Here's a few suggestions for things to see and do in Loch Lomond, Helensburgh & West Dunbartonshire:
Pleasure Cruises
The ultimate way to relax and soak up the scenery. Savour
Loch Lomond from Balmaha, Balloch, Tarbet or Luss, or
the Clyde, from Helensburgh and Kilcreggan.
Watersports
Loch Lomond offers a variety of activities from water-skiing
to sailing, which is also hugely popular on the Gare
Loch and Firth of Clyde.
Golf
Fine courses welcome the visitor at Alexandria, Cardross,
Dumbarton, Helensburgh and two at Clydebank, with wonderful
views over the Clyde.
Fishing
Choose from freshwater fishing on Loch Lomond and the
River Leven or a spot of sea angling on the Gareloch
or Loch Long.
Indoor leisure
Sports facilities are available at the modern leisure
centres in Clydebank, Dumbarton, Helensburgh and Alexandria.
Shopping - Great shopping opportunities are on offer
at Clydebank, Dumbarton and Helensburgh, or why not
pick up a bargain at the retail factory outlets in Alexandria.
Loch Lomond, Helensburgh & West Dunbartonshire Inversnaid
Harbour, Loch Lomond
There can be no
more captivating place than Loch Lomond. As the early morning
mists melt from the still waters, the rising sun filters through
to gently brush the shores with its golden warmth.
The very name Loch Lomond conjures images of noble mountains
sweeping down to gentle foreshores; tiny, wooded islands set
amidst calm, lapping waters and small villages playing host
to impromptu ceilidhs.
By Yon Bonnie Banks’
To the north the loch is narrow and deep, with the surrounding
mountains rising majestically from the shoreline. The little
village of Ardlui is tucked beneath these peaks, where the
River Falloch flows from its Highland source into the north
of the loch.
Loch Lomond- Duncryne Hill
On the eastern side, a beautiful, sheltered stretch of the West
Highland Way hugs the shore, passing a RSPB reserve amidst deciduous
woodlands.
The hamlet of Inversnaid is accessible only via the stunning
drive from Aberfoyle to the east or, of course, by boat from
Inveruglas. Ferries and pleasure cruises operate throughout
the season from the lochside communities of Tarbet, Balloch,
Balmaha and Luss.
The Loch Lomond area is situated in the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park – the first in Scotland. Visitors can find out more about the Park at the National Park Visitor Centre and Loch Lomond Shores, a major shopping complex in Balloch. You can also see what life is like in Loch when you visit Loch Lomond Aquarium on the same site.
Luss Village
Lochside
Villages
A necklace of charming villages and pleasant hostelries fringe
the loch’s shores. At the southern gateway lies the attractive
town of Balloch. Balloch Castle Country Park offers parklands,
lochside walks, a walled garden and visitor centre.
Balloch is also noted for the colourful collection of boats on the River Leven. On the western shore is the picture postcard village of Luss which was home to Scottish Television’s High Road soap and a conservation village, which in summer is ablaze with floral colour.
Here, the Loch Lomond Park Centre gives an insight into the
loch’s landscape and wildlife, whilst you can experience
traditional craftsmanship at the Thistle Bagpipe Works.
Further north is the tiny hamlet of Inverbeg, which boasts one
of the finest picture galleries in Scotland. On to Tarbet, whose
name comes from the Gaelic ‘place of portage’ - quite
appropriate, given that the Vikings hauled their longships over
land from Arrochar to the waters of Loch Lomond.
At the southern end, the farming community
of Gartocharn is perhaps best known for the panoramic view afforded
by the short climb up Duncryne Hill, or ‘the Dumpling’ as
locals know it. Drymen - a delightful community clustered around its
traditional village square - was once a popular collection point for
Rob Roy MacGregor’s ‘black mail’. Today, it is an inviting
gateway to the quieter eastern shore, with its many popular bays and
viewpoints, and the chance to browse in local craft shops such as
Drymen Pottery.
The Great Outdoors
The eastern shore of the loch is dominated by the towering mass
of Ben Lomond, the most climbed mountain in Scotland and the
most southerly of the country’s ‘Munros’ (hills
over 3,000 feet).
Access is easy via a well-marked footpath from Rowardennan.
There are also many less challenging walks and trails to explore,
particularly on the fringes of the Queen Elizabeth Forest Park,
north of Balmaha.
Rowardennan
A rich diversity of wildlife can be enjoyed
by the visitor, such as buzzards, deer and capercaillie. The Balmaha
Visitor Centre explores the area's natural history, its theme being
the Highland Boundary Fault. The loch itself has more species of
fish than any other - game and course fishing offer great sport.
