About Lochearnhead
The village is situated at the west of Loch Earn, on the junction of the A85 and A84. It is very central for touring, golfing and hill walking, with many famous tourist spots within an hours drive. The village itself is a centre for water skiing, sailing, canoeing, hill walking, golfing, fishing and much more.
Water Sports
We have our own launching slipway and moorings, which are free to all residents. If you prefer to leave your boat on the trailer, our car park below the chalets has a fixed chain concreted into the ground. We have some length of chain and padlocks available so you can attach your trailer. Approximately 100 yards towards the village, you will find the Water Sports Centre run by Neil and Nicky. They offer water skiing, tuition and various other sports. The staff there are more than happy to discuss your needs.
Golf
Golf is plentiful and reasonably priced. The Highland Perthshire Golf ticket is excellent value at £50.00 for five days or £32.00 for three days. This entitles you to play a different course each day for 5 days or 3 days. Play as many rounds as you can manage in a day. The ticket must be used mid week.
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If wishing to purchase a ticket, please contact us or call Crieff Tourist Board Office or any of the golf courses involved.
Feeling slightly more energetic, there are many 18 hole courses within an hours drive.
They include :
- Taymouth Castle - very pretty, fairly forgiving and is at its prettiest in late September - October.
- Callander - quite short, lots of par 3's.
- Crieff- challenging course, you'll need one leg shorter than the other.
- Aberfoyle - fun, very hilly, also very busy. so book ahead.
- Gleneagles - 3 courses, all brilliant, not for the hacker, very expensive and almost impossible to get a tee.
- Perth - 3 courses, all good and sensibly priced.
- Stirling - one course which is good but busy.
If you wish to know anything else regarding golf courses, contact Angus. Most courses are more expensive on the weekends and they are usually very busy. During the week they are often a lot quieter.
Walks
The Glen Ogle trail starts about a mile from here. Go up to the village `T' junction_ turn right and after about 300 yards, you'll pass the viaduct. The walk starts on either side of the road. Go to the left of the entrance to the Scout Station and you'll have a stiff climb onto the railway - then it's downhill all the way. Stay on the right side, and you'll have a steady walk along the old Wade military road to the head of the glen and back via the railway. The round walk will be approximately 8 miles. The "going is firm" and easy, but good boots are a must :- This is the "Kyber Pass of Scotland" - Quote Queen Victoria.
The Glen Ample trail is a lovely through walk, so it's best to leave a car at the far end and come back to Loch Earn and then try to persuade someone to take you back to your car. It's about 5 miles, and again, wear sturdy boots as the paths are a touch rough in parts.
There are many hills to climb starting at your back door! Within a few miles we have Bens Vorlich, Ledi, Lawers and More, to name just a few! Most are hard walks in the Summer and very hard in Winter. Try to stick to the paths and take a good few hours - pick your weather and your route carefully. Leave details of where you are going with someone or leave a note in your car and don't stray off your chosen route - make it a day to remember and NOT one to be remembered by!!
Again, if in doubt or you wish for further information, speak to us.
Cycling
We now have the millenium cycle track passing through the area as shown by the red dotted line on this map. This route is superb and relatively safe for children. You may cycle to Callander (quite a long way there and back) barely touching the main road, or you can venture up Glen Ogle towards Killin again hardly touching the main road.
To access the track, head up to the A84 "T" junction, turn left and go past the 45 Bar. 100 metres past the bar turn right up the Craggan road, keep going up until you reach a small bridge and bear left BEFORE the bridge. To go up the Glen turn right when you get on to the old railway line, it is a very steep climb up onto the top line but worth it for the views! ! The only circular route is around the Loch, which is lovely run but you are on the main road for half the trip and a single track road for the other half, so beware.
Fishing
Loch Earn has some excellent Rainbow and Brown Trout and also char fishing.
The very odd sea trout or salmon are sometimes caught on the Loch. Permits are not necessary for residents fishing on the Chalet stretches, but please ask us for a signed compliment slip as proof of being a resident. Anywhere else around the loch you will require a permit, which may be obtained at the village shop.
Boats can be hired from Drummond fish farm 2 miles down the Loch side.
Loch Earn fishing dates are - from 15th March to and including 6th October.
Salmon fishing can be done on the river Dochart in the Killin area and also on Loch Tay.
Boats with permits can be hired from Milton Morenish on the lochside about 3 miles east of Killin. it would be advisable to ask for a ghillie - it's a big loch!!
Shopping
Locally, the village shop supplies basic essentials plus newspapers. There is a Post Office straight across the "T" junction. Petrol can be a problem, as there is now no petrol in the village. Comrie, Callander and Lix Toll all have petrol stations - so remember to top-up before you return home for the day!
Killin - offers a good choice, with an excellent butchers shop offering prime Scottish beef, a well-stocked and helpful greengrocers - R. McGregor & Sons - and various other stores.
Lix Toll Garage can be found at the top of Glenogle, in case of any mishaps with your car.
Crieff is a much larger town, offering many more shops including ; two supermarkets, several woollen shops, four chemists, Stuart crystal and a Tourist Information Centre, just to name but a few. There is a new Sports Centre here.
Stirling and Perth are major cities, both with train and bus stations. They also boast, for the energetic, superb swimming pools and sporting complexes. Both are excellent for shopping and sight seeing - Stirling even has it's own Castle, home of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.
Callander, although a good enough shopping town, is very tourist orientated. There being several Woollen shops and souvenir shops. The Rob Roy Centre is worth a visit as it hosts good audio and video displays. There is also a new Sports Centre here.
Things to do and see within 30 minutes
- Balquhidder - Rob Roy's grave and very scenic Glen
- Killin - Falls of Dochart and 9 hole golf course
- Ben Lawers - Visitors Centre and walk
- The Trossachs - Beautiful drive through forestry and alongside lochs
- Blair Drummond - Safari Park and good play area
- Doune - Antiques Centre
- St Fillans - 9 hole golf course Comrie - 9 hole golf course,
- Auchingarrich Wildlife Centre,
- Drummond fish farm
- Crieff - 9 and 18 hole golf courses, Stuart Crystal, Glen Turret distillery, Perthshire paper weights
- Callander - Sports Centre with swimming pool.