Interesting Things To Do Around Loch Lomond

An Overview of Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park

Description: A beautiful lake and national park, Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park is densely wooded with clear blue waters and long, meandering hiking trails.  It is a series of gorgeous highlands which host red deer and oak woodlands.  It has a multitude of biking and hiking trails alongside some truly astounding old, crumbling stone villages, such as the ancient Luss Village.  Like all national parks of the UK, entrance is free.  There is no better place in the UK for experiencing the outdoors.  

Transportation around Loch Lomond

Unlike the majority of southern Scotland, Loch Lomond is vast and not centralized. The only way to effectively explore the area is by renting a car and driving around.  Though it is considered some of the most beautiful portions of the country, the terrain is somewhat challenging and requires proper footwear when being hiked or traversed.  

Interesting Things To Do Around Loch Lomond

Outdoor Activities Around Loch Lomond:

As a beautiful outdoor zone attracting legions of outdoor enthusiasts, the National Park and lake covers a variety of mountain ranges and hiking trails, including Ben Lomond mountain and the smaller Conic Hill. Visitors can enjoy hiking, biking kayaking, camping and horseback riding in the area.

Loch Lomond Faerie Trail

This is a cute little children’s attraction dedicated to Fairy lore.  This is primarily for families with young children who enjoy popular modern concepts of fairies.

Island of Inchmurrin

This is the largest freshwater island of the UK. This island, resting in the center of Loch Lomond, hosts a 7th century monastery. The monastery was once robbed by legendary thief Rob Roy Macgregor, who gained status as a Scottish “Robin Hood” figure. He was a political figure, supporter of the Stuart Dynasty and famed swordsman.

Wallabies of Inchconnachan Island

For an extremely unusual Scottish experience, visitors of Loch Lomond can seek out Inchconnachan Island.  The small island hosts a population of feral wallabies brought over by an eccentric Scot. Though the small marsupials are a bit shy, this is one of the only stable wallaby populations outside of Australia. Getting to the islands and visiting the foreign wallabies is one of the more interesting things to do around Loch Lomond..

Balloch Park Fairy Trail

Created by a local arborist, this short hiking trail has turned diseased tree stumps into carvings of fairy houses and other items from Scottish lore. It’s fairly close to Balloch Castle, making it easy to spot the small carvings while walking through the park area near Balloch.

Buchanan Castle

This is an old and proud Scottish castle now completely warped and covered by local flora and ivy.  Entry is not allowed, but it’s impressive from the outside. The now-ruined castle was commissioned by The 4th Duke of Montrose in 1852-1858 as a home for the Montrose family.

West Highland Way

One of the most popular, diverse and impressive hiking trails in Scotland, this trail has gradually become more popular over the years with many free campsites along the route.  A good starting place for tourists is Ptarmigan Lodge in Rowardennan. From here, visitors can take the loch-side path for a mile until reaching a crag called Rob Roy’s Prison. This is where Rob Roy Macgregor was once said to have been held hostage. Hikers will also pass scenic areas such as the Inversnaid and Beinglas Falls before reaching Glen Falloch.

Queen Elizabeth Forest Park

This is a scenic hiking space and a beautiful area to get acquainted with. The large national park woodlands are part of a 19,665-hectare Highland park reaching from Loch Lomond to the Mountains of Strathyre. The protected area was established in 1953, the coronation date for Queen Elizabeth II.

Inveraray

Located on the West Side of the National Park, Inveraray is a stunning small coastal town with regular access to the less-populated side of the park.  The town also hosts Inveraray Castle, several war memorials and a grim 19th century jail and courthouse. The Dun Na Cuaiche Watchtower overlooks the city, one of the most visible viewing points for the town and ocean in the area. 

Rob Roy Visitor Center

The unique museum has a building dedicated to the famed Scottish outlaw eventually turned folk-hero. Roy Rob MacGregor had one of the most active and compelling lives in the world. With a history as a clan leader, cattle dealer, notorious outlaw, Jacobite Uprising supporters and skilled swordsman, his influence on Scottish folk-culture is profound.

The Cobbler

Part of Scotland’s famously rugged land, the Cobbler is one of the most distinct and well-known features of the highland mountains.  It’s part of the National Park’s many hiking trails. Bear in mind The Cobbler is a 884 meter tall peak on rugged, often wet terrain. It’s considered a challenging but beautiful hike.

Loch Long Torpedo Range

This torpedo range is a derelict, decaying site found on the banks of Loch Long after serving as a torpedo testing site from 1912 to 1986. The buildings and access pier sit on the western shore of the loch, across from the small village Arrochar. Technology progressed to the point that sites such as these were rendered obsolete. The ruins were further damaged during a fire in 2007. Despite this, the unusual structure, concrete attachments and narrow access roads remain intact.

Read more about interesting things to do around Loch Lomond and seeing the world by visiting Leftfade Trails Destination Information.

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