Dog-Friendly Trossachs: Lochs & Hills (2026)

Ben A'an, Loch Katrine, Aberfoyle's forests and Callander's falls - the best dog-friendly walks in the Trossachs.

Loch Katrine in the Trossachs, a dog-friendly Scottish national park
Updated
By Rob Griffiths18 June 2026 · 9 min read

The Trossachs are the Highlands in miniature, a glorious knot of wooded lochs, shapely little mountains and Rob Roy country squeezed into the eastern half of the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, barely an hour from Glasgow. You can climb the perfect cone of Ben A'an for a huge view in the morning, walk the traffic-free shore of Loch Katrine in the afternoon, and finish in a dog-friendly inn in Aberfoyle or Callander. It is grazing and sporting-estate country, so the lead matters near stock, but dogs are warmly welcomed throughout. Here is where to go.

Are the Trossachs dog-friendly?

Yes, and they are one of the easiest slices of Highland-feeling Scotland to enjoy with a dog. The famous short hills and lochs are reachable on well-made paths, the forest trails above Aberfoyle and around Loch Katrine give relaxed, shaded walking, and the bustling towns of Callander and Aberfoyle are full of dog-welcoming cafes and inns. Best of all, it is close to the central belt, so you get wild scenery without a long drive.

The things to plan around are livestock, deer and the busy honeypots. The land is grazed and the estates hold deer, so a lead is essential near stock and on the open hill. Loch Katrine and Ben A'an get very busy on fine weekends, so start early. Away from the honeypots, the quieter lochs and forest trails give peaceful walking with a dog.

What are the best dog-friendly places in the Trossachs?

Trossachs dog-friendly highlights

ABERFOYLE · FOREST

Aberfoyle & the Duke's Pass Editor's pick

Forest trails on the gateway to the Trossachs

  • Waymarked forest walks
  • Visitor centre
  • All-weather option
  • Type Forest & village
  • Dog access Welcome on trails
  • Terrain Forest track, hill path
  • Highlight Views from the Duke's Pass
Aberfoyle is the southern gateway to the Trossachs, and just above it the Lodge Forest Visitor Centre (on the scenic Duke's Pass road) is the hub for a network of waymarked walking trails through the Great Trossachs Forest. The going is firm and shaded, ideal for an all-weather dog walk, with red squirrels in the trees and a cafe and car parks. The village itself has dog-friendly cafes and inns. Keep your dog under control near the mountain-bike routes and any grazing on the forest fringes.

TROSSACHS · LOCH

Loch Katrine

A traffic-free lochside walk in the heart of the park

  • Traffic-free lochside
  • Steamship cruise
  • Easy long walks
  • Type Loch & shore road
  • Dog access Welcome on the shore path & boats
  • Terrain Surfaced lochside track
  • Highlight The road along the north shore
Loch Katrine is the jewel of the Trossachs, the loch that inspired Sir Walter Scott and supplies Glasgow's water. From Trossachs Pier a traffic-free road runs along the north shore for miles, giving a level, scenic walk or cycle that suits any dog, with the steamship SS Sir Walter Scott (which takes dogs) cruising the loch. It is a wonderful, easy outing in beautiful surroundings. It gets busy at the pier end on fine days, but the crowds thin as you walk further along the shore.

TROSSACHS · HILL

Ben A'an

The little mountain with a giant view

  • Short steep climb
  • Spectacular summit
  • Loch views
  • Type Small rocky hill
  • Dog access On-lead near stock & edges
  • Terrain Steep path, rocky summit
  • Highlight The view over Loch Katrine
Ben A'an, often called the mountain in miniature, packs the drama of a far bigger peak into a short, steep climb. The path rises through forest and out to a craggy little summit with a breathtaking view over Loch Katrine and the surrounding hills, a reward out of all proportion to the effort. It is a brilliant dog walk for a fit dog, but the path is steep and the summit rocks are exposed, so keep your dog on a lead near the top and the drops. The car park fills early on good days.

CALLANDER · TOWN & FALLS

Callander & Bracklinn Falls

A bustling town with falls and crags

  • Town base
  • Waterfall walk
  • Hill viewpoint
  • Type Town, falls, crags
  • Dog access On-lead near falls & stock
  • Terrain Town, woodland, gorge, crag
  • Highlight Bracklinn Falls gorge
Callander is the lively eastern base for the Trossachs, a Victorian touring town packed with dog-friendly cafes and pubs. On its doorstep, a woodland walk leads to Bracklinn Falls, where the Keltie Water crashes through a rocky gorge under a footbridge, and a stiffer path climbs Callander Crags for a fine view over the town and the hills. The level riverside Meadows give an easy stroll by the Teith. Keep your dog on a lead near the falls and the unfenced crag edges.

