The short read – This is a tidy and peaceful campsite near Stirling and sitting in woodland just south of the village of Doune. With local walks and a farm shop and a castle nearby. it is perfect for a few days away in the ‘van.
We like the campsite and often use it as a one-night stop on the way north or south. Last time we decided to stay longer and explore the area.
The Campsite
Most of the pitches at Blair Drummond are within a sheltered walled garden. This was particularly welcome on our last visit as a gale blew across Scotland from the west. There are pitches around the outside of the walled garden too, but we have never tried any of these as we like the feel of the walled garden. The pitches are level and the hardstanding is surrounded by grass with tarmac roads around the site.
Everytime we have visited, the reception staff have been friendly, welcoming and helpful. They will give you a campsite leaflet with ideas for things to do and information about two walks, a long and short walk. It was this leaflet that inspired us to stay longer. Reception also has a small shop for basics and it is only a short way to a farm shop [see below].
The site has one facilities block. This is modern inside and kept clean. It is often wintery weather when we visit and we appreciate that the building is kept warm and the showers are good.
Things to do
The Short Walk – The campsite’s short walk through woodland will take you on winding paths through a woodland garden and eventually to the Smiddy Farm Shop, where you can grab a quick brew or lunch as well as buy good food. On our last visit we spent our first afternoon spotting spring flowers on this delightful walk. It was a sunny but blustery day and daffodils and primroses were emerging from the mossy ground. The route meandered among trees, up to an obelisk and around a cemetery.
Doune – This longer walk of around 9km is fairly level and easy. If you prefer to drive, there is a handy Park and Stride car park on the edge of Doune on the A84. The walk to Doune is mostly on tracks through the estate and takes you by Quarry Loch and the River Teith, with views of the castle. In the village there are a few shops and an information and heritage centre and the activities below. A stroll around the village might take you around the castle and over a stunning modern wooden bridge.
We are generally more informal teashop than hotel people but The Woodside Hotel advertised itself as unpretentious so we gave it a go. Even two scruffy campers were welcomed with a smile and this turned out to be a comfy place for coffee and scones.
Doune Ponds Nature Reserve, flooded gravel pits surrounded by woodland can be accessed from the Park and Stride car park, making it perfect for a stop and leg stretch on a longer journey. The reserve is taken care of by volunteers and there is a network of paths as well as benches for picnics and wildlife watching. Cross the A84 from the same car park and you can walk through woodland to the River Teith, opposite the distillery.
Doune Castle is certainly worth a visit. This solid castle was used for filming Monty Python and the Holy Grail in the 1970s and has been on our must-do list for years. At the entrance we were given an audio guide narrated by Python member Terry Jones. In his warm, comedic style Terry introduced us to the castle’s 14th century builder, Robert Stewart, the First Duke of Albany and the power behind the Scottish throne for years.
Doune Castle doubled up for a number of locations in the film and, along with the history, Terry Jones narrates stories from the shoots, interspersed with clips from the film. We were soon reminiscing and giggling in a corner of the sunny courtyard looking up to the battlements where they filmed the scene of a guard insulting Arthur and Sir Galahad. Doune is also Castle Leoch in Outlander and there is an audio guide for fans of that TV drama.
Even without a film interest Doune Castle turned out to be one of my favourite castles to visit. The Great Hall is impressive and I could picture lavish and rowdy dining here. I’m fairly sure if I had been a medieval woman I would be a kitchen maid and the castle kitchen has an intimidatingly large fireplace, easily big enough to roast a small and inept kitchen maid! We both found the grooves in the stone where cooks sharpened their knives and puzzled over the unusual double fireplace in the Duke’s Hall while in our ears Terry Jones mused on whether this was an early version of the two-bar electric fire.
We finished in the gift shop, laughing to see they sold coconut shells, which must baffle anyone who hasn’t seen Monty Python and the Holy Grail!
Deanston Distillery – We haven’t visited this distillery but it has an interesting and unusual history. The 18th century buildings were originally a cotton mill, which closed in 1965. The owner saw the potential of the riverside position of the old buildings and opened Deanston Distillery a year later. Tours are available.
For more information about the campsite, visit their website.
Back on the road again 