I can’t possibly start my travel page at any other location than my favourite place, Balquidder in Scotland. Now, you may not know me yet so you won’t know that we live in the Midlands but plan to move to Scotland by 2035. We have kids with ex partners so this dictates our timeline really. We do get up to Scotland a couple of times a year usually staying with family, but also touring around to find where we will settle. I can tell you now though, it will have to tug very hard at the heartstrings to beat Balquidder. The home of Rob Roy‘s grave – not that this is the reason I love it.
So why is Balquidder my favourite place?
You could think I’m biased because we do stay with the most wonderful hosts. They have a fantastic Shepherd’s hut and a beautiful train themed slightly larger shepherd’s hut coming soon. I’ve had a sneak peak and I can tell you that every detail has been thought of and it has the most amazing view of Loch Voil to wake up to.
But, there is just something magical about my favourite place, Balquidder! It’s hard to pinpoint it exactly. My favourite things to do there include swimming in Loch Voil. Although we have had everyone out on the paddleboards in the summer too. We have a party board and a smaller one so we had a lot of fun with the kids. When you swim in the loch and look up at the tree covered hills in front of you there is something so powerful about looking up and being so low down and small yourself. You’re below ground level really once submerged.
We seem to be so stressed these days and our problems can seem so big. But somehow feeling so small and insignificant against this amazing expansive backdrop that has been there forever – well a blooming long time anyway seems to give me a greater perspective and shrink our problems. Or certainly make them seem more manageable.
It’s not just the human’s who love it either, one of the dogs always ends up going for a swim too.
Walking from Balquidder my favourite place
Another of my favourite things about Balquidder, is the wonderful walking. We usually have quite a small child with us at least, sometimes multiple, including that teenage age of moaning. Moaning about going on the walk, moaning about how far we might go on the walk. Also moaning about how steep it is. Moaning about the temperature in either direction. Moaning about everything, until they get back and say they had a good time that is. Eyeroll! Good job we just ignore them and drag them along anyway. One day hopefully they will have kids, so they can experience it themselves and we’ll be able to tag along and giggle to ourselves.
So if you go up behind the church where Rob Roy’s grave is you’ll find a path that goes upwards. Firstly you get to walk alongside the Kirkton Burn which is a beautiful start to your walk. You then pass one of the largest trees (its a 5-6 person for holding hands around it’s trunk) and have a nice steep hill as a challenge.
The view from the top is totally worth the effort and its under an hour round trip so works really well for a walk with kids too.
Places to visit near Balquidder
I’ve visited Broch Cafe, Strathyre for lunch and breakfast which I can highly recommend. Also you can walk behind the restaurant to paddle in the river which delights the kids, adults and dogs in my experience.
Monachyle Mhor is a fabulous place for dinner too, they happen to serve the best non-alcoholic fizz I’ve ever had. It’s also a hotel, wedding venue and they have a sauna and dip there I believe. I haven’t tried it yet myself though, next time.
If you want to check out more things to do near Balquidder, my favourite place check out the Visit Scotland page. But I strongly advise you don’t cram every second full when you go here. You really want time to just BE these days. It is so needed when you consider the crazy fast world we live in nowadays.
Ok, just one more recommendation from me. Go and make your own silver jewellery with Darren. He’s one of the nicest people you could wish you meet. He’s amazingly patient and knowledgeable. I have a silver ring a made on a hen party in Balquidder and can’t wait to go to his workshop to make another piece. I’ve seen a few amazing examples of chunky rings made by people under his guidance so I know you’ll be thrilled with the whole experience and the keepsake.
Have you been to Balquidder before? I’d love to hear about your experience in the comments below! And do check out our other Love Life More Travel Destinations too
I may be a wee bit bias but it is simply the nicest place to live and certainly worth a visit. It’s steeped in history, folklore and fairies. Yes, there was an 18th century minister who truly believed in them and wrote his booked called the secret commonwealth of fairies, fawns and elves. The kelts believed Balquhidder to be a thin place where the space between earth and heaven is minimal. Ancient lifting stones provided the opportunity for young men to pitch their strength against each other and fires were lit on rocky hilltop outcrops to rally the clans in time of need.
A fab place to live!
I love this Karen. I can absolutely see why they believed the space between earth and heaven is minimal. It certainly feels like it! Love your pride for where you get to call home, there isn’t enough of that in the world now.