Loch Lomond

From Imakoopedia

Loch Lomond is the second largest loch of Scotland and probably the most famous after Loch Ness. It is part of the Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park, Scotland's first national park. It is a beautiful region to take a break from the stressful modern life and to just relax. To the north-east lie the Trossachs with its Loch Katerine and Loch Array.

Table of contents

1 Cities 2 Get in 3 Get around 4 See 5 Do 6 Eat 7 Drink 8 Sleep 8.1 Budget 9 Get out 10 External links

Cities

• Balloch -- Balloch located at the southern end of Loch Lomond and can be seen as the informational center. The TIC can help you plan your stay and provide you with close-area maps.
• Luss -- a town without any attractions other than its beautiful appearance and cottages, which are still worth a visit
• Rowardennan -- this town makes a great base to explore Ben Lomond
• Alexandria

Get in

• There is a train station in Balloch, which links to Glasgow

Get around

To enjoy the nature, it is best to go by bike. Buses run along the Loch, but not very frequent. You should check the departure-times first, as there are not informations at the stops.

See

• Loch Lomond Shores, Balloch, 01389-722406. A gateway center for Loch Lomond with an information center, an educational cinema, shops and a view across the Loch. Lomond Shores Project (http://www.lomondshores.com)
• Balloch Castle Country Park, Balloch. The first park in the national park with a castle you can visit. The castle itself only has two accessible rooms with only little information about the castle , but rather some educational informations about the national park. It was built in the early 20th century to replace the old castle located further down the hill, and only served as a manor house.
• Luss Village Paths, Luss (along the A82). A beautiful town with four walks around town and a sandy beach. A map can be picked up at Balloch TIC or at the Luss Visitor Information.

Do

• Cycling is probably the best outdoor activity besides hiking. The Lowland Highland Trail, which is part of the National Cycle Network Route 7 starts from Balloch, going north to Drymen, Aberfoyle, Callander, Strathyre, Lochearnhead and Killin. Free leaflets with a map of the bike trail can be picked up at TICs along the trail. There is another cycle path along the western shores of Loch Lomond. Bikes can be hired at the Loch Lomond Shores (see above).
• Hiking is also a good idea. You could for example go to Rowardennan and then hike up Scotland's second highest mountain, Ben Lomond.

Eat

Drink

Sleep

Budget

• Loch Lomond Youth Hostel, A82 (opposite side of Duck Bay Marina), 0870 004 1136. The hostel could be an attraction itself, as it is an impressive country house. £12.50-14.00/5.00-12.00 (Adult/Child). Opened March-October. SYHA information and booking (http://syha.org.uk/syha/web/site/Hostels/LochLomond.asp)
• Rowardennan Youth Hostel, Rowardennan, 0870 004 1148. Located at the banks of Loch Lomond, it can be used as a base to climb Ben Lomond. £10.50-12.00/5.00-9.00 (Adult/Child). Opened March-October. SYHA information and booking (http://syha.org.uk/syha/web/site/Hostels/Rowardennan.asp)

Get out

• Dumbarton Castle, Dumbarton (take the A82 south), 01389 732167. It features a castle on top of a rock, overlooking the Firth of Clyde. It was an important royal refuge. Historic Scotland information (http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/properties_sites_detail.htm?propertyID=PL_100)
• Buchanan Castle, Drymen (along the A811, enter through the gate of Buchanan Castle Golf Course). A ruin of an beautiful castle, which cannot be entered (danger of falling apart). Sadly, it is not getting maintained or repaired, but is worth a peek.
• Inchmahome Priory, Lake of Menteith (along the A81), 01877 385294. A Augustinian monastery on an island, where Mary Stuart once hid from Henry the VIII. A ferry runs to the island, but is only operated in Summer. Historic Scotland information (http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/properties_sites_detail.htm?propertyID=PL_157)

External links

Loch Lomond Shores (http://www.lochlomondshores.com/)