Aberfoyle Main Street
Take a walk along Main Street in Aberfoyle and enjoy browsing in the brightly coloured shops, selling treats and souvenirs. A recent resurgence of the Gateway to the Trossachs has not gone unnoticed, gaining extensive press and media coverage.
Local people have poured their energies into the village. Buildings that were previously empty and neglected have reopened bringing a new lease of life to the popular village. Meanwhile, new initiatives, including cycling events have been drawing new visitors into Aberfoyle.
Along Main Street, you will find Aberfoyle Bike Hire, Walter & Betty, The Station Coffee Shop, Intrepid Outdoor Shop and Maggie’s Aberfoyle Kitchen. These together with Liz MacGregor’s Coffee Shop, The Forth Inn, Faerie Tree Inn, Aberfoyle Inn, The Wee Tablet Shop, Aberfoyle Delicatessen & Trossachs Butcher, Post Office, Aberfoyle Visitor Centre, Scottish Wool Centre and Co-op mini supermarket provide a great resource for both locals and visitors.
The collection of shops bring vibrant colour to Main Street, a local designer has hand-made the signs. Maybe the brightest is Walter & Betty with its yellow walls. Named after Walter, a former Aberfoyle resident who appeared in the Rob Roy film and with kilt and long grey beard is now the pin-up icon of the shop. You can buy postcards and posters of the dashing gentleman that inspired the shop name.
Walter & Betty
Maggies
The Station is a St Mocha Coffee Shop, built and run by the family who launched their popular coffee brand in Balmaha and introduced a unique version for Aberfoyle. Their Loch Lomond Coffee Co is the first and only coffee roasting facility in Loch Lomond. Its symbol is a red squirrel, is appropriate as they and their customers are generously supporting the conservation of these beautiful animals with donations to charity the Friends of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs.
Their coffee shop is in the old Station buildings, blending a contemporary feel with a nod to the heritage of Aberfoyle, thanks to memorabilia and classic old photographs on the walls. It was of course the arrival of the railway that had led to a previous heyday of the village.
The Station, Aberfoyle
Aberfoyle Bike Hire
Next door you will find Maggie, hard at work in her kitchen making jams and shortbread. If you want evidence of the popularity of her shop have a look through the guest book. People from all over the world leaving positive comments. One mother and daughter visiting from Pennsylvania were even inspired to start up a similar shop when they returned home!
Whilst on Main Street, call into the Aberfoyle I Centre, a large visitor information centre that was opened as part of the initiative that created the Trossachs Trail in the 1990s. There is a special Trossachs Trail exhibition in the centre, featuring a fascinating display about this beautiful and historic part of Scotland.
As immediately apparent with the views from Main Street the beautiful scenery is close by. Make sure you support this and other local towns and villages in the Trossachs before or after your adventures in the countryside.
