The best family-friendly hikes and walks around Loch Mahaick

take some bird food for the ducks and swans here.

It is worth taking a short detour down to the river bank, because you should take in the wonderful natural beauty and tranquility. The river stones are a real treat for stone fans

Known from "Monsters of the Coconut" and "Game of Thrones"

Path from Doune heading out towards Dunblane avoiding the main road it ends onto a quiet backroad which you can then use to get to Dunblane without having to cycle on the main road.

A section of walk is the hill climb race circuit for vintage cars ,the walk after this section a bit overgrown but you can slowly make your way through .. approximately 30meters

Recent research has shown that Doune Castle was originally built in the thirteenth century, then probably damaged in the Scottish Wars of Independence,[1] before being rebuilt in its present form in the late 14th century by Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany (c. 1340–1420), the son of King Robert II of Scots, and Regent of Scotland from 1388 until his death. Duke Robert's stronghold has survived relatively unchanged and complete, and the whole castle was traditionally thought of as the result of a single period of construction at this time.[2] The castle passed to the crown in 1425, when Albany's son was executed, and was used as a royal hunting lodge and dower house. In the later 16th century, Doune became the property of the Earls of Moray. The castle saw military action during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms and Glencairn's rising in the mid-17th century, and during the Jacobite risings of the late 17th century and 18th century. By 1800 the castle was ruined, but restoration works were carried out in the 1880s, prior to its passing into state care in the 20th century. It is now maintained by Historic Environment Scotland. The castle has been used in many Dramas and Films Ivanhoe, Outlaw King and is probably most famous for being Winterfell in Game of Thrones and Castle Leoch in Outlander.

Doune was also famous for its manufacture of pistols, but this eventually ceased due to the competition of manufacturers in, for example, Birmingham where production was cheaper. Today, these pistols are collected and can be found in major museums, including the Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh. Allegedly a Doune pistol fired the first shot of the American War of Independence.

Great place to visit with a fantastic audio tour by Terry Jones, which really brings the place to life, and also adds extra details for any fans of Monty Python and the Holy Grail, which of course was filmed here in the large part. If by any chance you have forgotten to bring your coconut shells, they sell them in the gift shop. They also have a colony of African swallows, or are they European. Even more if you arrive by bike, buy tickets online and enter the code GOOD25 for 25% off admission