Travel bucket list idea:
Scotland, United Kingdom (UK)
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Scotland’s largest loch stretches for 24 watery miles of jaw-dropping scenic splendour – just a short hop from Glasgow.
Part of the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park (Scotland’s first national park), and sprinkled with no fewer than 30 islands, Loch Lomond offers a one-stop shop for water-based outdoor activities from sailing to canoeing, kayaking to windsurfing and more leisurely cruises across the water.
On its eastern shore rises Ben Lomond, the country’s most southerly – and popular – Munro, soaring to a height of 3,176ft.
Check out the romantic tree-tangled ruins of Buchanan Castle outside the village of Drymen. The ancestral seat of the Duke of Montrose, Hitler’s deputy Rudolf Hess was imprisoned here in 1941.
Having a car is handy to allow you to explore the area, but you can also catch the train from Glasgow to Balloch or take the bus; both journeys take around 45 minutes.
The crowds of daytrippers can be suffocating during the summer in the main centres such as Balloch, and the picture postcard village of Luss. Take an old wooden ferry from Balmaha Boatyard to Inchcailloch, an island in the middle of the loch, and leave the crowds behind.
Another place to escape the crowds is the Balloch Castle Country Park, 200 acres of walled gardens, ornamental woodland and a spectacular rhododendron display in spring with views out over the loch
After all that exploring, head for sustenance to the Loch Lomond Arms Hotel, a revamped 17th-century coaching inn and part of the Luss Estate. Most of the ingredients on the menu are sourced from the estate from the venison to the veg grown in the grounds.
The summer months are of course the busiest and its proximity to Glasgow means that at weekends and during the July and August school holidays it’s hard to escape the crowds of daytrippers.
Try to visit midweek or in the spring or autumn. Even during the peak months, however, by taking a boat trip you can leave the hordes behind.
Destination guides including or relevant to this experience
Scottish Highlands, United Kingdom (UK)
Magnificent mountain scenery slashed by silvery lochs and peppered with brooding castles: all laden with rich Scottish heritage, history and tradition. Drive the NC500 road trip, or ride on the spectacular West Highland Line.
