The Trossachs, Scotland - Brig o' Turk Callander .Strathyre . Balquhidder . Killin . Doune . Stirling . Brig o' Turk . Trossachs Pier . Aberfoyle . Stronachlachar . Lochearnhead The Queen Elizabeth Forest Park . Walking . Hill walking . Cycling

About Brig o' Turk

Between Callander and Loch Katrine at the west end of Loch Venachar is the little Trossachs hamlet of Brig o' Tuirk, a quiet corner of The Trossachs consisting of two small settlements about 400 yards apart on either side of the main Trossachs road, the A821. The village had two well known eating places, The Byre Inn on the south side of the road and the 'Brig o' Turk Tea Room' on the north side. There are several guest houses in the village together with one or two self-catering cottages.

Brig o' Turk has had some famous visitors: Queen Victoria, Wordsworth, Millais and Ruskin - and one famous resident 'Muckle Kate' (a large lady named Catherine) who was the landlady of a public house in the village. Apart from being spectacularly large in girth she had another claim to fame - aparently she wore an apron with a large pocket at the front into which the takings from the pub were deposited when the customers paid for their refreshment. Her clain to fame was her habit of forgetting to extract the change from the pocket and aparently few chose to challenge her!

Most of the interest in Brig o' Turk is on the north side of the road on the Glen Finglas road leading up towards the hills. As you pass through the village turn north into the narrow road at the Old Brig o' Turk Tea room and pass by some lovely old cottages, the most peaceful burial ground I've ever seen, and the old village school before reaching a car park at the end of the public road.

'The Brig' as the locals call it is also home to ' the Bicycle Tree' (also know as the 'Metal-Eating Tree' or the 'Iron Tree'). This is a sycamore of age about 100 years which grows near the old smiddy. Local legend claims that the blacksmith occasionally left the odd iron object propped up against the tree which slowly absorbed the object with the odd inedible bits left sticking out. A pair of bicycle handlebars project from the tree - apparently left leaning on the tree by a local lad when he went off to fight in the great war. The blacksmith grave is worthy of a visit - it's in the little graveyard near the school.

Things to do

• Don't lean on the tree if you're wearing any iron
• Walk up to glenfinglas dam for some wonderful views
• Take a bike ride up Glenfinglas to ride tound 'The Mell' - a testing circuit of about 14 miles reaching an altitude of about 2000 feet - mountain bikes only and not for the faint hearted!
• Take an easier ride - or a walk down the lane at the Byre Inn and cross the 300 year old 'Brig o' Michael' to walk or ride around Loch Achray or down Loch Venachar
• Go a little way west on the main road to Loch Achray for some splendid reflections in the loch and views to Ben Venue
• Go a little further west to visit "the Trossachs Church" in a lovely location beside the loch
• Don't miss a visit to Loch Katrine and the Steamer SS Sir Walter Scott.
• Drive a couple of miles east to car parks foro woodland walks at The Druim or further on, opposite Landrick Lodge

Exploring the Trossachs

Places nearby to visit from Brig o' Turk include: Callander Trossachs Pier The Q.Elizabeth Forest Park and Aberfoyle