Callander – An Unforgettable Vacation Destination
If you are thinking of visiting the eastern side of the Trossachs National Park in Scotland, you will likely already be considering Callander as a tourist resort. This stunning little highland town is filled with B&Bs, log cabins, lodges and self-catering cottages, making it the ideal place to stay when visiting Perthshire or the Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park. Callander is considered to be the eastern gateway to the park and it is often the first choice when it comes to finding accommodation in the area.
People have been living in the area now known as Callander from the earliest times. Recently excavated sites have revealed that the first farming communities in the area were probably here as early as 4000 B.C. Over the years people continued to see Callander as being an excellent place to settle. There is even evidence of a Roman camp from the time when the Roman Empire stretched to every corner of the then known world. During the sixth century, several people saw fit to preach and teach to the heathens living in this far off land. This led to the establishment of the first church and missionary building in the area that was later merged with the pre-reformation church in Callander. This small settlement was certainly not spared from the rest of Scotland’s history and it was ruled over by Lords, took part in the Jacobite rising of 1745 and became a soldiers’ settlement after the seven years war. When people came to settle here they brought with them trades and skills that could be used to produce an income and further the village’s growth. Tourism in Callander started soon after the unique beauty of the Trossachs was captured in literature. Suddenly people from various corners of Scotland were traveling here by coach just to enjoy the abundance of nature that could be found here. Tourism and infrastructure further increased after the arrival of Sir Walter Scott who subsequently published the book ‘The Lady of the Lake’ further immortalizing the allure of the region.
Today Callander serves as the main eastern gateway to the beautiful Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park. Callander has also been slated to become the main headquarters for the park, which will undoubtedly have a massive effect on the growth of the town. In the meantime Callander continues to be a popular tourist attraction with people enjoying the natural abundance in the area as well as a number of great attractions found here. These include the Hamilton Toy Museum, the Rob Roy Tourist and Visitor Information Centre, the Callander Woollen Mills, the Callander Ramblers, the Callander meadows and old railtrack to Strathyre and the Lubnaig and Venachar Lochs.
