Cashel Woodland Walks
There are 3 levels of walks at Cashel of varying degrees of difficulty all with superb views over Loch Lomond and the surrounding countryside.
The Blue Loop is 1.1km long and will take around 15-20 minutes to complete. It is a relatively easy walk suitable for folk of varying degrees of fitness. Sights along this walk include the Donald Dewar Cairn, which has a fantastic viewpoint that looks over the loch and further along the path is a beautiful throne like chair carved from a tree trunk, which was donated by the Royal Botanical Gardens in Edinburgh.
The Red Loop 4.5km long and requires a little more effort. It will take 1.5 to 2 hours to complete and involves a steep walk uphill. There are panoramic views over the loch and the surrounding countryside all the way along this walk and at the top of the hill Ben Lomond can be viewed on clear day. There is a viewpoint at the top of the hill, which can be reached by crossing across land to the top of the hill at the plot named Capercaillie. Remember to take care, as the ground is very uneven and rough. The viewpoint is marked by an obelisk with a carving of a sun and the message ‘the sun will shine again’ carved onto it - an absolutely fantastic piece of sculpture that resembles the standing stones of ancient Scotland.
The Green Loop is 6.5km long and will take 2 - 3 hours to complete. This is a steep uphill walk and not for the fainthearted. After the red walk cut-off the path continues to climb up hill and then opens into a stunning flat plateau. There are numerous Scots Pine trees along parts of this walk; these will grow on to resemble the ancient Caledonian Pine Forests of long ago.
These routes are designed for the use of walkers only and we regret that mountain bikes are not allowed as they can cause excessive erosion. More footpaths are planned for the future.
Abundant wildlife can be seen along the footpath. The small heath butterfly, gold ringed dragonfly, whitethroat, raven and buzzard are just some of the species you might see.
Butterflies have been monitored for the past three years in 10 different compartments. Species noted include the ringlet, peacock, orange-tip, and common blue and red admiral. Bird monitoring has also been carried out for past three years. Two transects are walked twice yearly and all birds encountered are logged. Birds found on the transect are black and red grouse, stone chats, whinchats, grasshopper warblers, reed buntings, meadow pipits, tree pipits and willow warblers.
Please try to keep to the footpaths for your own safety and to enable you to view the wildlife without disturbing it.
General facilities include barbeque facility (barbeque areas may only be used by organised parties with permission), car parking and picnic benches.
Cashel dedication barn - open to the public at all times. There is also literature on sponsored planting within the barn, which includes a site map with the sponsored planting plots on it.
Directions to Cashel:
From Drymen, take the cut off for Balmaha. Continue through Balmaha Village heading towards Rowardennan. Cashel is about 2 miles along this road on the right hand side shortly after Blair Cottage. The site is sign posted for forest walks and there is a dry stone dyke wall with Cashel embossed onto large boulders built into the wall on either side of the road. Take a right turn up this track, you will find car parking to the side of and behind the farm buildings.
Next to the car park there is a site map showing our sponsored planting plots and the different walks that are available.
The Blue Loop is 1.1km long and will take around 15-20 minutes to complete. It is a relatively easy walk suitable for folk of varying degrees of fitness. Sights along this walk include the Donald Dewar Cairn, which has a fantastic viewpoint that looks over the loch and further along the path is a beautiful throne like chair carved from a tree trunk, which was donated by the Royal Botanical Gardens in Edinburgh.
The Red Loop 4.5km long and requires a little more effort. It will take 1.5 to 2 hours to complete and involves a steep walk uphill. There are panoramic views over the loch and the surrounding countryside all the way along this walk and at the top of the hill Ben Lomond can be viewed on clear day. There is a viewpoint at the top of the hill, which can be reached by crossing across land to the top of the hill at the plot named Capercaillie. Remember to take care, as the ground is very uneven and rough. The viewpoint is marked by an obelisk with a carving of a sun and the message ‘the sun will shine again’ carved onto it - an absolutely fantastic piece of sculpture that resembles the standing stones of ancient Scotland.
The Green Loop is 6.5km long and will take 2 - 3 hours to complete. This is a steep uphill walk and not for the fainthearted. After the red walk cut-off the path continues to climb up hill and then opens into a stunning flat plateau. There are numerous Scots Pine trees along parts of this walk; these will grow on to resemble the ancient Caledonian Pine Forests of long ago.
These routes are designed for the use of walkers only and we regret that mountain bikes are not allowed as they can cause excessive erosion. More footpaths are planned for the future.
Abundant wildlife can be seen along the footpath. The small heath butterfly, gold ringed dragonfly, whitethroat, raven and buzzard are just some of the species you might see.
Butterflies have been monitored for the past three years in 10 different compartments. Species noted include the ringlet, peacock, orange-tip, and common blue and red admiral. Bird monitoring has also been carried out for past three years. Two transects are walked twice yearly and all birds encountered are logged. Birds found on the transect are black and red grouse, stone chats, whinchats, grasshopper warblers, reed buntings, meadow pipits, tree pipits and willow warblers.
Please try to keep to the footpaths for your own safety and to enable you to view the wildlife without disturbing it.
General facilities include barbeque facility (barbeque areas may only be used by organised parties with permission), car parking and picnic benches.
Cashel dedication barn - open to the public at all times. There is also literature on sponsored planting within the barn, which includes a site map with the sponsored planting plots on it.
Directions to Cashel:
From Drymen, take the cut off for Balmaha. Continue through Balmaha Village heading towards Rowardennan. Cashel is about 2 miles along this road on the right hand side shortly after Blair Cottage. The site is sign posted for forest walks and there is a dry stone dyke wall with Cashel embossed onto large boulders built into the wall on either side of the road. Take a right turn up this track, you will find car parking to the side of and behind the farm buildings.
Next to the car park there is a site map showing our sponsored planting plots and the different walks that are available.