Trossachs Yurts
Wanting to mix a weekend of adventures and hikes with relaxing and putting our feet up in the yurts afterwards, is what drew us to the Trossachs Yurts. Ideally situated a short drive from Lake Menteith, Blair Drummond Safari Park, Ben Lomond and more, it was perfect for what we were looking for.
With a plan to tackle Ben Lomond that weekend, we went for the aptly named 'Ben Lomond' yurt (you can also choose the Stuc A 'Chroin and Ben Ledi yurts). Arriving on a brisk Friday evening we received a warm welcome from the lovely Kate, the owner of the yurts and our host for the weekend. First things first, Kate was fantastic, both as a host and what she has done with the yurts, she couldn't have been more welcoming (and helpful when it came to kindling, more on that later).
On entering the yurts we were instantly excited by what we saw, a woodfire (to both keep you warm and to cook your meals with), gas stove, all your cutlery, plates and glasses, warm rugs, a massive bed, sofa area, solar lighting and candles...it was without doubt the most romantic place I've ever stayed in.
We settled in our first night by chilling with some woodfired Mac n Cheese (of course!) and wine. It was perfect. It was also absolutely hilarious watching the two of us try to get the woodfire started, we practically used our whole kindling to get the first flame going. But finally getting the knack of it, the yurt turned into a toasty, cosy haven.
After washing our dishes the next day in the kitchen area and using the washroom facilities (there are 2 bathroom/shower areas), we headed off on our first adventure of the weekend: Ben Lomond. Or the beast as I like to refer to it. I'm not going to lie, I struggled with this hike. We set off from the parking lot and what I'll start off with is that it is not very well signposted, at all. We ended up with another group of people off track for about 40 minutes and that was before even starting the hike up it. This was due to there not being good signposting (or any if I'm being honest) so my advice, just be sure to go up the small twist up through the trees after you pass a house (with water bottles outside) on your right.
The first section of the hike was much steeper than I was expecting which put a bit of pressure on my old granny knees as I like to call them. So it wasn't long before I knew I wasn't going to make it the entire way up, and back down. At first, I was really disappointed but I did something in that moment and it was this: to get as far up as I could, and get back down safely, enjoying every moment along the way. And that's what I did, and let me tell you, I was so proud of myself when I reached the summit's edge as I didn't even think I would make it that far. Pain aside, it was a battle of wills and might between me and that mountain, it pushed me physically and mentally, was tough and yet still enjoyable, but most importantly the views were completely and absolutely out of this world. I will never forget being above the clouds as it rained down below us.
Being completely knackered after Ben Lomond, we couldn't wait to get back to the comforts awaiting us at the Yurt. The good thing about having that woodfire in the yurt was being able to bring your own food to cook with it. I would HIGHLY recommend heading to your local Asda and grabbing their 16" make your own pizzas (stonebaked style), trust me on this one. We cooked these a few slices at a time after our hike up Ben Lomond and it was amazing. Basically just a continual stream of pizza slices and potato wedges coupled with a few well deserved glasses of wine whilst dancing about the yurt - what more can you ask for!? Well, perhaps a clear sky where you can stargaze watching the milky way and shooting stars passing you by, which is also, what we got to experience that night. Memories of which, will remain with me forever.
The next morning, we were sad to leave our little yurt behind as we set off on our final adventures of the weekend. First up was a short drive down the road to Lake Menteith where we crossed the Lake in a little boat whilst the skipper explained why it was a Lake and not a traditional Scottish loch (no-one truly knows the real reasons but you can see what you think about the legends of it). The small island of Inchmahome was our port of call where we disembarked to explore the ruins of Inchmahome Priory - a monastic sanctuary where the likes of Robert the Bruce and Mary Queen of Scotland sought solace. There's a beautiful wooded walk around the island which I'd highly recommend followed by peeking around inside the ruins of the priory itself.
Our journey home to Glasgow meant we were passing by Blair Drummond Safari Park so it was the perfect stop off point enroute. You can drive your car through the park areas getting up close to lions, zebras, monkeys and more. Watch out for the monkeys, they actually do jump onto your car which was just the funniest (and scariest!) thing! Afterwards you can walk around the other areas of the park and take in some of the shows such as the birds of prey and seal shows. It's the perfect day out so I'll be back to spend more time there that's for sure.
I would honestly wholeheartedly recommend the yurts for anyone looking to escape the city for a few days. They were everything I imagined they'd be and more. I have memories from there and that weekend that I will treasure forever. So here's to hopefully getting back to those yurts in the (very) near future! Check them out over at trossachsyurts.com - memories of a lifetime await you.
Leanne x