Loch Lomond and The Trossachs at a Glance - A Quick Guide to the National Park

The bonnie, bonnie banks o'Loch Lomond for a start. By high road or low road, Loch Lomond, in Scotland, is the largest freshwater body in the British Isles. This is also Rob Roy country. The highland outlaw, romanticized by Sir Walter Scott, probably rustled cattle in these parts. He died, peacefully, of old age and is buried in a Balquhidder churchyard, within the national park. Also within the park, two extensive National Forest Parks and several fjord-like sea lochs where humpback whale and basking shark have been seen.

Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park covers 720 sq. miles in the Scottish heartland, within an hour's drive for more than 70% of Scotland's population. It takes in a wide variety of landscapes - wild mountain glens, towering giants, rolling hill country, rivers, woodlands and lochs. The park has:

• 20 peaks higher than 3,000 ft. Ben More (3,852 ft.) is the highest
• 20 peaks between 2,500 and 3,000 ft.
• 22 larger lochs, dozens of small lochs and lochans
• 50 rivers and large burns (streams)
• 2 Forest Parks - Queen Elizabeth and Argyll
• 15,600 people.

There are 4 zones.

• Loch Lomond deep and romantic, spreads beneath Ben Lomond (3,196ft.).
• Argyll Forest called the Arrochar Alps is rugged and dramatic, bordered and divided by the sea lochs - Loch Long and Loch Goill.
• The Trossachs are known for wild glens. Here Scotland's Highland Boundary Fault divides highlands from lowlands leading some to call the region "the Highlands in miniature".
• Breadalbane, in the north, is an ancient Celtic earldom studded with high peaks, including Ben Lui (3,703ft.), Stob Binnein (3,822), Ben More and the higher of the Ben Vorlichs (3,232 ft.)- the other is near Loch Lomond.

Settlements in this area are tiny, clustered around the lochs and mountain passes. Though many have stirring Scottish histories, today most are connected with tourism and travel in the park.

• Aberfoyle
• Balloch A big town at the start of Loch Lomond with sailing and cruises
• Balmaha
• Balquhidder Rob Roy MacGregor's home was here and his grave attracts visitors to this hamlet of 50 above Loch Voil.
• Callander A big market town and gateway to the park.
• Killin
• Tarbet/Arrochar A mountain pass between these villages was a favorite of Queen Victoria
• Tyndrum Village with rail links to Scotland's West and Northwest.

Argyll Forest Park, established in 1935, is the oldest forest park in Britain and older than the national parks themselves. On the western edge of the park, it has dramatic peaks, botanic gardens, forest walks and mixed woodlands. Keep your eyes peeled for Red deer and 200 species of birds including the strange looking capercaillie.
Queen Elizabeth Forest Park, is east of Loch Lomond. Established in 1953 to honor the Coronation it has, among its attractions, Go Ape at Aberfoyle Forest Adventure, near the David Marshall Lodge Visitor Centre - one of the UK's longest, tree-to-tree zip lines.

Walking is one of the most popular activities with several excellent long distance trails crossing through the park.

• The West Highland Way Scotland's oldest and most popular long distance walk. Passes east of Loch Lomond.
• The Cowal Way 47 mile, six day walk in South Argyll
• The Rob Roy Way Follow the tracks and paths used by Rob Roy MacGregor across the Southern Highlands in the northeast corner of the park.

Maps and advice about hundreds of shorter paths, tracks and cycle routes are available at the national park tourist information centers.

Some Scottish lochs are so formidable that it takes a certain amount of courage to go on them. Not so Loch Lomond, Loch Katrine and the sea lochs - Loch Long and Loch Goil. Here are just some of the things you can do:

• Take a cruise on Loch Lomond or Loch Katrine.
• Water ski with the local water skiing club.
• Try kayaking, canoeing, powerboating or dinghy sailing Easter to October through Lomond Adventure
  Tel: +44 (0)1360 870 218 or +44 (0)7711 904 902. Email: lomondadventure@aol.com
• Try sea kayaking, wakeboarding and white water rafting with Wild Spirits, who also organize more extreme sports, year round.

If you take the high road, you'll be on the West Highland Way, east of Loch Lomond; the low road is A82 from Glasgow to Glen Coe, passing west of Lomond.

Main roads (A82,A85 and A84) circle most of park and A83 crosses the top of the Argyll Forest in the west.

The best places can only be reached by winding, single track roads. So tortuous is the road from Lochgoilhead, at the top of Loch Goil, that the pass where it joins the main road is officially called, "Rest and Be Thankful".

Simplify your life and use public transportation,with the 88-page free guide to trains, ferries, buses and taxis in the park.

Within the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park you can choose from luxury accommodations, country house hotels, village b&bs. But some of the best ways to enjoy the extraordinary landscapes and "loch-scapes", are also the cheapest.
Forest Holidays offer a selection of beautiful cabins for 4 to 8, on Loch Lubnaig in Queen Elizabeth Forest Park. There's even a new treehouse. Book through the website.
Hostels are well located throughout the park and suit families and seniors as well as youthful backpackers. Find out more about Scottish hostels including how to find and book them.

1. Pay your respects to Roy Roy MacGregor. Scotland's "Robin Hood" is buried in Breadalbane, over looking lovely Balquhidder Glen.
2. Imagine the great days of steam travel on Loch Lomond on The Maid of the Loch
3. Get on yer bike! The NCR7 winds through the Trossachs - a superb cycle trail for all skills and all bikes.
4. Tee Off Golf is the national pastime in Scotland and some of the best courses are open to visitors.
5. Catch a Salmon or a trout, a perch, a pike. Fishing opportunities, fishing guides and ghillies are thick on the water around here.

See More Pictures of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park

Helpful Books, Guide Books and Maps to Buy Direct

• Loch Lomond and the Trossachs:An A-Z of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park and Surrounding Area
• Loch Lomond and the Trossachs by Robert D. Campbell
• Loch Lomond and the Trossachs by Car by Jim Titchmarsh
• Lonely Planet Walking in Scotland
• The Best Hill Walking in Scotland
• The Haig Guide to Salmon Fishing in Scotland
• Drive Around Scotland by Donna Dailey.

Find a Hotel in Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park and get a great rate