We’ve all been to places that stay with us long after we leave them, those rare places of outstanding beauty and that taste of life at a different pace in a place we long to return to always beg the question . . .
How would it feel to live there?
While it might be something many of us have thought, once in a while we might have that rare opportunity to actually do it.
Stronachlacher is one of those rare opportunities, for those with a love of outdoor living it is a place like no other. Situated towards the western end of Loch Katrine, it looks eastward over 13 km of pristine Scottish freshwater Loch, amidst the Trossachs of the Scottish Highlands.
Loch Katrine inspires as much today as it has throughout history, from artists such as Charlotte Nasmyth to renowned writers such as Sir Walter Scott, little has changed in the intervening years.
The Loch and its expansive beauty remain largely untouched and in today’s busy world, more precious than ever.
The perfect place to embrace outdoor life
Walking gives those lucky enough to spend time at Loch Katrine a real chance to connect, to delve deeper and enjoy everything it has to offer. For those with a love of Nasmyth’s works, it is easy to walk along its northern shores and find yourself wandering into one of her celebrated paintings.
The same goes for the far side of the Loch, where the cliffs of Coire Na Uruisgean will be familiar to all who admire her masterpieces and the inspiration she and many other artists drew and continue to draw from the area.
Loch Katrine has other things to offer too; its richly forested surroundings change with the seasons and when autumn arrives, can create a seasonal spectacle that few other places in the world can match. The Great Trossachs Forest Path, forming a link between the Rob Roy Way to the east with the West Highland Way in the west, is a perfect way to enjoy it.
Other trails such as Primrose Hill, running high through the northern woods behind Brenachoile afford incredible views along Loch Katrine’s length against a backdrop of the Arrochar Alps and Ben Lomond.
A forward thinking future
Loch Katrine and the Trossachs National Park are home to a rich and diverse range of wildlife that many travel far and wide to enjoy. Golden Eagles and Osprey can be seen soaring on the warm air rising skyward from the Loch and diving to feed on the Trout that are regularly stocked in the Loch. The region is also a stronghold for Black Grouse as well as Pine Martens and the endangered Red Squirrel.
Looking to the future, Loch Katrine is the jewel in the crown of one of the newest and largest national nature reserves in Great Britain. It is at the forefront of efforts not just to preserve what currently exists, but to further restore the natural habitats to create more native woodland and support an even greater range of biodiversity.
All these things can be enjoyed on foot, for those who love to walk and ground themselves in one of the most beautiful places in Scotland; Loch Katrine has a wealth of riches to offer.
With walking routes for everyone, whatever the season, it will only be a matter of time before you ask yourself…
