Loch Trool Circuit
Date: 30 September 2025
Leader: David
Grade: C+
Number on walk: 8
Length 10.3 km. Ascent 250 m.
Hills climbed: None.
Click here for GPX track of the walk
Our group followed a well-marked circuit around Loch Trool. It offered spectacular views of the loch and the mist covered hills surrounding the valley. We enjoyed our morning coffee break at Bruce's Stone, an excellent viewpoint on the north side of the loch
(Bruce's Stone commemorates Robert the Bruce's victory over an English force in April 1307. The granite bolder was erected in 1929 by the Galloway Glens Committee. It marks the traditional spot overlooking the loch where Robert the Bruce is said to have stood to watch the battle.)
After leaving Bruce's Stone our route followed a scenic farm track to Glenhead, to the east of Loch Trool
Shortly after starting the return leg of the walk, in which we headed west towards the steep sides of the south shore, we stopped for lunch at an excellent viewpoint that looked straight down the loch
The path along the south side of the loch soon reached the site of the battle, which is commemorated by an information board. The path sits precariously on a very steep hillside
(The Battle of Glen Trool was one of Robert the Bruce's first significant successes after being crowned King of Scots in 1306. Bruce and a small band of followers used the steep hillside and narrow path above Loch Trool to ambush the English force from high ground by rolling boulders and attacking from above. The English suffered heavy losses, and the victory boosted Bruce's morale and reputation.)
In addition to our visit to an interesting historical battle site, our walk along the south side of the loch offered many spectacular views