Shepherd’s hut stay in Loch Lomond and the Trossachs, Scotland

We’re slowly coming out of COVID-19-related lockdown and self-catering accommodation has re-opened… just in time for our first wedding anniversary. Seconds after Nicola Sturgeon announced the reopening date for self-catering accommodation, I was on the Airbnb website. Poacher’s Hut near Port of Menteith, in Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, stood out immediately. It was relatively close-by, secluded, and an adorable shepherd’s hut – a new type of accommodation for us! I booked on impulse, and three weeks later we were on our way there.

Walk: Bracklinn Falls

On the way to Poacher’s Hut we stopped off to do the circular Bracklinn Falls walk I’d found on walkhighlands.co.uk. With it being a sunny Saturday, the two carparks were full by the time we arrived (a very common problem for Scottish beauty spots). Fortunately, we found free on-street parking not far away.

Predictably, Bracklinn Falls and bridge were bustling with people, including a group of teenage boys unwisely jumping into the rock-strewn waters. It was an attractive spot for sure, but hard to enjoy among all the commotion. We took a few photos but didn’t linger there for long.

Over the bridge, the path continues upstream through high grasses and wildflowers. We soon found the path empty and ourselves blissfully alone with nature. Soon the path rises and changes again, now leading through an atmospherically silent pine forest. I love walking through pine forests – the fresh smell, the silence, and the grandeur of the tall, densely packed trees is like nothing else.

Emerging from the pine forest, you’re treated to a glorious panoramic view of rolling green hills. Walk back down the hill and you meet with the river once again, at a much quieter bridge and set of falls. To complete the circle from there it’s a straighforward walk along the dirt road, overlooking the forests you just walked through. We spotted some very photogenic Ringlet butterflies along the way.

Greeted by goats

We had the warmest of welcomes at Poacher’s Hut: not only from hut owner Lorna and her husband, but also from their four adorable pygmy goats! Before showing us around the hut, we were asked whether we wanted to meet the goats – to which the only answer is YES! The little goats jumped up like dogs, putting their tiny hooves on your legs, hungry for attention (and also hungry for your clothes… they tried to nibble my t-shirt!) They were just so cute.

The hut

Lorna briefly showed us how to work the pizza oven, firepit and hot tub, then left us to discover all the wonderful little touches for ourselves.

Both the shepherds’ hut and its outdoor area are beautiful. The hut stands in its own sizable fenced area, next to a sheep and hen pen but far away from any other building or person. We loved how private and secluded it felt, like our own little hideaway in nature. Outside there’s a swingball set, a firepit with two chairs, the small pizza oven and toolstore, a hot tub, an outdoor dining table with chairs, a store for outdoor cushions and blankets, and two more chairs and a small table perfect for enjoying the sunshine.

The shepherd’s hut surpassed our expectations in every way. I loved the bright and cheery interior, with its many LED tealights and miniature bunting. We were delighted to find milk, butter, fresh eggs from the hens, bread, granola, yoghurt, fruit, tea, and coffeee provided for breakfast, in addition to a welcome hamper containing booze, soft drinks, homebaking, sweets and crisps.

There were also many personal touches just for us on our anniversary, from fake rose petals on the bed to our initials stamped in the butter! Everything was so lovely. To top it off, every day there was a different message written for us on the blackboard beside where our car was parked.

That evening we played swingball, said hello to the sheep and hens, went for a short walk down the road, made pizzas, toasted marshmallows at the firepit, and enjoyed the hot tub. It felt like the kind of place you could spend hours without looking at a screen once.

Walk: the Dumpling

The following day, we cooked and ate breakfast on the outdoor table. We used the electric saute pan to cook the eggs and the meat we’d brought, and had them with toast. After breakfast we drove out to find another short walk, up the Dumpling – less popularly known as Duncryne Hill.

It’s not the easiest to find by car, but once you’ve parked in the right layby and found the gate it’s a short, easy walk. The effort to pay-off ratio is off-the-charts, with a mere 10 minutes of effort rewarding you with a glorious panoramic view over Loch Lomond and its islands. It was surprisingly quiet too (perhaps because it was still relatively early in the day).

Walk: the Whangie

You may be wondering whether we purposefully picked walks with silly names! We didn’t, but these two walks happened to be close together and not too taxing. The Whangie was a lot longer and more strenuous than the Dumpling, but still one of the easier hillwalks in the area. The name refers to the rugged rock formations towards the walk’s end. The route was relatively crowded with families, which made social distancing more of a challenge.

We sat and ate our packed lunch underneath one of the Whangie rocks, then continued onto the highest point afterwards. The path between the Whangie and the highest point was a bit more confusing than the rest of the walk. It took us around four hours to complete the full walk, with our stop for lunch and many stops for photos.

Evening at Loch Ard

After conquering the Whangie, we returned to the hut to refuel with tea and snacks. We decided to go to the Lake of Menteith next. However, with the centre for boat rides on the lake closed, we struggled to find a way to the lakefront. Instead, we set our sights on Loch Ard, which was just a bit further away.

It wasn’t until we reached the far end of Loch Ard that we found somewhere we could park and walk to the shore. A community park with a long stone jetty proved a great place to sit by the water’s edge and enjoy the stillness, broken only by the various birds who lived there.

Anniversary dinner

Back at the hut, we had a romantic dinner to celebrate our anniversary. I made good use of the hut’s lovely tableware and atmospheric lighting to create the right atmosphere in the very small space!

Our stay at the Poacher’s Hut was only short, and the following morning we drove back home via Flander’s Moss. I’m sure this nature reserve would be fascinating if you were really into botany, but otherwise there isn’t much to see!

We had an amazing stay at the Poacher’s Hut and would recommend it to anyone looking for a romantic stay. Most of all, it was great to finally escape our home town and do a little bit of travelling again… even if it was just down the road.

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All text and photos (c) Juliet Langton, 2020. All rights reserved.