2 Best Sights in Callander, Stirling and the Central Highlands

A 20-minute drive from Callander, through the Pass of Leny and beyond Strathyre, the lovely Balquhidder Glen (pronounced bal-kwidd-er) is a typical Highland glen, with a flat-bottom, U-shaped profile, indicating it was formed by prehistoric glaciers. This was MacGregor country, the most famous of whom was Rob Roy MacGregor, the Jacobite hero who is buried in the churchyard here. It is also walkers country, and several walkers routes pass through here. Gentler walks will take you to Kirkton Glen, past Monachyle Mhor, after the road ends. From there the view opens toward the mountain country around Ben More, where the hardier, well-equipped hill walker may prefer to go.

This is one of those eccentric museums born of one person's (or one family's) passionate obsession. The small, crowded house and shop on Callander's main street contains one of the most extensive toy collections in Britain. The rooms throughout the house are crammed with everything from Corgi cars and an enormous number of toy soldiers, carefully organized by regiment, to Amanda Jane dolls and Beatles memorabilia. The collection of model railways has extended into tracks in the back garden. The museum is jammed and quirky, but full of reminders of everyone's childhood.