Shops & Galleries

TROSSACHS SHOPS & GALLERIES 

Home to fantastic foodie produce and a burgeoning arts scene, the Trossachs is full of great wee delis, craft shops and galleries. It would be impossible to list them all, but here are some of our favourite Trossachs shops and galleries, all within a 20-minute drive of Lochend. I've also listed a few useful nearby grocery shops, below.

The best shops and galleries near Lochend

GROCERIES

Co-op, Aberfoyle

Ten minutes down the road in Aberfoyle, the recently relocated (it's moved across the road) and enlarged Co-op is a friendly, one-stop shop that’ll cover most of your needs while at Lochend. Open daily until 10pm, it is also the closest place to buy a pint of milk!

Supermarkets in Stirling

Stirling, 20 minutes away, has more big supermarkets than you could ever need! There's a huge Sainsbury's, a big Tesco, a pretty hefty Waitrose, a large Morrisons, and also a Lidl and Aldi. Sainsburys, Waitrose and Tesco all deliver to Lochend Chalets.

 

Veg and Fruit Market

McKechnie's Farm Shop runs from the Caledonian Marts in Stirling Tues-Thurs 8am-2pm, and is where those in the know get fantastic and unusual seasonal fresh herbs, salads, fruit and vegetables (many varieties of potatoes that all taste different!) plus local local eggs, honey, bacon, black pud, hams, Highland butcher meat and local dairy products at brilliant prices.

 

DELIS

Aberfoyle Deli and Trossachs Butcher

The super friendly Aberfoyle Deli and Trossachs Butcher has fresh Scottish meat, of course, hot filled take away rolls and also great wee pies and a few deli items. Pop into Maggie's opposite, for a freshly made cake to take home, too.

Deli Ecosse, Callander

This cracking deli is housed in a converted 19th century church hall just next to Callander’s Tourist Information Centre, and specialises in local cheeses, biscuits, preserves, chutneys and beers. Buy them to take home or eat them there and then beside the cosy log-burning stove in their delicious cafe.

 

Rhubarb Lime, Kippen

Excellent for local cheeses and preserves, this cute wee deli & cafe is also the best place in the Trossachs to buy wine, with a really impressive selection of high quality, European wines.

 

Woodhouse Cafe, nr Kippen

As well as some of the best lunches in the Trossachs, this wonderful,  deli & cafe on the A811 towards Stirling, sells beautiful cards, gifts superb local cheeses, bread, it has the best flat white around (take away and sit-in) Scottish craft ales and loads of great cakes. And it houses Kippen's Butcher, with the tastiest steak pie in the region, in our humble but well researched opinion.

Twine, at the Woodhouse

The hut, just outside the Woodhouse, is run by Twine, a beautiful plant and garden shop, which also sells extremely lovely bits and pieces for the home or for gifts, for example candlesticks, little bowls, delicate mini vases and other interesting items. Always worth a look in after a coffee or lunch at the Woodhouse.

 

GALLERIES

Green Gallery, Buchlyvie

Worth visiting for the views over the Trossachs alone! This beautiful gallery in a converted byre in the hills above Buchlyvie specialises in contemporary Scottish paintings and applied arts, and offers flexible interest free credit and deliveries at competitive rates.

 

Galleria Luti, Callander

This great wee gallery stocks Chris’s work, as well as paintings, ceramics, jewellery, mixed media work and cards. Family run, the gallery always offers the warmest of welcomes from Marsha and Sandie, while well known artist dad, Peter, also exhibits his own work here.

 

GIFT SHOPS

Scottish Wool Centre, Aberfoyle

The Scottish Wool Centre has a huge selection of woollen cardies and jumpers, as well as a cute wee crafty gift shop out back. And if you’re here with kids, make sure you catch the daily sheep dog demos, rare breeds farm and birds of prey display.

 

The Lodge, Aberfoyle

This flagship Forestry Commission visitor centre has a fab cafe, walks galore and a GoApe high ropes adventure course, but make sure you don’t miss the great, wee giftshop, which stocks lots of Scottish products, including coffee books, tartan rugs and bags.

 

Buchlyvie Pottery

Now run by former owner Alison Borthwick's daughter, the Buchlyvie pottery still sells lovely handmade practical tableware pottery, plus some work from visiting potters in this tiny shop which also houses a good cafe.

