Farm airstreams in Queen Elizabeth Forest Park
Find fine camping from lush lochsides up to moody Munro peaks.
- Queen Elizabeth Forest Park
Popular camping styles for Queen Elizabeth Forest Park
Farm airstreams in Queen Elizabeth Forest Park guide
Overview
Established in the year of Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation, 1953, this arboreal expanse tumbles over a tenth of Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park, straddling the boundary between Lowland and Highland. It’s often touted as ‘Scotland in Miniature,’ and its array of lonesome lochs, rolling forests, drama-charged glens, and mighty Munro mountains certainly showcase the nation’s upland scenery at its grandest. Certain zones, especially the lochs, require permits for camping between March and September, but there are some stunning organised campsites to be found, particularly along the riversides and Loch Lomond. There’s also a huge choice of tempting wild camping—take your pick from loch shores, forest glades, or craggy peaks.
Where to go
Aberfoyle & Around
Aberfoyle is Queen Elizabeth Forest Park’s southern gateway, a village welcoming tourists since the 19th century when Sir Walter Scott’s poem “Lady of the Lake” made nearby Loch Katrine one of the UK’s most famous beauty spots. Stunning scenery beckons on the doorstep—think trail-laced, loch-bedaubed forest fanning north, west, and south, plus some of Scotland’s best ziplining. South of Aberfoyle, organised campsites offer riverside locations as launchpads for regional explorations.
Three Lochs Forest Drive
This classic introduction to the park’s lovely treescape runs through forest scenery, and is doable by car. The 7-mile route brushes Lochan Reoidhte, Loch Drunkie, and Loch Achray, around which cyclists and hikers can create tailor-made routes. The loch shores with their charming picnic areas make delightful wild camping—just procure permits if pitching between March and September. The drive starts on Duke’s Pass, two miles north of Aberfoyle.
Strathyre Forest & Braes of Balquhidder
Far-reaching Queen Elizabeth Forest Park encompasses several smaller (but by no means tiny) forests, including Strathyre Forest north of Callander. The forest intersects with the Balquhidder road, which forges west below the Braes of Balquhidder at Kingshouse. The whole area is incredible for outdoor adventures, and camping can be found around the forest-flanked River Balvag. Wild camping terrain switches from sheltered along Strathyre to increasingly rugged beyond Balquhidder. The long-distance Rob Roy Way runs through Strathyre, named for the famous outlaw who frequented this area.
Eastern Loch Lomond & Ben Lomond
Great Britain’s biggest freshwater lake, Loch Lomond marks the divide between lowland and highland Scotland to all passing on the main road north from Glasgow. While the western shoreline has the road, most facilities, and most crowds, the east is quieter. Accessed via a dead-end road from Drymen, 10 miles south of Aberfoyle, several organised campsites occupy this peaceful stretch, which forms the long-distance West Highland Way. There are hikes to Scotland’s southernmost Munro, Ben Lomond, too.
