David Marshall Lodge is just north of Aberfoyle on the famous Duke's Pass road, about fifteen to twenty minutes from Appletree Cottage.  Once going through the picturesque village of Aberfoyle turn right, just after the Coop and go up the hill, heading north for about a mile.  The David Marshall Centre is on the right.

The David Marshall Lodge Visitor Centre was established in the 1960s as a new brand of outdoor centre.  David Marshall was then the chairman of the Carnegie Trust and funds for the trust built the centre.  There is a restaurant, a sit out picnic area a red squirrel feeding station and numerous walks through the woods.  It is also the location of Go=Ape tree top experience with one of the longest zip wires in the UK - see below...

The Trossachs has been host to many films - a couple of the more memorable are Monty Python and the Holy Grail and the Kenneth More version of the Thirty Nine Steps as well as the most recent version.  All inspired by fantastic scenery.  As the David Marshall Centre is in an elevated position the views are quite awesome.

From the terrace a well made path leads down the the valley floor where timber walk ways and bridges take you over the boggy bits and the little picturesque  bubbling burns, 

Throughout the walk there are interesting sculptures here and there.  One of the most interesting was a number of human figures made out of mirror which appeared like ghosts in the woods.

Soon and quite suddenly we come upon the waterfall.  High and magnificent with a mass of white foaming water.

Throughout the walk there have been good bits for kids.  A badger pokes out if its set whilst a couple of roe deer graze in the autumn leaves.  There is also a game of water channeling and many sculptures to amuse the young.

As we made our way up the hill back to the David Marshall Centre we noticed people flying through the treetops at some speed.  These were visitors to Go Ape - a fantastic tree top experience with high walkways and swings through the upper branches of the mature forest as well as one of the longest and perhaps the most attractive zip wire in the UK. 

So at the end of our waterfall walk we jumped back in the car and followed the road to the north end of Dukes Pass where we got this fantastic view down Loch Achray.  
Truly fantastic scenery, all so close to Appletree Cottage!

Its Harvest Time at Shandon Farm and Appletree Cottage.  The trees have begun dropping their fruit so its time to pick.  There are around 350 trees on the farm with 48 varieties of apples including many old Scottish varieties.

The soil in some parts of the farm has quite a high iron content which can mean that the red apples turn out very red!  The variety shown here is Discovery.

Once the apples are picked they are juiced, bottled pasteurised and sold locally.  One favourite is a variety called Beauty of Moray which is shown here.  A green dual purpose apple (cooker and eater) it produces a very clear sharp fruity juice.  Once tasted many people come back for more.

Each year we do a pressing entirely of red varieties.  This produces quite. a red medium sweet juice.  Another very popular choice.

The bottles we sell contain pure apple juice and nothing else - no sweetness, preservatives, salt or pepper.  Just pure apple juice.  
Once bottled the juice is pasteurised which means a bottle will keep for over a year.
In addition to the apple juices we produce apple jellies and marmalades - again from our own fruit.
Be sure to ask about our produce when you come to stay at Appletree Cottage.