Hidden gem Scottish loch once witnessed brutal battle for country's independence
Tucked away in the heart of the Galloway Hills, Loch Trool might not have the fame of its Highland cousins, but it's every bit as breathtaking. This narrow stretch of water in Dumfries and Galloway is a hidden gem of the Lowlands, and for those in the know, it's one of Scotland's best-kept secrets.
Just eight miles from Newton Stewart, the loch sits in the Southern Uplands, flanked by rugged hills and thick forest. At only 400 metres wide and 1.5 miles long, it may be modest in size, but its appeal is anything but small, Scottish Daily Express reports.
Visitors can enjoy a 5.5-mile circular walk that takes around three hours to complete, winding through ancient woodland, along hillside tracks, and beside peaceful shores. The route is part of the Southern Upland Way and offers picture-perfect views from start to finish.
Online reviews paint the loch as a peaceful haven. One walker on TripAdvisor described it as an 'amazing place to go for a walk or to camp out. Beautiful views, free car park, relaxing time, good sleep in wild.' Others have called the scenery 'stunning' and 'breathtaking'.
But Loch Trool isn't just a treat for the eyes, it's also a stargazer's dream. Set within Galloway Forest Park, a designated Dark Sky Park, the loch is said to lie in the darkest area of the UK, according to Wikipedia.
It's a magnet for astronomy enthusiasts, so if you do plan a visit after sunset, bring a powerful torch to help you find your way.
The loch's atmosphere is made all the more striking by its historical significance. It was here, on the banks of Loch Trool, that Robert the Bruce staged a daring ambush against English forces during the First War of Scottish Independence.
In April 1307, Bruce and his band of 300 men took on 1,500 English cavalry under the command of the Earl of Pembroke. Using the narrow path along the water's edge, Bruce's forces dealt heavy damage.
It was a turning point in Bruce's campaign and a prelude to his first major victory at the Battle of Loudon Hill just weeks later.
Today, the events are commemorated with Bruce's Stone, a massive granite boulder perched on a hill overlooking the north shore. It marks not only a moment of triumph, but a place where history and nature meet in spectacular fashion.
How to get there:
From Newton Stewart, take the A714 heading north towards Girvan. At Bargrennan, turn right for Glentrool village and follow signs to the Glen Trool visitor centre. Continue past the centre for about 3km and take the first tarred road on your right.
This leads to a car park just before a small bridge, your starting point for the walk.
Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!
Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.
You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.
No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.
All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in!
If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'.
We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like.
To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Route highlights:
Begin at the car park and follow green waymarkers leading onto the Southern Upland Way. You'll pass Caldons House and remnants of the ancient woodlands that once filled Glen Trool.
The trail then climbs through dense conifers on the loch's steep southern side.
At the loch's head, cross a bridge and leave the Southern Upland Way to follow the quieter northern shore, meandering through Buchan and Glenhead woods.
A short detour will take you to Bruce's Stone before the route loops back to your starting point, making for a rewarding and memorable day out.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
an hour ago
- Daily Record
Reason why summer flights are skyrocketing and how to prevent it, according to expert
Many travellers are noting the surge in flight costs, luckily these tricks can help keep costs down, allowing for more budget to be spent in the sunshine. If you have spent the past week fantasising about Aperol spritzes on the Amalfi Coast or stretching out on the beach in the Maldives, you've likely come across a cruel reality. The more you check flight prices, the higher they seem to go. By the time you search for the third time, it feels as if the airline' s clocked your interest and thought, 'we've got them'. Luckily, with the right booking tricks, you can still dodge the summer surge and save your budget for the fun stuff, like that extra round of cocktails. Andrea Platania, travel expert at Transfeero, says your first move is to slip into stealth mode. 'Using incognito or private browsing stops airlines and booking platforms from tracking your search history and adjusting fares,' he explains. 'In Chrome, it's the three dots in the top right and 'New Incognito Window'. Safari has 'New Private Window' under the File menu, and Firefox gives you the option through its menu button. It only takes seconds, but it can save you hundreds.' Platania also insists on clearing your cookies, noting: 'Cookies store your browsing behaviour, and travel sites can use that data to increase prices if they think you're keen. Wipe them and you reset the game.' He suggests teaming this with price alerts on sites like Google Flights, Skyscanner or Hopper, explaining: 'When fares dip, you'll be the first to know and that's often the moment to book before they shoot up again.' Summer booking hacks most travellers miss Flexibility is your secret weapon, says Platania. Prices are often lower mid-week, and if you can stomach a 5am departure or a late-night landing, the savings can be substantial. Platania explained: 'If you're booking for August, avoid Sunday returns, it's one of the priciest travel days. Try Tuesday or Wednesday instead, even if it means an extra day off work.' Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. He also recommends checking nearby airports. A short train ride to a different hub could save you a small fortune, sometimes even after adding rail fare. And beware of those 'light' fares that seem like a bargain but punish you later with baggage fees. 'That £50 ticket can easily jump to £150 when you add a carry-on,' Platania warns. For last-minute escapes, there's the VPN tactic, by changing your virtual location to a country where flights are typically sold cheaper. Results vary, so it's worth experimenting. It doesn't always work, but when it does the savings can be surprisingly good. Many airlines release new fare batches on Tuesday afternoons or Wednesday mornings. Checking then can sometimes catch lower prices before others snap them up. Mistakes that cost you money The biggest blunder? Repeatedly searching for the same route over several days on the same device. 'It signals urgency, and the algorithms will exploit that,' Platania says. Another common pitfall is booking close to weekends or bank holidays, when prices are often at their peak. And beware of waiting until payday as airlines know this is when many people book, so fares can rise sharply. Then there's the infamous 'only two seats left at this price' warning. 'Sometimes it's genuine, but other times it's marketing psychology at its finest,' says Platania. 'Don't panic-book unless you've checked the same flight on a second device or different booking site.'
