Drymen: Walking Routes, Village History and National Park

Drymen combines notable long-distance walking routes with a multifaceted village history. Anyone planning a trip to Scotland and looking to combine experiences in nature with culture will find various starting points here for planning each day. When searching for a holiday apartment or holiday home, you can therefore consider whether walking, historical discoveries or a varied mix should be the main focus.

Walking around Drymen

The Rob Roy Way begins at Drymen Square. The route is 124 km (77 miles) long in total and follows roads and paths used by the notorious outlaw Rob Roy MacGregor. Its significance therefore extends beyond the starting point in the village: the historical figure remains a recurring point of reference throughout the route.

The West Highland Way also passes the village of Drymen and continues in the direction of Balmaha. Drymen is frequently used, particularly during the summer months, as an overnight stop for walkers on the West Highland Way. One of the routes mentioned can also be used as a lower-level alternative to the West Highland Way.

Village History Through Personal Voices

The Drymen Heritage Trail conveys the village’s history through short podcasts recorded by local residents. This gives the historical orientation a personal dimension and is suitable as an independent discovery between longer excursions. Those travelling with children or across several generations can incorporate such a short cultural activity into a day without turning it into a full museum programme.

One of the notable historical points of reference is Risk Head, the oldest surviving croft house in the village of Drymen. The oldest part is believed to date back to at least 1770. The Clachan Inn also shapes the historic character of the village: it is considered Scotland’s oldest licensed pub and was founded in 1734. Both places represent different aspects of the village’s history, from rural living to the long tradition of inns.

Drymen Church has an old graveyard with gravestones documenting burials from the 17th century through to the 1890s. Anyone interested in churches, gravestones and the local past can include this area as another historical focus in their travel plans.

National Park, Village Life and Further Activities

Drymen was included in the establishment of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park in 2002, Scotland’s first national park. This inclusion forms part of the broader classification of the place and complements its walking and village history with a regional connection to nature.

The event “Piping on the Square” takes place in the village during the summer. In 2022, a bicycle repair station and free charging points for e-bikes were also opened on Drymen Square. For a trip with varied daily plans, this makes it possible to consider walking, visiting the village and cycling as different focal points. Anyone looking for a sporting activity away from the long-distance walking routes will find Strathendrick Golf Club on the outskirts of Drymen, a hilly 9-hole parkland golf course.

Guidance for Choosing Your Accommodation

A viewpoint in Drymen can be reached via a short path opposite the Buchanan Arms Hotel. Together with the central starting point of the Rob Roy Way, the West Highland Way passing through the village and the historic sites, this makes Drymen a place where you can give your holiday days different emphases: longer walks, a culturally focused village tour or individual activities such as golf and cycling. When searching for a holiday apartment, therefore, primarily choose the type of trip you would like to experience and use Drymen as a starting point for further planning.

For further travel planning, you can also take a look at Stronachlachar, Kippen, Cambusbarron, Gartmore, Crianlarich, Dunblane, Callander and Lochearnhead.

For the overarching travel overview: Stirling.