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At 23 miles long, Loch Lomond is the largest inland body of water in Great Britain and is at the heart of Scotland's first national park. The surrounding hillsides are the sites of many ancient clan feuds & Highland gatherings. Loch Lomond's reputation as one of the world's most romantic places has come through the words of generations of travellers who have explored the shores and surrounding hillsides. The area was first popularised by the writings of Sir Walter Scott in the early 19th century.
William Wordsworth and Gerald Manley Hopkins have both praised the areas outstanding natural beauty. The song "Bonnie Banks 0' Loch Lomon' " was written about the loch and refers to two of Bonnie Prince Charlie's men left behind in Carlisle after his retreat from England. One was to be executed, the other released. The spirit of the dead soldier travelling by the 'low road' would reach Scotland before his comrade, struggling over miles of high, rugged country.
The loch straddles the Highland Boundary Line - a fault that divides the highlands from the lowlands. The line runs directly across the loch and explains the change in surrounding hillsides from rolling hills in the south to rugged fjord-like mountains to the north.
The loch provides for many activities including fishing, walking and cruising. On the shores of the loch stretch five miles of gentle, all-weather path way to stroll along and enjoy the scenery.
Ben Lomond.
Ben Lomond is the southern most Munro in the Highlands, and
standing at 974 metres high, dominates the landscape around the loch. The Ben
and surrounding hills are excellent places for the more adventurous and
energetic walkers. The hills are home to a large selection of wildlife amongst
the woodlands and heather.
Tarbet.
Tarbet has a
Tourist Information
Office, Post Office, restaurants, tea rooms and a picnic park. The park has
ample free parking and from here you can take a boat cruise on the loch. Queen
Victoria described Tarbet as "a small town" with "splendid passes, richly wooded
and the highest mountains rising behind".
Take a train from Tarbet and enjoy the ultimate in scenic touring. Take a day trip on the West Highland Line north to Fort William and beyond. An experience not to be missed!
Arrochar.
Arrochar is a welcome and hospitable rural Highland village nestling between Loch Long and rugged mountain peaks. Arrochar was once home to the savage MacFarlane clan and was the landing site of Viking raiding parties. From here, they would roll their long boats over land on logs to Tarbet and Loch Lomond, from where they could advance further inland.
Luss.
Take the high road to Luss, just short drive from Lomond Castle. Luss is the setting for Scottish Television's "Take the High Road" programme, and is a very popular with couples who come to Luss Parish Church to get married.
Helensburgh.
Helensburgh is an elegant Victorian town, once described as a "museum of
villas". These "villas" are fine houses built by Victorian entrepreneurs using
wealth generated in Glasgow. The finest of these houses is
Charles Rennie Mackintosh's Hill House.
Helensburgh is also the birthplace of John Logie Baird, the inventor of television.
Helensburgh boasts a promenade, a pier for ferries, an unusual range of individual shops, and the largest selection of coffee shops on the north Clyde shore.
Glasgow.
Glasgow is renowned for it's pubs and nightlife. The many clubs
and nightspots are both up-to-date and fashion conscience. Glasgow also enjoys a
lively and cosmopolitan restaurant scene. During the day, Glasgow has a wide and
varied shopping choice, and numerous art galleries, museums and visitors
centres. These include the Art Gallery, the Museum of Transport, and the
Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery. Glasgow is the
UK City of Architecture & Design 1999
and is home to the Lord Foster-designed Clyde Auditorium, nick-named the "the
Armadillo" due to it's shape.
Stirling.
Stirling is home to Stirling Castle. In site of the castle walls,
is the site of the Battle of Bannockburn where, in 1314, Robert the Bruce
defeated the English occupying forces in the final conflict of the Scottish Wars
of Independence.
Close by is the National Wallace Monument erected in tribute to Scotland's first freedom fighter, Sir William Wallace, whose story is depicted in the movie "Braveheart".
Callander.
Callander is the location of the Rob Roy & Trossachs Visitors Centre. Rob Roy was a real life Highlander, cattle dealer, and outlaw who became a Scottish folk hero.
Fishing.
Scotland could be described as the home of
trout and salmon fishing & Loch Lomond is home to salmon, sea trout
& brown trout. Loch Lomond & the River Leven can produce salmon from
the opening day of the season.
Loch Lomond is however legendary for it's pike and is one of
Scotland's premier pike waters. In 1934, the head of a pike estimated to have
weighed 70 lbs was found in the River Endrick, a tributary of the loch. The loch
is home to good stocks of other course fish and, uniquely, the powan, a
freshwater herring. The River Endrick offers roach, dace and bream in good
numbers. Local Tourist Information Centres can provide
further information on local fishing including prices of permits.
West Highland Line.
Click here
for more information about the West Highland Line.
Golf.
There is the exclusive Loch Lomond golf course, home of the Loch
Lomond World Invitational. There are another 17 courses locally and
Lomond Castle is within two hours drive of the majority of
Scotland's most famous courses.
Click here for a list of Golf Courses around Loch Lomond.
Walking.
Stepping out of the grounds of Lomond Castle you can follow many country park walks of gentle, all-weather pathways.
Queen Elizabeth Forest Park encompasses a wide area east of Loch Lomond taking walkers along loch side and woodland trails.
Wildlife.
More information can be found from the Scottish Wildlife Trust.
Castles.
There are a
number of castles in the area to visit,
click here for more
information.
Additional Information Sources.
Further
information about Scotland can be found from the following sources:
| Scottish Tourist Board | +44 (0) 171 930 8661 | www.visitscotland.com/ | |
| - Central Information Dept. | +44 (0) 131 332 2433 | ||
| Argyll, the Isles, Loch Lomond, Stirling & Trossachs - Tourist Board | www.scottish.heartlands.org | ||
| The National Trust for Scotland |
+44 (0) 131 226 5922 |
||
| Historic Scotland | www.historic-scotland.gov.uk | ||
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