A BRAND new Faerie Trail aimed at encouraging people to visit Luss to enjoy the great outdoors launches this weekend.

The Loch Lomond Faerie Trail has been developed on the river and quarry pathways around the picturesque village on the banks of Loch Lomond.

Local landowner Luss Estates is hoping that the new trail will prove the perfect attraction for families looking to get out and about in the area as the Easter holiday period approaches fast.

Visitors on the trail will be able to seek out just some of the faeries who live in the atmospheric woodlands around the village on a magical adventure to explore the mythical creatures’ home ground.

The wooden faerie houses around the trail were all hand-made specifically for the new attractions and have been carefully fitted around the woodland paths in time for this weekend’s opening.

But beware: as well as friendly faeries, on your walk around the trail you’re also likely to stumble across some of the menacing trolls who were left behind when the Vikings invaded Scotland hundreds of years ago – and who now roam throughout the hills and glens of the Highlands.

An accompanying booklet is available to buy from the trail’s official website – lochlomondfaerietrail.com – and hard copies of the booklet can also be purchased from Loch Lomond Adventures, located in the main car park in the centre of Luss village.

The booklet is a guide through the trail - solving puzzles and answering questions throughout. On completing the booklet you can collect your Loch Lomond Faerie Trail certificate and enter into a prize draw for faerie gifts.

Luss General Store will have a selection of Faerie gifts to purchase including beautiful Fair Trade fairies, pixies, dream catchers and fairy doors and biodegradable fairy glitter.

To mark the opening weekend on March 24 and 25, some especially lively faeries will be hiding around the trail – and there will also be magical face painting too, on both Saturday and Sunday from 9am until 5pm.

Patrick Colquhoun, head of retail and leisure at Luss Estates, said: “We are really excited to be opening Loch Lomond Faerie Trail on the pathways around Luss.

“We receive so many visitors to Luss every year and the Faerie Trail will give families an engaging outdoor activity to enjoy in our beautiful countryside.

“At Luss Estates we are committed to building for the future through our stewardship of the land and support for the local environment.

“We hope Loch Lomond Faerie Trail will help young people to interact with the wonders of nature and grow respect for our spectacular surroundings.”