Loch Lomond.
The most famous Loch in Scotland is only 8 miles away. Turn right just past the square in Drymen and it is five minutes along the road. This will take you up the east side of the loch. The first village you come to is Balmaha. Here you will find McFarlane’s Boat Yard where you can get a boat over to some of the many islands. The most popular is Inchailloch. Most people walk over to the other side of the island, through a beautiful forest, where there is a sandy beach. From Balloch you can take the narrow road on to the road end at Rowardennan. There is a hotel here with meals available, but it is from here you would park the car to climb Ben Lomond. This is Scotland’s most southerly Munro (a mountain over 3000 ft high, named after the man who categorised them). This is well worth a climb, but not for the faint hearted. Views can be fantastic, and you don’t need to go all the way up to see some of the best ones.
Alternatively you can travel to the west side of the loch and visit the newly opened Loch Lomond Shores Visitors Centre at Balloch. There is much to see here, including an IMAX film on the history of the loch and that famous song. Good food and selective shopping is also available on site. There is a good children’s play area for when they get bored.
Travel further round the west side of the loch and you will get the chance to visit Cameron House Hotel, a five star hotel with time share. Telephone number is 01389 755565. No doubt good food and a great leisure club. The leisure club is only available if you are a member of another De Vere Hotel leisure club. Next to the hotel is Duck Bay marina. This is a regular haunt for people coming out from Glasgow for the day. Again some food and selective shopping available, but you mainly go there for the view. Further on and you will get to Tarbet. Here you turn right to go further up the loch, right up to Crianlarich, or go straight on for the road over to Loch Long. This was the loch where the Americans kept there nuclear submarines. There is a very eerie trip you can make through Glen Douglas (turn left just after Inverbeg). It was off the road (on the left as you travel toward Loch Long) where the nuclear arsenals were kept in bunkers carved out of the hills. Beautiful scenery juxtaposed with nuclear weapons!!!!
Continue to travel up the lochside and half way between Tarbet and Crianlarich you will come to a great pub with no airs and graces called the Drovers. It is in a small village called Inveranan. The bar staff all wear kilts and it looks and feels as if you have stepped back 300 years. Watch out for the geese that they use as guard dogs. There bite is definitely worse than their bark!!
Loch Katrine.
This is about 12 miles away, and twenty minutes beyond Aberfoyle. Follow the road to the right at the end of the main road in Aberfoyle. This goes up the hill past David Marshall Lodge. There is an interesting visitor’s centre that tells you of the project that brought water to north Glasgow. You can take the Sir Walter Scott up Loch Katrine. The boat leaves regularly and takes around two hours. Alternatively you can hire bikes on site and cycle up the loch side.
Loch Ard.
This is half an hour away by road, through Aberfoyle and follow signs
for Kinlochard. Alternatively you could cycle here in about the same time
through the forest. Take the OS map with you (and a phone). Arguably the
most beautiful loch in the area, where motor sports are banned, so you
are guaranteed peace and quite. You can hire rowing boats, canoes and
wind surfers from the time share hotel on the shore of the loch. The hotel
is Forest Hills, phone for details of what is available. 01877 387277.
Lake of Menteith.
The only lake in Scotland is a fifteen minute drive away. Drive through Gartmore and head toward Aberfoyle. Turn right at the Rob Roy Hotel and the lake is five minutes along on the right. We recommend the boat trip to Inchmahome Priory an island monastery on the lake. Look out for the ospreys and many waterfowl species. The lake is well stocked with fish and it is possible to hire a boat for fishing. At the end of the loch, celebrity chef Nick Nairn has his cook school.
Edinburgh and Glasgow.
The two largest cities in Scotland. They both have many reasons why you should spend a day there. See guide books in the cottage for more details.
Stirling is also a great place to spend the day. Again,
see the guidebooks for more information.
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