Glen Trool Loch Circular Walk

This circular walk takes you around the lovely Loch Trool in Glen Trool, Southern Uplands, Galloway.
You can start off in the car park at the western end of the loch. From here you can pick up the Southern Upland Way and follow the waymarked footpath east along the southern side of the loch.... This section passes the Steps of Trool and the site of the Battle of Glen Trool which took place in 1307.
You continue east to Glenhead where you turn west to follow the Glenhead Burn to Buchan Bridge where there are some waterfalls to see.
The route then heads west past Bruce's Stone to the woodland trails through Kenmure Knowe. Shortly after you return to the car park where the walk finishes.
Postcode: DG8 6SS
Pubs and More Info
The glen is part of the wider Galloway Forest Park where there are numerous cycling and walking trails to try. Loch Doon for example, is located in the park. Here you'll find waterside trails and an interesting 14th century castle. Near Loch Doon there's also Loch Bradan, Loch Skelloch and the pretty Water of Girvan to explore. Loch Ken is located just to the east at New Galloway and includes a lovely RSPB Nature Reserve.
Head east and there are more waterside trails around Clatteringshaws Loch and Loch Grannoch.

Ordnance Survey Map OpenStreetMap OS Map (Mobile GPS) OpenStreetMap (Mobile GPS)

Interactive Map

Route Video

Nearby Routes

Southern Upland Way Galloway Forest Park Clatteringshaws Loch Loch Doon Loch Bradan Loch Ken Loch Grannoch Big Water of Fleet Viaduct

Photos

Loch Trool. Looking northeast up the loch to the Fell of Eschonchan, with the Buchan Hill beyond.

Site of Battle of Glen Trool, 1307. In 1307 Robert the Bruce with a few infantry let 1500 English soldiers with cavalry chase him up this south side of Glen Trool. At this point he had laid an ambush, the rest of his men rolled stones down this hillside to pitch men and horses into the loch, and followed up by attack with archers, so defeating the English.

Bruce's Stone. This commemorates the battle in 1307 on the opposite side of the loch, where 300 infantry of Robert the Bruce ambushed 1500 English including cavalry. There is another Bruce's Stone to the east at Clatteringshaws Loch. The stone standing on Moss Raploch is where King Robert the Bruce is said to have rested after defeating the English here in 1307.

Gairland Burn at the eastern end of the loch.

Looking through the 'old tree'. Looking across loch trool north east towards; centre is Fell of Eschoncan, distant left is Buchan Hill through the trees.

Glen Trool. Wooded promontory by the loch. The loch is said to be the darkest place in the UK at night.

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Loch Trool.gpx