around 11 AMSighting map
48 sightingsOspreyMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
24 sightingsEurasian BeaverMost seen around 8 PMSighting map
37 sightingsEurasian Pine MartenMost seen around 7 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Loch Lomond & The Trossachs. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
