I spent most of a week recently on holiday in the Trossachs in Scotland.  Lucky enough not to be rained on, nor bitten by midges (timed it just right)  and well able to enjoy the lush countryside, the watery brooks, lochs and dam, and also the broad and mighty mountainsides from the steam ship The Walter Scott on Loch Katrine.  Loving the natural world here, seeing horned Highland Cows, watching scatty curly horned sheep and a rather domineering greater spotted woodpecker, and desperately trying to spot a golden eagle (like I was ever going to LOL).  One highlight for us was a squirrel hide, set up so that visitors to the David Marshall Lodge (a natural park) could witness the antics of the pesky red squirrel, and even four at once at one time!

Castlerigg Stone Circle in the Lake District

Service Station Crow

Only I could be found taking multiple pictures by the car of a ragged crow at a service station car park for more art reference!

So the perfect location to stay as we did is The Ridings at Brig O Turk, which is in the middle of everything you need whilst in the middle of the lush countryside, with the Ben Venue mountain as a backdrop.  Beautiful walks, the local pub (The Byre) and the Brig O Turk Cafe with legendary cream cakes!