Kinlochard

Kinlochard
Scottish Village
Kinlochard is located in Stirling
Kinlochard
Kinlochard
Location within the Stirling council area
Population150 [1]
OS grid referenceNN454022
Civil parish
Council area
Lieutenancy area
CountryScotland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townSTIRLING
Postcode districtFK8
Dialling code01877
PoliceScotland
FireScottish
AmbulanceScottish
UK Parliament
Scottish Parliament

Kinlochard is small village in Stirlingshire, Western/Central Scotland.[2] It is located at the western end of Loch Ard (near Aberfoyle), approximately 25 miles north of Glasgow (as the crow flies).[3] The village is in Strathard, which stretches from near the northern end of Loch Lomond, south, to near Gartmore.[4] The name Kinlochard can be broken into three parts - "Kin", derived from the Gaelic word "ceann" meaning "head", loch, and ard. Put together, it means "Head of Loch Ard".[5]

Population

According to the 2001 census,[6] Kinlochard has a population of 584, though a more recent estimation in the Community Life Plan suggests the population to be closer to ~150. This was based on participation in community consultations and online questionnaires.

School Life

Source:[7]

Schools Attended By Kinlochard Residents
Age Stage School
3-5 years Nursery Aberfoyle Nursery[8]
5-12 years Primary Aberfoyle Primary[9]
12-18 years Secondary McLaren High[10]

Aberfoyle Nursery & Primary (located on the same premises)[11] is approximately 4 miles away from Kinlochard (in Aberfoyle)[12]. Most pupils who attend the primary school from Kinlochard use the council contracted taxi from the village to the school.[13]

McLaren High School[10] is approximately 15 miles away from Kinlochard[13]. It is located in Callander[14]. Pupils get to McLaren from Kinlochard by also using a council contracted taxi[15] which takes the pupils part of the way, to Aberfoyle, where they then get on a larger Midland Bluebird run M4 bus route[15], taking them the rest of the way.

Village Hall

Kinlochard Village Hall[16] was first built 1958 on land that was gifted to the village by the Joynston family. In 2011, the hall was upgraded and extended and remains like this to this day. Funds for the renovation were raised over 10 years with many grant applications and events. Most of the funding came from the Kinlochard annual Highland Games, which no longer take place. It is a registered charity (SC024877). The hall is community run, and managed by the Village Hall Committee.[17] The village hall is opposite a lochside field which becomes very popular during the summer. You can book the hall for events such as weddings, retreats, parties, and more.[18]

The Field Project

In early 2026, Kinlochard took community ownership of 'The Field' after years of efforts. The land was set to be developed on, which raised concerns among locals for the wellbeing of the land and it's ecosystem. The land is now protected.[19]

Transport

Historically, Kinlochard was well served by a local bus route connecting it to places such as Aberfoyle, though this service was lost and Kinlochard remained unconnected until early 2026 when a new bus service, operated by Stirling Council, began serving Kinlochard and surrounding villages. The C61 route connects Kinlochard to two main hubs - Aberfoyle and Callander.[20]

References

  1. ↑ 2022 Community Plan
  2. ↑ "Kinlochard Visitor Guide - Accommodation, Things To Do & More". www.visitscotland.com. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
  3. ↑ "Kinlochard · Stirling FK8 3TL, UK". Kinlochard · Stirling FK8 3TL, UK. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
  4. ↑ "Strathard · United Kingdom". Strathard · United Kingdom. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
  5. ↑ "Kinloch Surname Meaning & Kinloch Family History at Ancestry.co.uk®". www.ancestry.co.uk. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
  6. ↑ https://www.scotlandscensus.gov.uk/documents/2001-census-data-all-areas/
  7. ↑ "School admissions". GOV.UK. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
  8. ↑ "Aberfoyle Nursery". Stirling Council.
  9. ↑ "Schools Web Directory: Aberfoyle Primary School". schoolswebdirectory.co.uk.
  10. 1 2 "McLaren High School - Home Page". www.mclarenhigh.co.uk.
  11. ↑ "Google Maps". Google Maps. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
  12. ↑ "Kinlochard to Aberfoyle Primary School". Kinlochard to Aberfoyle Primary School. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
  13. 1 2 "School travel". Stirling Council. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
  14. ↑ "McLaren High School - Home Page". www.mclarenhigh.co.uk. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
  15. 1 2 "McLaren High School - Travel Information". www.mclarenhigh.co.uk. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
  16. ↑ "Kinlochard". Kinlochard.
  17. ↑ "Kinlochard". Kinlochard. Retrieved 30 November 2025.
  18. ↑ "Kinlochard". Kinlochard. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
  19. ↑ "The Field Project - Kinlochard". The Field - Kinlochard. Retrieved 17 June 2026.
  20. ↑ "C61 route and timetable". Stirling Council. Retrieved 17 June 2026.