Bealach Nam Bo
Bealach nam Bo by Loch Katrine in the Trossachs
about 4.5 miles round trip
Mostly easy walking with a steep climb at the end up to the Bealach
After wet weather this walk can be extremely wet underfoot after crossing the dam. Waterproof footwear is recommended. If wet, return by the dam path to avoid the wettest part.
Description:
Length: about 4.5 mile
Start: Loch Katrine road about half a mile from Loch Achray in the Trossachs
Parking: Junction Loch Katrine dam road and Trossachs Rd. (P)
Surface: Tarmac road, forest tracks and open hill
Map: Shows walk to the Bealach Nam Bo.
History
The Bealach nam Bo - or pass of the cattle - is the route supposedly used by the highland cattle thieves (and by Rob Roy MacGregor) to take their cattle down Loch Katrine side to hide them among the watery mazes of Flanders Moss.
Route
Walk up the Loch Katrine dam road, ignoring the left turn over the attractive little arched footbridge, to the dam and cross the steel grid walkway over the dam(it looks like a private area but is a public path up to and over the dam).
Some old steps lead on from the dam and up through the woods (mind your feet here) to cross a fence with a stile. Turning right here a rough track by the burn leads gradually up toward the Bealach - a twin gap in a shoulder of Ben Venue. The views down to Loch Katrine are impressive and reveal the small islands not seen from the more usual viewpoint at the Trossachs pier.
the Pass of the CattleThe track continues up the gentle slope, crossing the burn several times and eventually a stile is reached. After crossing the stile take the ill defined right-hand track which winds up the slope, steepening all the way up to the right hand pass.
Climb up from the pass to the crest of the little knoll on the right for one of the best views of the southern end of the loch.
Looking back from the Bealach towards loch AchrayHead back down to the pass and walk a little way northwest before swinging round to the left to bypass some steep rocks and find the other rockier pass which has a more obvious track leading through it. Note the huge overhanging crag above the pass and the tumble of rocks which is still added to every winter due to the effects of frost.
Heading back down now toward the dam, the track is ill defined again through some of the boulder field and leads back to the stile at the fork in the track.
Continue now back past the stile (crossed on the way up) but stay on this side of the river - the Achray Water - eventually reaching a forest road. Continue on this until you see the new arched bridge crossing the river to take you back to the tarmac road, where a right turn leads back to the Trossachs car park.
about 4.5 miles round trip
Mostly easy walking with a steep climb at the end up to the Bealach
After wet weather this walk can be extremely wet underfoot after crossing the dam. Waterproof footwear is recommended. If wet, return by the dam path to avoid the wettest part.
Description:
Length: about 4.5 mile
Start: Loch Katrine road about half a mile from Loch Achray in the Trossachs
Parking: Junction Loch Katrine dam road and Trossachs Rd. (P)
Surface: Tarmac road, forest tracks and open hill
Map: Shows walk to the Bealach Nam Bo.
History
The Bealach nam Bo - or pass of the cattle - is the route supposedly used by the highland cattle thieves (and by Rob Roy MacGregor) to take their cattle down Loch Katrine side to hide them among the watery mazes of Flanders Moss.
Route
Walk up the Loch Katrine dam road, ignoring the left turn over the attractive little arched footbridge, to the dam and cross the steel grid walkway over the dam(it looks like a private area but is a public path up to and over the dam).
Some old steps lead on from the dam and up through the woods (mind your feet here) to cross a fence with a stile. Turning right here a rough track by the burn leads gradually up toward the Bealach - a twin gap in a shoulder of Ben Venue. The views down to Loch Katrine are impressive and reveal the small islands not seen from the more usual viewpoint at the Trossachs pier.
the Pass of the CattleThe track continues up the gentle slope, crossing the burn several times and eventually a stile is reached. After crossing the stile take the ill defined right-hand track which winds up the slope, steepening all the way up to the right hand pass.
Climb up from the pass to the crest of the little knoll on the right for one of the best views of the southern end of the loch.
Looking back from the Bealach towards loch AchrayHead back down to the pass and walk a little way northwest before swinging round to the left to bypass some steep rocks and find the other rockier pass which has a more obvious track leading through it. Note the huge overhanging crag above the pass and the tumble of rocks which is still added to every winter due to the effects of frost.
Heading back down now toward the dam, the track is ill defined again through some of the boulder field and leads back to the stile at the fork in the track.
Continue now back past the stile (crossed on the way up) but stay on this side of the river - the Achray Water - eventually reaching a forest road. Continue on this until you see the new arched bridge crossing the river to take you back to the tarmac road, where a right turn leads back to the Trossachs car park.