Willie’s View: In The Menteith Hills
In this week’s Willie’s View, our travel writer has been out and about in the Trossachs . . .
Craig of Monievreckie in the Menteith Hills may be only 1312 feet high, but what a grand all-round view you win from its summit.
On a clear day, there’s Ben Lomond, Loch Katrine, Ben Venue, round to Ben Ledi beyond Loch Venachar.
I climbed it this morning from the Forestry Commission car park at Braeval near Aberfoyle. Besides wonderful views over the Trossachs, nowhere might you find a better vantage point for the Lake of Menteith.
Why it’s a “lake” and not a loch is probably only down to an innocent error by early map makers. Only a century or two ago this was the “Loch of Menteith”.
It’s a famous stretch of water, too, as its island Priory, founded around 1238, was once a safe refuge for four-year-old Mary Queen of Scots. She was in hiding from the English after the Battle of Pinkie.
In 1979, covered in more than 7 inches of ice, the Lake of Menteith supported thousands of curlers and spectators for a “Grand Match” or “Bonspiel”. Today, only a few anglers are out enjoying a peaceful day’s trout fishing.
From the top of Craig of Monievreckie, a fine, high, level hike continues for a few miles along the top of the escarpment to return along part of the “Rob Roy Way”.
But be warned — it’s no Sunday stroll!
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