Drymen is a conservation village in the Stirling council area on the eastern shore of Loch Lomond, the last significant settlement on the West Highland Way before the National Park boundary at Balmaha. The village square with its stone inn, church and terraced houses is surrounded by the hedged pasture of the Endrick Water valley; the Buchanan estate woodland adds sycamore, lime and sweet chestnut. The lochside willows and alder of Balmaha carry a spring flow; bilberry and heather cover the Ben Lomond foothills above the loch; and bramble is prolific on the West Highland Way verges through the village and beyond.
Collectors attend swarms in the village square garden borders and stone cottage eaves, along the Endrick Water willows on the lanes toward Croftamie, in the Buchanan estate parkland and stone-walled garden margins, and on the gorse and bramble scrub on the West Highland Way approach to Balmaha.
Nearest BBKA-affiliated associations to help with swarm collection and local advice.
CA6 4HN· approx. 156 km
Visit websiteCA13 0AU· approx. 171 km
CA24 3HZ· approx. 181 km
Visit websiteAssociation data sourced from the British Beekeepers Association directory via SwarmBase.
Oilseed rape on the Carse of Stirling carries the early flow. Sycamore and hawthorn fill the hedges; the lime avenues of Stirling, Bridge of Allan and Callander provide a classic June crop. Bracken-fringed oakwoods give bilberry; the Trossachs and Ochils contribute bell and ling heather in August. Bramble is dense in the sheltered valleys; ivy on old stone walls closes a long season given the northern latitude.
More on beekeeping in StirlingReport it in under a minute and a trained local beekeeper will arrange safe collection.
