Explore the Wonders of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park, Scotland

Scotland’s first national park was created in July 2002 and every year it offers its visitors 720 square miles of beautiful and diverse landscapes, habitats and communities, reaching from Highlands to Lowlands.

The Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park – has a rich history, as can be seen by the variety of historic buildings in many towns and villages. In the lovely village Luss, explore the charming streets and stunning churches, while the City of Stirling boasts such attractions as Stirling Castle, the Old Town Jail and the Wallace Monument.

The park is centred on Loch Lomond (which is the largest freshwater expanse in mainland Britain) and falls into four distinct parts, namely: The Trossachs, Breadalbane, Argyll Forest (Britain’s first forest park) and Loch Lomond. In the north of the park you will find impressive mountains. The mountains above 3,000 feet are named after the man who first listed them, Munros. The park consists of 20 Munros and the high point is Ben More at 3,852 feet. The south of the loch consists of a scattering of islands and more than 50 flowing rivers. The latter are very popular among visitors and locals alike, for water-based activities such as fishing and sailing.

As one of the main purposes of the National Park is to promote the great outdoors, there are lots of activities available for a vast range of interests. For example, there are many strolls and paths for walkers to discover, such as Scotland’s famed long-distance footpath the West Highland Way (which we mentioned in our recent Fort William blog), passing through the heart of the national park. Bird watchers can spot various signature species of birds, including ospreys, golden eagles and peregrine falcons. Also, the National Park is home to the world’s largest grouse, the Capercaillie! Cyclists can also eat their heart out, as it is such a perfect place to explore by bike, particularly along the loch’s west Shore on the West Loch Lomond Cycle Path. There is so much nature to discover, as the park holds a quarter of Britain’s flowering wild plant species. The Trossachs is also known for the outlaw Rob Roy, who hid in the forests, and poet Sir Walter Scott, who was inspired by Loch Katrine from which the famous poem The Lady of the Lake was arisen. In addition, one of the most popular attractions in the heart of the National Park is the steam ship on Loch Katrine, SS Walter Scott, which sails twice a day in the summer.

For more information on the area and activities, and to download maps and guides, click here.

After a long day of exploring the wonders of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park, you’ll want a comfortable place close by to relax for the night. We highly recommend the lovely Whistlefield Inn, for a dose of peace and quiet. Set in splendid isolation on the shores of stunning Loch Eck, Whistlefield feels remote and yet is less than 90 minutes from Glasgow and 12 miles from bustling Donoon. Dining in the Loch Room restaurant is a treat and the jaw-dropping beautiful views are matched with excellent food. You are spoilt for choice in terms of local activities with salmon and trout fishing in Loch Eck, bird watching, boating, forest walks in Puck’s Glen and Benmore Botanical Gardens all within five minutes. A bit further afield, you find free golf at Blairmore and Strone Golf Club, sailing, hill walks, quad biking, archery, clay pigeon shooting and more. Also very much worth a visit is Argyll’s “Secret” Coast, a half hour’s drive away with exquisite scenery and such little known gems as Colintraive, Glendaruel, Kames, Kilfinan, Otter Ferry, Portavadie and Tighnabruaich.

Have fun exploring the Wonders of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park!

Lochgoilhead image by SwaloPhoto, Loch Lomond image by Robert Brown and Road image by Ryan Finn.