Loch Àrd

Loch Ard lies in the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, east of Ben Lomond and west of Aberfoyle. Its name comes from the Gaelic word for a height, referring to the ridges around the loch. The water stretches about four by two kilometres along a sheltered glen, fed by the Avondhu River and Duchray Water. Several small islands dot the surface, including one that holds the ruins of Duke Murdoch’s castle. The loch is a favourite spot for kayaking and other water sports because of its calm waters. The writer R. B. Cunninghame Graham described the scene in quiet detail. He noted the silence broken only by mountain streams and the call of a roe deer. Wavelets lap against pebbly beaches or the steep islet where the castle stands. In Couligarten Bay, wild ducks glide among the bulrushes before vanishing silently. The Queen Elizabeth Forest Park surrounds the loch, offering walking trails and a sailing club on the water. Sixteen miles of trails wind through the forest, some marked for mountain biking or horseback riding. These paths link to longer forest roads that form circular routes of more than thirty kilometres. Along the way, the Loch Ard Family Sculpture Trails place artworks, seating, and sound posts in the landscape. The area is home to roe deer, barn owls, and capercaillie, as well as brown trout, pike, and perch in the loch.