Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
fourteenth-century Loch Leven Castle , where Robert the Bruce established his
exchequer and where Mary, Queen of Scots was imprisoned for eleven months in
1567-68. his isn't the only island fortress Mary spent time in; it's easy to imagine the
isolation of the tragic queen, who is believed to have miscarried twins while here. She
managed to charm the 18-year-old brother of the castle's owner, Sir William Douglas,
into helping her escape: he stole the castle keys, secured a boat in which to row ashore,
locked the castle gates behind them and threw the keys into the loch - from where they
were retrieved three centuries later.
he classically proportioned pile you'll see on the boat trip is late seventeenth-
century Kinross House , built and owned by the architect of Holyroodhouse in
Edinburgh. Now in private hands, its gardens are undergoing restoration, and may
open to the public in future.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
KINROSS
By bus Bus #23 connects Kinross and Stirling (6 daily; 55min).
7
Loch Lomond
W www.lochlomond-trossachs.org
he largest stretch of fresh water in Britain (23 miles long and up to five miles wide),
Loch Lomond is the epitome of Scottish scenic splendour, thanks in large part to the
ballad that fondly recalls its “bonnie, bonnie banks”. he song was said to have been
written by a Jacobite prisoner captured by the English, who, sure of his fate, wrote that
his spirit would return to Scotland on the low road much faster than his living
compatriots on the high road.
he Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park covers over seven hundred square
miles of scenic territory from the shores of Loch Long in Cowal to Loch Earn and
Loch Tay, on the southwest fringes of Perthshire. he centrepiece is undoubtedly Loch
Lomond, and the most popular gateway is Balloch , the town at the loch's southern tip;
with Glasgow city centre just nineteen miles away, both Balloch and the southwest side
of the loch around Luss are often packed with day-trippers and tour coaches. Many of
these continue up the western side of the loch, though the fast A82 road isn't ideal for
tourists who wish to enjoy a leisurely drive.
Very different in tone, the verdant eastern side of the loch, abutting the Trossachs,
operates at a different pace, with wooden ferryboats puttering out to a scattering of
tree-covered islands off the village of Balmaha . If you're looking for a relatively easy
climb with an impressive view over Loch Lomond, start at Balmaha for the ascent of
Conic Hill (1175ft), a two- to three-hour walk through forest and open hillside. Much
of the eastern shore can only be reached by boat or on foot, although the West
Highland Way long-distance footpath (see box, p.293) and the distinctive peak of
Ben Lomond ensure that even these parts are well traversed.
Balloch
The main settlement by Loch Lomond is BALLOCH , at the southwestern corner of
the loch, where the water channels into the River Leven for its short journey
south to the sea in the Firth of Clyde. Balloch has few redeeming features and is
little more than a suburb of the factory town of Alexandria, but you might want
to arrange a loch trip from here, or shop at the Loch Lomond stores complex.
Across the river in the extensive mature grounds of Balloch Castle Country Park ,
there are shoreside and sylvan walks.
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP STIRLING CASTLE P.280 ; CURLING, LAKE OF MENTEITH P.298 ; TAPESTRY, STIRLING CASTLE P.280 >
 
 
Search WWH ::




Custom Search