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Autumn Colours in the Trossachs

29/10/2020

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Fantastic waterfall trail at David Marshall Centre

David Marshall centre from Appletree Self Catering Cottage
View from the car park of the David Marshall Centre
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.
David Marshall centre from Appletree self catering cottage
Main entrance to the David Marshall centre
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...
David Marshall Centre from Appletree luxury Self Catering Cottage
The Sitooterie (or sit out area) at David Marshall Centre
Autumn Colours Trossachs, Appletree Luxury Self Catering Cottage
Looking west from the David Marshall Centre. Above the cliffs in the distance, about a mile or two to the north lie the Aberfoyle Slate Quarries, setting for the "Bridge of Death" scene in Monty Python and the Holy Grail film.
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.
David Marshall Outward bound centre from Appletree Luxury Self Catering Cottage
Stunning views looking south can be had from the terrace of the David Marshall Centre
Waterfall from Appletree holiday home for eight
A helpful guide board on the Terrace of the David Marshall Centre shows the various path options available to reach the waterfall
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, 
Waterfall visit from Appletree Self Catering Cottage
Pretty burn runs under the path
Waterfall visit from Appletree Self Catering Holiday Cottage
Well made and maintained walk ways aid your journey through the woods
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.
Picture
One of the most imaginative bits - the mirrored figures in the woods. Can you make them out?
Waterfall visit from Appletree Holiday Rental for eight
A bridge over a burn
David Marshall centre from Appletree Holiday Cottage
Great colours are everywhere at this time of year.
Soon and quite suddenly we come upon the waterfall.  High and magnificent with a mass of white foaming water.
Picture
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.
Trossachs exploring from Appletree Luxury Self Catering Cottage
A badger pokes out of its set
Waterfall walk at David Marshall Centre
Deer graze amongst the fallen foliage
Go Ape from Appletree Holiday RentalA person in yellow and black traverses one of the longest zip wires in the UK as part of the Go Ape Tree Top experience.

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. 
Go Ape from Appletree Self Catering Cottage Loch Lomond
The entrance to Go Ape
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!
Loch Achray from Appletree self catering cottage for eight
Autumnal view down Loch Achray
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Apple time at Appletree Cottage

15/10/2020

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Apples Galore!

Apples at Appletree Self Catering cottage
Apples awaiting picking on a misty morning
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.
Quality apples at Appletree Luxury Self Catering Cottage
Iron in the soil enhances the redness of the Discovery apple
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.
Beauty at Appletree Luxury Holiday Cottage Loch Lomond
Beauty of Moray is a very popular variety when juiced.
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.
Apples at Appletree Luxury Self Catering Cottage for eight
Red apples awaiting pressing
Each year we do a pressing entirely of red varieties.  This produces quite. a red medium sweet juice.  Another very popular choice.
Apple juice at Appletree luxury holiday cottage Loch Lomond
A selection of bottles awaiting pasteurisation and labelling
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.
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  • HOME
  • SEE INSIDE
    • Why Appletree is fantastic!
  • STEP OUTSIDE
    • Local shops, pubs & eateries
    • About Shandon Farm
  • THINGS TO DO
    • Highland games dates
  • BOOK HERE!
  • ACCESSIBILITY
  • CONTACT US
  • BLOG & INFO