Visit Loch Leven Tourism Forum

Stunningly beautiful and easily accessible, the Loch Leven area is a perfect base for holidaymakers in the heart of Scotland.

Set in a convenient central location, Loch Leven offers visitors excellent value for money and combines all the ingredients essential for a fun-filled yet relaxing Scottish break, no matter your age or interests as there are activities and accommodation near Loch Leven to suit every taste.

Scottish tourism hotspots such as Edinburgh, Glasgow, Stirling, Dundee, Perth and St Andrews are all less than one hour’s drive away - perfect for culture and couture day trips!  Base your holiday in Loch Leven and you’ll be ideally placed to take advantage of everything that central Scotland has to offer visitors from home and abroad.

So what is it that makes Loch Leven such a popular base for tourists visiting the heart of Scotland? Well, firstly, there’s the legendary warm welcome and superb hospitality that await guests in the many hotels, restaurants, B&Bs and coffee shops to be found in the county town of Kinross and nearby villages such as Milnathort, Crook of Devon, Powmill, Scotlandwell, Kinnesswood and Falkland. 

Two of the most popular attractions are the Heritage Trail and Loch Leven Castle:

Loch Leven Heritage Trail is a unique trail linking natural, historic and cultural heritage around Loch Leven.   

After ten years of planning and hard work, the trail is now complete and the complete circuit of Loch Leven is now fully open to the public. The last of the interpretation art is in place. These include two sculpted engraved stone benches outside the East Brackley Viewpoint accompanied by a stone sphere one metre in diameter which has engraved on it a selection of the migratory birds that visit Loch Leven. The artist for both works was David Wilson from Perth.

Also installed at the Kinross Mill end of the Trail is a Railway Heritage feature by Elements Creative Workshop from Duns which is a picture engraved onto wood of an old photograph of a railway engine standing on the exact spot of the old Kinross railway sidings. Another feature that has been added since the trail opening is the Sand Martin bank. You can find this installation around 500 metres from the Mill junction between an existing pond and the new pond with the seat looking over to the Castle. We have had reports of Sand Martins in the area but no sightings of it being used yet.

Level and barrier-free for most of its length, the Trail is suitable for walkers of all ages and abilities, for cyclists, for wheelchair and motorised scooter users.

Lochleven Castle is the well-preserved ruins of a medieval castle, situated on a small island in Loch Leven.

The castle is probably best known for its association with Mary Queen of Scots. She visited here as a guest several times during her reign and it was here she debated with John Knox in 1563, probably in the great hall of the tower house. Her longest visit began in June 1567, when Mary was imprisoned here for nearly a year after her surrender at Carberry (she had faced much opposition to her rule during her short reign).  During her time there she miscarried twins and was forced to abdicate her throne in favour of her son James VI (and future I of England). Mary escaped in May 1568, with the help of Willy Douglas, who looked after the boats. However, within a fortnight of her escape, Mary’s forces were defeated at Langside and she was forced into exile in England.