Edinburgh Live
3 hours ago
- Edinburgh Live
Man moves to Edinburgh from London and receives 'abuse' from Scottish people
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info An Edinburgh resident from England spoke out on TikTok about online "abuse" he received after moving to the Scottish capital from London. The man took to social media, sharing his 'disappointment' at the response, claiming "everyone I've met here is really nice". He filmed a video while walking through the Meadows, asking people to "be more compassionate". He said: "I posted a video a few weeks ago about how much I love living in Edinburgh after living in London, and the amount of abuse that I got from Scottish people saying, 'We don't want you here. Go back to England. Stop telling people to move to Edinburgh,' [as if] I have the kind of power to make a person move house. "It was really disappointing to be honest. Everyone I've met here is really nice, so I'm not sure who all these super angry individuals are. "Imagine what would have happened if I'd have made a video saying that I didn't like Edinburgh. I can't win. Imagine the backlash. "It was really disappointing, to be honest. I love Scottish people. I think they're so nice and they've been nothing but welcoming to me here, but Jesus Christ on TikTok - the hate. "I get it right. It's hard times for people. Prices go up when more people move to a place, I understand. But it's very difficult to isolate that to just Edinburgh. All around the UK, people are finding it extremely difficult to get by. "Anyone who wants to live in the center of a town or a city - it's so ridiculously expensive now I think we all just need to be a little bit more compassionate." Sympathetic locals took to the comments. One said: "Oh God, I am from Edinburgh. I'm so sorry you have been abused." Another shared: "Cybernats are the pits. Online anti-English trolls are the worst." A third penned: "I'm Scottish but have moved back to Edinburgh from London after 25 years and I prefer England. I can't stand Scots who walk around with a chip on their shoulder and even now colleagues are funny with me because I lived down there."
Daily Record
5 hours ago
- Daily Record
Historic cave in Scotland where a 6th century saint once stayed
The cave in Argyll and Bute is a hidden historic site where an Irish missionary is said to have worshipped on his journey to Scotland Hidden away in the wild and rugged landscape of Argyll and Bute lies a site steeped in legend and early Christian tradition. St Columba's Cave, on the northern shore of Loch Caolisport, has long been considered an important landmark in Scotland's spiritual history. Tradition holds that the Irish missionary who helped bring Christianity to Scotland stayed and worshipped here during his journey from Ulster to the west coast. The cave is not easy to stumble upon. Travellers must take a minor road off the B8024 at Achahoish, following the lochside for several miles before reaching a signposted path. A short walk leads visitors past the overgrown ruins of a 13th-century chapel before arriving at a natural cave beneath an upturned rock face. According to local tradition, Columba stopped here in the 6th century while waiting for King Conal's permission to establish his monastery at Iona. Though there is no firm evidence he stayed in the cave, its association with the saint has endured for centuries. The cave itself is striking. Measuring around 18 metres deep and five metres across the mouth, it contains a raised rock shelf along the east wall. On the shelf stands a drystone altar, above which is carved a small cross in low relief, just 17 by 14 centimetres. To the north lies another Latin-style cross, framed by a curious series of five pits in the rock face. A third, much fainter cross is said to exist further north, though difficult to spot. Excavations outside the cave revealed two ancient burials of indeterminate date, alongside evidence of human use stretching back to the Mesolithic period. To the west, a smaller cave shows signs of being used as a dwelling. The site has inspired many local traditions over the centuries. The font at nearby Achahoish church is said to have been taken from the cave, further strengthening its connection to early Christian practice. Whether or not Columba truly stayed here may never be proven, but the setting and the view over the loch make it easy to imagine why such a story took root. The surrounding area is rich in related landmarks. Between Kiel Cave and St Columba's Chapel lies the mysterious St Columba's Footprints. These stone impressions sit atop a rocky outcrop, reached by a small flight of steps. One footprint was carved in 1856 by a local mason, but the other is much older. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Some believe it is Columba's own, though historians suggest it was more likely used during the coronation of kings in Dalriada, or even earlier by the southern Picts. A similar footprint can be found at Dunadd in Kilmartin Glen. Close by is St Columba's Well, a rocky basin carved into the slope where water collects from a spring. The waters are said to have healing properties, and a rough Latin cross has been cut into the overhanging rock face above the pool. Further along stands St Columba's Chapel within Keil Cemetery. Though often linked to the saint, the chapel was almost certainly built centuries later. Its east end dates to the late 13th century, with extensions added between the 14th and 15th centuries. Overgrown with ivy, the ruined structure can still be entered through a partially buried doorway. Inside lie medieval grave slabs, two of which are thought to have been carved at Saddell Abbey.
