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
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.
