Learn More About Everything Old Smiddy
Old Smiddy Cottage sits in one of the darkest corners of the Trossachs, with almost no light pollution for miles in any direction. Whether you’re hoping to catch a glimpse of the Milky Way, watch the Geminids from a wood-fired hot tub, or simply see a full blanket of stars properly for the first time — here’s everything worth knowing about stargazing at Loch Katrine.
Rule one of a Scottish cottage holiday: bring a waterproof. Rule two: don’t buy the cheap midge spray. Our hosts’ packing guide covers both, plus what’s already in the cottage and a checklist for every season.
A new visitor levy is coming to Stirling in 2027 — but there’s a simple way to avoid it entirely. Here’s what it means for your stay at Old Smiddy Cottage, and why booking before January could save you money.
As the evenings draw in and the hills around Loch Katrine turn gold, there’s a particular kind of magic to lighting a wood-fired sauna and watching the light fade over the water. It’s slower than an electric sauna, more of a ritual than a quick warm-up, and autumn is when it really comes into its own. Discover why the cold Highland air makes the heat feel so much better, the genuine health benefits behind hot and cold therapy, and why a private sauna with Loch Katrine on the doorstep might just be the best wellness escape in the Trossachs this season.
The Trossachs has a better food and drink scene than most people expect. Here’s our honest guide to the best cafés and pubs within easy reach of Loch Katrine — from a lochside cafe at Stronachlachar Pier to a Michelin-recommended restaurant forty minutes up the road.
Most visitors to Loch Katrine follow the same route, see the same views, and head home. But look a little further and this corner of the Trossachs has a quieter side — hidden gems that reward the curious traveller willing to wander beyond the obvious.
Early spring around Loch Katrine isn’t dramatic. It’s quieter than that. If you’re looking for Spring Walks In Loch Katrine, this is when the area really starts to come into its own. You don’t get the full colour straight away — it sort of creeps in. The trees start to soften, the woodland paths dry out a bit, and suddenly you realise everything’s waking up again.
Winter in Scotland tends to be misunderstood. For a lot of people, it’s something to get through rather than look forward to. But once you step away from the idea that a holiday has to be busy or weather-perfect, winter starts to make much more sense — particularly if you’re staying somewhere quiet and remote.
There’s a certain magic the Trossachs keep tucked away for those who brave the quieter months. When winter settles over this timeless landscape, the hills draw closer, the lochs fall still, and the world seems to hold its breath. It’s a side of Scotland that summer visitors rarely witness — a raw, cinematic beauty wrapped in silence and frost. Winter here isn’t simply a season; it’s an atmosphere.
At Old Smiddy Cottage, the colder months aren’t for hiding away. They’re for embracing — for pulling on woollen socks, pouring a mug of something hot, and letting the world slow down for a while. Nestled on the banks of Loch Katrine, our stone cottage turns into a sanctuary of warmth and peace as winter rolls across the hills.