MORE ACTIVITIES AROUND THE TROSSACHS

Extreme Sports

EXTREME SPORTS AROUND THE TROSSACHSHigh-ropes adventure course & zip-wire, AberfoyleHidden away among the towering pines at The Lodge in Aberfoyle, Scotland’s first ever Go Ape is also its most spectacular, with two of Britain’s longest zip wires, both over 400m long and 150ft high, whizzing thrillseekers aged 10+ over a beautiful 90ft waterfall. This is…

Cycling

CYCLING AROUND THE TROSSACHSThe Trossachs are criss-crossed by an endless network of cycle routes, from gentle, lochside trundles to full-on Danny MacAskill type single-track descents. Running right through the heart of the Trossachs and its lochs, National Cycle Route 7 passes through Aberfoyle and Callander, our two closest hubs, and can be picked up anywhere…

Whisky

TROSSACHS DISTILLERIES There are two excellent distilleries within a half hour of Lochend, however, one of the best whisky experiences lies only a 20-minute walk from the chalets. With several local whiskies in its cosy Port Bar, and a Malt Vault with more than 35 single malts from the Highlands & Islands (everything from a £4.50…

Family Activities

 TROSSACHS FAMILY ACTIVITIESWe have our own wee play park right here beside the lake, right in front of the log cabins. And in many ways Lochend is one giant play park, with trees to climb, a lake to paddle in, our drive to pedal around. However, if you’re here with children, there is tonnes of…

Forest Visitor Centre

THE LODGE TROSSACHS VISITOR CENTRE IN THE QUEEN ELIZABETH FOREST PARK Less than 15 minutes from Lochend, The Lodge is the Forestry Commission’s flagship Trossachs visitor centre, and a place we’ve been going to as a family for years. It’s somewhere our guests really love.Cafe, gift shop, GoApe adventure course and walks galoreThe Lodge visitor centre itself…

Golf

GOLFING AROUND THE TROSSACHSGolf was invented in Scotland, so it’s little wonder we’ve got so many great golf courses within a pitching wedge of Lochend Chalets. Being so centrally located means that St Andrew’s, Troon, Muirfield and Turnberry are all easily reached from Lochend, but here are a half-dozen or so really excellent courses closer…

Pony Trekking

PONY TREKKING IN THE TROSSACHSCastle Rednock Trekking Centre, Port of MenteithWe’re really lucky to have this excellent Trossachs horse riding stables only 5 minutes from Lochend. Catering for riders of all abilities aged 4+, this friendly riding centre offers pony-trekking, Segway-treks, orienteering and quad pods, where children as young as three can be towed around…

Shops & Galleries

TROSSACHS SHOPS & GALLERIES Home to fantastic foodie produce and a burgeoning arts scene, the Trossachs is full of great wee delis, craft shops and galleries. It would be impossible to list them all, but here are some of our favourite Trossachs shops and galleries, all within a 20-minute drive of Lochend. I’ve also listed a few…

Sightseeing

SIGHTSEEING AROUND THE TROSSACHSThe Trossachs form the heart of Rob Roy’s old stomping ground, and the glens and bens beyond Lochend are absolutely packed with historical interest. It would take too long to list all the castles and monuments, historic villages and boat trips in the area, but we’ve picked out a few favourites for…

Scenic Drives

SCENIC DRIVES AROUND THE TROSSACHSIf the Trossachs are God’s own hiking and biking country, they’re also where He’d take a Sunday drive! Our own lake road (B8034 from Port of Menteith) is one of the most beautiful, twisting and turning along the Lake of Menteith, with roe deer often seen nibbling the banks beside the…

Walking

BEST TROSSACHS WALKSThere are so many fantastic Trosscahs walks right on our doorstep (the excellent walkhighlands.co.uk website has route descriptions and maps for more than 90 walks in Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park alone) it’s almost impossible to pick out a few, but here goes:Trossachs walks for all levelsEASY The Lodge: various lengthsLess than…

Dining

DINING AROUND THE TROSSACHSThe Trossachs have made a name for themselves in foodie circles, with amazing produce – venison, lamb, Highland wagyu beef, award-winning yoghurts and cheeses – and some really fabulous cafes and restaurants. Here are some of our favourite places for a taste of the Trossachs, all within about a half-hour drive of…

MORE THINGS TO DO AT LOCHEND CHALETS

With so much on offer at Lochend Chalets we have listed our favourite things to do for you. Browse all the amazing things you can do when you enjoy a short break ta The Lake of Menteith. Stay on site or explore the local landscapes. Take a day trip somewhere further afield or use your holiday lodge as a base to tour around Scotland. Whatever you want to do there will always be something to keep you entertained and make memories that will last a lifetime.