Some of the Loch Lomond Area's Special Places
Touring in Scotland and Escorted Sightseeing off the Beaten Track

The Castle on Dumbarton Rock

The image at the top of our web pages is of Dumbarton Castle Rock. The rock is a volcanic outcrop that overlooks the Clyde estuary at Dumbarton. The name "Dunbritton" is often used in a Dumbarton context. "Dun Breatann" or "fortress of the Britons" was the old name of the town.

The Castle on the rock has a documented history that goes back further than any other stronghold in the UK. With its strategic position guarding the river Clyde estuary the castle has played an important part in the history of the region for more than 1500 years.

The castle has associations with many historic figures including Robert the Bruce, who died at nearby Cardross and Mary Queen of Scots. Mary lived at the castle for a few months back in the 15th century before departing for France to marry the Dauphin.

Rob Roy's Grave

The three plaques read, "(HELEN) MARY, WIDOW OF ROB ROY, DATE OF DEATH UNKNOWN", "ROBERT MACGREGOR (ROB ROY), DIED 28th Dec 1734 (0,5), AGED ABOUT 70" and "COLL DIED 1735, ROBERT DIED 1754, SONS OF ROB ROY."

Those of you who saw the film Rob Roy starring Liam Neeson may be surprised to know that he died of natural causes in 1734. We can take you to see his grave in the Trossachs, near Loch Lomond.

Scottish highland games take place during the summer months. If you visit Scotland at this time your visit is likely to coincide with a highland games somewhere within driving distance.

During the summer months there is a large Highland Games circuit in Scotland. We have several local events and other within easy driving disrtance such as the Loch Lomond Highland Games, Luss Highland Games, Bearsden and Milngavie Highland Games, Alva (Stirlingshire) Highland Games, Rosneath Peninsula Highland Games, Inverary Highland Games, Bridge of Allan Highland Games, Perth Highland Games and Crieff Highland Gathering.

Scottish Border and Highland Games Association Website
List of Worldwide Highland Games

Highland Games

The Loch Lomond Military Road

'If you'd seen these roads before they were made, you'd lift up your arms and bless General Wade.'
(William Caulfield)

Well, we know what he means! In 1725 General George Wade was sent to Scotland as CIC of the Black Watch regiment. To assist in the effort against the Jacobites he undertook to build a few strategically placed forts linked by new roads. The Loch Lomond road ran from Dumbarton to Tarbet at the head of the Loch and then on through Arrochar and Glen Croe to Cairndow and on to Inverary. There are still traces of this old road to be seen to this day. It is also part of the famous West Highland Way walk, which goes from Milngavie, just outside Glasgow, to Fort William.

The View of Loch Lomond from Duncryne Hill
(Locally known as "The Dumpling")

The Inverarnan (Drovers) Inn

The Inverarnan inn is an amazing place that leaves some visitors gaping in amazement. It is actually on old inn that was used by the drovers who used to drive their cattle down Loch Lomondside to the markets. The decor and furniture look as though they have not been changed for a couple of hundred years. As you enter the foyer you are faced by a full sized, stuffed grizzly bear and an assortment of other stuffed animals.

In the bar you will be greeted by kilted bar staff. Sit by the open coal fire and, if you are lucky, you may meet some of the West Highland Way walkers drying their socks and boots at the fireside! Be prepared to find some dust and cobwebs all of which only add to the inn's attraction. Traditional Scottish food is served along with a good selection of beers and Scotch whiskies. Regular live folk music is also a feature. Some people say that Rob Roy McGregor drank here and this is highly likely. I think I found a hair from his beard there one night!

Drymen Village

Drymen is a pretty little conservation village on the Stirlingshire side of Loch Lomond. It has a couple of nice hotels and restaurants. You can hire bikes here to explore the surrounding countryside. Drymen also has an 18th century church and two golf courses.

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Glengoyne Distillery

The Glengoyne Distillery is about 10 miles from Drymen in the Blane valley. This is open to the public from spring to autumn, seven days a week. Glengoyne is a beautiful distillery and the tour guides provide an excellent tour.

Luss Village on Loch Lomond

Luss is a very beautiful, picture postcard village situated on the east side of Loch Lomond about eight miles north of Balloch. Until recently its claim to fame was as the setting for the Scottish soap, "Take the High Road".

There has been a settlement on this site for at least a thousand years and the village's pretty church has been the setting for several society and show biz weddings.

Almost 200 years ago the cottages in the village were built to house the slate workers who then worked in the slate quarries.

The famous and very select, Loch Lomond Golf Club is just down the road from Luss but we don't have the clout to arrange a game for you there - yet!

Balloch village is located right on our own doorstep. Its castle is located in Balloch park, which itself is within the new Loch Lomond National park.

Balloch is a bustling tourist centre with plenty of bars and restaurants and fast food places. The park is a beautiful place with 200 acres of woodland and open parkland and paths for walking and viewing the adjacent Loch Lomond.

It is also home to a major tourist attraction in Loch Lomond Shores and it is home to the National Park authority.

Balloch castle is actually a "modern" building that was built at the beginning of the 1800's using the stone from the original castle that was built by the Earls of Lennox back in the 13th century.

Balloch is also home to the "Maid of the Loch", the last paddle steamer built in Britain.

Balloch, the Castle and Loch Lomond National Park

Inverary Castle is a fairy tale castle located just as you enter Inverary on the A83 from the north. This is the seat of the clan Campbell and home of the Duke and Duchess of Argyll who still live there.

The castle, which has a visitor centre and cafe is open to the public from April to October.

Stirling and its Castle

Stirling is a large university town not far from Loch Lomondside. It's main attraction is it's imposing castle, which sits on top of a volcanic rock at the edge of the town. This is a real castle! It has been there since prehistoric times and it has been besieged on many occasions. Many battles have taken place in this area including the battle of Bannockburn. During this battle King Robert the Bruce of Scotland defeated the invading English army led by Edward II.

Nearby you will also find the Wallace Monument, erected as a memorial to Scotland's greatest hero, William Wallace upon whose story the film Braveheart was based.

Visits to both can be arranged in one day.

The Falkirk Wheel is the world's only rotating Boat Lift and is used to connect the Forth & Clyde and Union canals in central Scotland. This magnificent, mechanical marvel has been constructed to 21st Century, state-of-the-art engineering and it is already being recognised as an iconic landmark worthy of Scotland's traditional engineering expertise.

Designed to replace a series of lock gates built in the 19th Century - long since demolished and replaced by housing - the Falkirk Wheel is the showpiece of the Millennium Link project where coast-to-coast navigation of the canals has been re-established for the first time in since the 1960's.

Images and text are courtesy of the Falkirk Wheel Website.