LookOut

The LookOut sits above Lochearnhead like a proper vantage point should - high enough that the walk up leaves you slightly breathless, but worth every step. It's the sort of spot where you stand and understand why the Scots fought over this land for centuries. The views across the Trossachs pull your eye in every direction, and on a clear day you can trace the valleys and ridges that make this corner of Stirling feel genuinely remote.

What you're actually doing is straightforward: walking to an elevated viewing platform and taking in the landscape. No bells, no whistles, no gift shop. The attraction works best for walkers and landscape photographers who aren't after guided tours or lengthy explanations. Families with decent hill-legs will find it rewarding, though younger kids might need persuading that the walk justifies the view. Allow a solid hour if you're coming from Lochearnhead, longer if you're a careful photographer.

If you're based at Balquhidder Braes Holiday Park - just six miles away and consistently brilliant - the LookOut makes a natural morning expedition before heading elsewhere. It's free, naturally, and requires no advance booking. Go early if the weather's promising. By midday, cloud can roll in fast through these glens, and the whole point vanishes into mist. Late afternoon light is golden here when it cooperates, but you're dependent on the forecast.