Loch Lomond National Nature Reserve is a stunning freshwater loch in Scotland, surrounded by breathtaking scenery and home to a diverse range of wildlife. The loch stretches 24 miles long and one mile wide, with depths reaching up to 623 feet, making it one of the largest and deepest freshwater lochs in the UK. The surrounding landscape is characterized by rolling hills, woodlands, and rugged mountains, offering picturesque views and scenic hiking trails. The reserve is a haven for nature lovers, with opportunities to spot red deer, otters, and a variety of bird species, including ospreys and golden eagles. Visitors can explore the loch by boat, taking in the majestic scenery and spotting fish such as salmon and trout. The area is steeped in history and folklore, with ancient castles and ruins scattered throughout the reserve, adding to its natural beauty and charm.
Highly recommend visiting Inchcailloch island and taking the summit path for fantastic views, then follow the path down to a sandy beach. It's a short boat trip from Balmaha boatyard. The ferries will pick you up at an agreed time. I recommend 2 hours if you want a leisurely stroll around and a stop on the beach.
Beautiful island a 5 min boat trip from Balmaha. It has a great walking route and some historical remains and old cemetery. The forest is full of birds, squirrel and wildlife. Definitely recommend for a good walking day trip
A must to visit... stunning views and walks
Beautiful place accessible by boat , there is a ferry service from Balmaha boat yard. The island is beautiful and has amazing views both to the mainland and out into the loch , you can easily spend a day exploring the island , some people even camp over night and I can understand why. It's stunning and has some really interesting history.
A hidden gem We took the ferry from Balmaha and it was PS42 for 8 of us (4ad 4ch). Takes about 5 minutes and they book a time to pick you up. The island is a stunning place to visit with huge oak trees and a well maintained path system. It can be muddy in the rain and is steep at times. The island has a ton of history with Robert the Bruce making it a plantation to hunt deer (we saw a Stag up close) and the MacGregor's (Rob Roy) having family here who are buried in the rather special burial grounds that you can visit. The North beach is a quiet gem indeed, where there is a ranger station and composting toilets. Worth a couple of hours for sure.
We enjoyed our trip over here- very short boat ride to the island (PS42 return for 4 adults and 4 older children). It was a bit of a drizzly day weather wise, so we only stayed 1 1/2 hours, which was just perfect to walk through the central path to a really lovely stone beach with a beautiful view (on a nice day this area has benches for picnic and the kids would love paddling here), the we took the Low path to the burial ground. If you struggle with mobility I'm afraid I wouldn't recommend this trip.
Hiking
Picnic tables
Good for kids
Kid-friendly hikes
Dogs allowed
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Highly recommend visiting Inchcailloch island and taking the summit path for fantastic views, then follow the path down to a sandy beach. It's a short boat trip from Balmaha boatyard. The ferries will pick you up at an agreed time. I recommend 2 hours if you want a leisurely stroll around and a stop on the beach.
Beautiful island a 5 min boat trip from Balmaha. It has a great walking route and some historical remains and old cemetery. The forest is full of birds, squirrel and wildlife. Definitely recommend for a good walking day trip
A must to visit... stunning views and walks
Beautiful place accessible by boat , there is a ferry service from Balmaha boat yard. The island is beautiful and has amazing views both to the mainland and out into the loch , you can easily spend a day exploring the island , some people even camp over night and I can understand why. It's stunning and has some really interesting history.
A hidden gem We took the ferry from Balmaha and it was PS42 for 8 of us (4ad 4ch). Takes about 5 minutes and they book a time to pick you up. The island is a stunning place to visit with huge oak trees and a well maintained path system. It can be muddy in the rain and is steep at times. The island has a ton of history with Robert the Bruce making it a plantation to hunt deer (we saw a Stag up close) and the MacGregor's (Rob Roy) having family here who are buried in the rather special burial grounds that you can visit. The North beach is a quiet gem indeed, where there is a ranger station and composting toilets. Worth a couple of hours for sure.
We enjoyed our trip over here- very short boat ride to the island (PS42 return for 4 adults and 4 older children). It was a bit of a drizzly day weather wise, so we only stayed 1 1/2 hours, which was just perfect to walk through the central path to a really lovely stone beach with a beautiful view (on a nice day this area has benches for picnic and the kids would love paddling here), the we took the Low path to the burial ground. If you struggle with mobility I'm afraid I wouldn't recommend this trip.