STRATHYRE · LOCH & FALLS

Loch Lubnaig & the Falls of Leny

A long loch on the road into the hills

  • Lochside cycle path
  • Waterfall walk
  • Rob Roy country
  • Type Loch, falls & trail
  • Dog access Welcome on the trail, lead near stock
  • Terrain Cycle path, riverside, loch shore
  • Highlight The Falls of Leny
North of Callander, the road and the traffic-free National Cycle Route 7 run up Strathyre past the tumbling Falls of Leny and along the shore of Loch Lubnaig, a long, beautiful loch ringed by hills in the heart of Rob Roy country. The flat, surfaced trail makes an easy and scenic dog walk or cycle, with little beaches along the loch where a dog can paddle. It is quieter than the Katrine end of the Trossachs. Keep your dog on a lead near the falls and through any grazing land.

PORT OF MENTEITH · LAKE

The Lake of Menteith

Scotland's only lake and its island priory

  • Lakeside strolls
  • Island priory view
  • Quiet corner
  • Type Lake & shore
  • Dog access On-lead near shore & stock
  • Terrain Lakeside lanes, fields
  • Highlight Inchmahome Priory across the water
On the gentle southern edge of the Trossachs, the Lake of Menteith is famously the only body of water in Scotland called a lake rather than a loch. Quiet lanes and shore paths around Port of Menteith give an easy, peaceful dog walk with views across the water to the wooded island of Inchmahome and its ruined priory. It is a calm, pretty corner away from the Trossachs honeypots, good for a gentle outing. Keep your dog on a lead near the shore and the grazing fields, and enjoy the slower pace.

Can you climb Ben A'an with a dog?

Yes, and it is one of the most rewarding short dog walks in Scotland. Ben A'an is a steep but brief climb from the car park on the A821 near Loch Katrine, rising through forest to a rocky summit with a spectacular view over the loch. Dogs are welcome, but the path is steep and the summit is rocky and exposed, so keep your dog on a lead near the top and the drops, and on a lead near any grazing stock lower down. The small car park fills early on fine days, so arrive in good time and carry water for the climb.

Tips for visiting the Trossachs with a dog

Start early at the honeypots

Loch Katrine and Ben A'an have small car parks that fill fast on fine weekends. An early start means easier parking and a calmer walk for the dog.

Lead up for deer, sheep and the stalking season

The Trossachs are sporting-estate country. Keep your dog on a lead near livestock and deer, on the open hill, and during the autumn stalking season.

Use the forest and cycle trails for easy days

The Aberfoyle forest trails and the traffic-free path along Loch Katrine and Loch Lubnaig give firm, shaded, low-stress walking in any weather.

Base yourself in Callander or Aberfoyle

Callander is the lively eastern base; Aberfoyle the forest gateway. Both have plenty of dog-friendly cafes, pubs and places to stay.

Take the dog on the loch

The SS Sir Walter Scott steamship on Loch Katrine welcomes dogs, so you can swap a walk for a scenic cruise on a wild-weather day.

Frequently asked questions

Q01Are dogs allowed at Loch Katrine?
Yes. Dogs are welcome on the traffic-free shore road along the north side of Loch Katrine, which makes a wonderful easy walk or cycle, and on the SS Sir Walter Scott steamship that cruises the loch. Keep your dog under close control near the busy pier area and on a lead near any grazing stock along the shore.
Q02Where are the best dog walks in the Trossachs?
The standouts are the short steep climb up Ben A'an for its view over Loch Katrine, the traffic-free lochside walks at Loch Katrine and Loch Lubnaig, the forest trails above Aberfoyle, and the Bracklinn Falls walk from Callander. For a quieter outing, head to the Lake of Menteith.
Q03Is Callander a good base for the Trossachs with a dog?
Yes. Callander is the lively eastern base for the Trossachs, with dog-friendly cafes and pubs, the Bracklinn Falls and Callander Crags walks on its doorstep, and easy access to Loch Lubnaig, Loch Katrine and Ben A'an. Aberfoyle is the alternative gateway for the forest trails.
Q04Do I need to keep my dog on a lead in the Trossachs?
On the open hills and estates, yes, especially near deer, sheep and ground-nesting birds and during the autumn stalking season. The forest trails and the traffic-free lochside paths are more relaxed for a well-behaved dog, but always keep your dog under close control near livestock, steep falls and crag edges.

Related guides

Dog-Friendly Loch Lomond

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The western half of the same national park: the bonnie banks and lochside walks.
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