Maol Mor, Beinn a' Choin and Loch Katrine Loop

This 15 km / 9.3 mile hill-and-loch circuit in the Trossachs packs a lot into a relatively moderate distance: a long lochside approach, a rougher mountain section over Maol Mòr and Beinn a’ Choin, and wide views over Loch Katrine and the surrounding ridges. With around 800 m / 2,625 ft of ascent, it sits firmly in the medium bracket on paper, but the hill section can feel harder than the numbers suggest because parts of the route are pathless, steep, wet underfoot, and potentially confusing in mist. The setting is deeply scenic and quite remote-feeling despite starting near one of the best-known visitor areas in Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park. Loch Katrine itself is about 13 km / 8 miles long and is one of the defining landscapes of the region. (lochlomond-trossachs.org)

The most practical start point is Trossachs Pier, Loch Katrine, By Callander FK17 8HZ, the main visitor access point at the eastern end of the loch. That is the nearest widely used address and landmark for the hike head. Trossachs Pier has parking, visitor facilities, and direct access to the private lochside road that runs west along the north shore toward Stronachlachar. Parking can be busy in high season, and access on the north shore road can occasionally be affected by landslips or severe weather, so it is worth checking conditions before setting out. (lochkatrine.com)

By car, most walkers approach via the A821 from Aberfoyle or Callander, then follow signs for Loch Katrine and Trossachs Pier. By public transport, the area is much less straightforward: the national park notes that many journeys require travel via Glasgow first, and Loch Katrine is not one of the easiest hill starts to reach without a car. In practice, public-transport users usually aim for Aberfoyle or Callander first and then rely on seasonal/local connections or a taxi for the final leg to Trossachs Pier. Because services can change, checking current journey options before travel is essential. (lochlomond-trossachs.org)

The opening section is usually the gentlest part of the day. From Trossachs Pier, the route follows the lochside road westward, staying close to the water for several kilometres while the bigger hills gradually draw nearer. This stretch gives a good warm-up before the climbing begins and offers some of the best low-level views of Loch Katrine, with wooded slopes, inlets, and the long narrowing shape of the loch leading the eye west. If the loop uses the common western approach toward the Allt a’ Choin area before turning uphill, expect roughly 5 to 7 km / 3 to 4.5 miles of easier progress before the mountain terrain becomes the main focus. The lochside road is also popular with cyclists and visitors using the pier facilities and cruise services, so the first part of the day can feel more accessible than the upper ground later on. (lochkatrine.com)

On the climb

Once the route leaves the lochside and heads uphill, the character changes quickly. The ascent toward Maol Mòr and Beinn a’ Choin is where the day earns its difficulty rating. Ground conditions in this area are often a mix of faint trods, ATV tracks in places, rough grass, peat, heather, and boggy patches. On similar approaches in this hill group, walkers report deer-fence gates, soft ground, and sections where the line is more obvious on mapping than on the hillside itself. In poor visibility, the broad ridges and multiple knolls can make accurate navigation important, so carrying and knowing how to use HiiKER is especially useful here. (walkhighlands.co.uk)

Beinn a’ Choin is known for craggier upper slopes, and the easier lines tend to work around the steepest ground rather than attack it directly. Walkhighlands notes that the upper slopes are craggy and that the easiest route uses a grassy rake to gain higher ground, with a false