Little Fawn Waterfall

If we were sensible we would have taken today's trip on Friday instead of the Border Bus to Gala that was enjoyed in that day's sunshine. There might have been more golden leaves on the trees before Storm Ashley but, of course, this waterfall may not have been so impressive then.

So today we took our Annual Autumn Colours trip, this time to The Lodge Forest Visitor Centre, near Aberfoyle, which sounded lovely. And it was, in many ways, but the first thing we heard and saw was the megaphoned instructions to the Go Ape zipwire, on our way to the centre. Indeed, the sounds of people on it penetrated some areas of the walk.

But there were compensations - autumn colours were present if not in abundance; special effects of sunshine twinkling through raindrops hanging from twigs and branches; the waterfall itself, on the Allt a' Mhangam (Little Fawn) burn; the birds (many coal tits, blue tits, a pair of chaffinch and tree-creepers. Oh, and red squirrels (see extra).

To be honest, these were seen from a hide at a feeding station of several hanging feeders containing sunflower seeds, many peanut-filled tree-mounted box feeders and several scattered piles of peanuts. A sighting was almost guaranteed but we felt lucky to have witnessed the squirrels (or the same one twice).

There are other signed trails besides the Waterfall Trail but we wandered back up to the visitor centre for lunch, freshly-prepared and delicious, overlooking the forest and its autumny trees.

From there, heading north, we had intended to take the Three Lakes Forest Drive but signage informed us that it was unavailable, so we continued to Lochs Achray and Venachar' fetching up at Callander for a stroll along the high street. Having discovered an access (and another car park) took a potter by the river to feed a couple of cygnets, a multitude of mallard and a gaggle of gulls and a goosander (though she wandered off after a few bites) before returning to the car.

From there it was an easy drive home, to bring in the three lines of towels hung out before we left, which, though not fully dry, will be so after an hour or two in the sunroom.

It may not have been as spectacular as last year's trip most enjoyable and I got some steps in and walked up slopes without puffing.