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Aberfoyle · Nature
Loch Ard and Lochan Spling Sculpture Walks
A fish leaping from the loch and an osprey made from wire give children something unusual to look for on these forest walks near Aberfoyle. Start at Milton car park and choose your loop before setting off: even the shorter Lochan Spling Trail is 4.2km.
- Best for
- Children who enjoy a proper walk
- Cost
- Free walks and Milton parking
- Weather
- Outdoors throughout
- Walking time
- 1½ or 2½ hours, plus stops
Our family take
The sculptures give a woodland walk a bit more purpose for children who enjoy looking for animals. Lochan Spling is the better starting choice if you are unsure how far everyone wants to walk; save the longer Loch Ard loop for a family comfortable with a more substantial outing.
- Walking effort. Both routes are graded moderate, with steep sections and muddy patches. Neither is a guaranteed easy buggy circuit.
- With little ones. Keep children close beside the lochs and river. These are shared forest routes, with cyclists and occasional vehicles.
The practical details
Plan your visit
- Start point
- Milton car park, Loch Ard Forest. From Aberfoyle follow the B829 towards Kinlochard, then the Loch Ard Forest sign on the left after about a mile. FK8 3TF is the nearest postcode.
- Cost
- The walks and parking at Milton are free. Food and any separate activities are extra.
- Route map
- Download the forest route card before leaving. Choose the named Lochan Spling or Loch Ard Sculpture Trail at the start; other local walks use different starting points and distances.Official route map (PDF)
- Toilets and changing
- Use the public toilets on Main Street in Aberfoyle before the walk. They are free and have disabled access, but no baby changing. Plan a separate changing stop if needed.Aberfoyle toilet details
- Food
- Bring drinks and a picnic for the forest, or eat in Aberfoyle. Do not depend on finding a café beside the trails.
- Forest notices
- Check forest access notices and the weather. Allow extra time for stops with children, and avoid a long woodland walk in strong winds.Latest forest notices
Packed lunch spaceFree ParkingWalking And Cycling Trails
16 October 2026
Check routes and access details (official)A little more detail
Make it work for your family
Which loop suits your family?
The Lochan Spling Trail is 4.2km, with an official allowance of 1½ hours before family stops. It crosses the Duchray Water and circles the small loch, where the fish and wiry osprey sculptures are part of the attraction. This is the shorter of the two walks, but it still needs children who are happy to keep walking.
The Loch Ard Sculpture Trail is 6.7km, with an official allowance of 2½ hours. It takes in Loch Ard, Little Loch Ard and Lochan a’ Ghleannin, with more woodland sculptures along the route. Choose it when the distance itself sounds enjoyable, rather than adding it onto an already tiring day.
With a toddler who walks only short stretches, plan a short out-and-back instead of committing to either full loop. Turning back early may mean missing the sculptures. If there is one your child really wants to see, check its position on the map before choosing a shorter walk.
Buggies, wheels and underfoot conditions
Lochan Spling has gravel paths with loose sections, occasional mud, short fairly steep slopes and a wide bridge. The longer sculpture trail has uneven muddy stretches and more sustained climbs. An all-terrain buggy may cope better with gravel, but that does not make either circuit suitable for every buggy or wheelchair.
If step-free access or a particular mobility setup decides the outing, check the route with Forestry and Land Scotland before travelling. Wear shoes with grip and take waterproofs; the woods provide shade, but the outing is outdoors throughout.
Sculptures and wildlife
Rob Mulholland’s animal sculptures are scattered through the forest. The Lochan Spling walk has the fish and osprey; the longer Loch Ard route has different works, including mirage foxes and squirrels.
A picnic gives everyone a reason to pause beside the lochan. You may see woodland birds or red squirrels, but wildlife sightings are a bonus. Check for ticks after the walk, and keep children away from the water’s edge.
A shorter forest outing or another Trossachs day
If the full loops sound too long, compare The Lodge Forest Visitor Centre above Aberfoyle. It has a short waterfall walk, a café and toilets, with its own parking arrangements. It is a separate forest start, so follow its directions rather than the Milton pin.
Loch Katrine is another Trossachs option if a cruise appeals more than a long forest walk. Check the sailing timetable and the drive separately; it is a different outing, not a stop along either sculpture trail.
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