Callander

The Trossachs' southern gateway feels more like a Highland village that's grown up than a typical Scottish town. Callander sits where rolling farmland meets serious mountains, and you can sense the shift - one minute you're browsing the high street, the next you're planning which peak to tackle first.

Beinn Dearg towers above the town proper, offering cracking views for those willing to make the climb. Less ambitious souls might prefer pottering around Port of Menteith or exploring the atmospheric ruins of Castle Rusky. The town itself has that proper Highland feel without being too remote - there's still a Tesco if you've forgotten the teabags.

Water features heavily here. Loch Letter provides decent fishing, while the smaller Lochan Balloch makes for a gentle afternoon walk. Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee Cairn reminds you this area's been drawing visitors for well over a century, though thankfully the crowds thin out once you head into the surrounding hills.

Getting here's straightforward enough - it's roughly an hour north of Glasgow and well-connected by the A84. The town serves as an excellent base for exploring Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, with most of the serious hiking within easy striking distance.

Staying at one of the nearby holiday parks makes perfect sense. Callander Woods Holiday Park puts you right on the doorstep, while spots like Keltie Bridge Caravan Park offer a quieter alternative just outside town. You'll want somewhere to collapse after a day on Tom an Eòrna or Ben Gullipen - and somewhere with proper facilities when the Highland weather turns, which it inevitably will.