Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
There are several picnic areas along the lochside; the most attractive is at
Millarochy
Bay
(1.5 miles north of Balmaha), which has a nice gravel beach and superb views across
the loch to the Luss hills.
The road ends at
Rowardennan
, but the West Highland Way (
Click here
)
hiking trail
continues north along the shore of the loch. It's 7 miles to
Inversnaid
, which can be
reached by road from the Trossachs, and 15 miles to
Inverarnan
on the main A82 road at
the northern end of the loch.
LOCH LOMOND'S ISLANDS
There are around 60 islands, large and small, in Loch Lomond. All except three are privately owned, and only two
can be reached without your own boat or canoe.
Inchcailloch
A nature reserve, owned by Scottish Natural Heritage. Reached by passenger ferry from Balmaha
Boatyard (
Click here
)
. The most easily accessible of the islands, with nature trails, toilets and a small campsite.
See
www.lochlomond-trossachs.org
for details.
Inchmurrin
Privately owned, reached by passenger ferry from Arden on the loch's western shore. Has walking
trails, beaches, self-catering cottages and a restaurant that is open from Easter to October. See
www.inchmurrin-
Inchconnachan
Privately owned. Only accessible by boat or canoe. Was once the holiday home of Lady Arran,
who introduced a number of wallabies in the 1940s. They bred successfully, and their descendants still roam wild
on the island. The rare capercaillie (largest member of the grouse family) nests here too.
Island I Vow
Privately owned. Only accessible by boat or canoe. The loch's most northerly island is home to a
ruined castle, once a stronghold of Clan Macfarlane. Poet William Wordsworth visited in 1814 and found a hermit
living the castle's dungeon, inspiring his poem
The Brownie's Cell
.
Sleeping & Eating
From March to October, camping outside designated campsites is banned on the eastern
shore of Loch Lomond between Drymen and Ptarmigan Lodge (just north of Rowarden-
nan Youth Hostel). There are campsites at Millarochy, Cashel and Sallochy.
Oak Tree Inn££
(
01360-870357;
www.oak-tree-inn.co.uk
; Balmaha; dm/s/d £30/60/75; )
An at-
tractive traditional inn built in slate and timber, the Oak Tree offers luxurious guest bed-
rooms for pampered hikers, and two four-bed bunkrooms for hardier souls. The rustic res-
taurant dishes up hearty lunches and dinners (mains £9 to £12), such as steak-and-mush-
INN
