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Webcam at Loch Lomond Webcam, Scotland
At 23 miles long, Loch Lomond is the largest inland body of water in Great
Britain and is at the heart of Scotland's first national park.
The surrounding hillsides are the sites of many ancient clan feuds & Highland
gatherings. Loch Lomond's reputation as one of the world's most romantic places
has come through the words of generations of travellers who have explored the
shores and surrounding hillsides. The area was first popularised by the writings
of Sir Walter Scott in the early 19th century.
William Wordsworth and Gerald Manley Hopkins have both praised the areas outstanding natural beauty. The song "Bonnie Banks 0' Loch Lomon' " was written about the loch and refers to two of Bonnie Prince Charlie's men left behind in Carlisle after his retreat from England. One was to be executed, the other released. The spirit of the dead soldier travelling by the 'low road' would reach Scotland before his comrade, struggling over miles of high, rugged country.
The loch straddles the Highland Boundary Line - a fault that divides the highlands from the lowlands. The line runs directly across the loch and explains the change in surrounding hillsides from rolling hills in the south to rugged fjord-like mountains to the north.
The loch provides for many activities including fishing, walking and cruising. On the shores of the loch stretch five miles of gentle, all-weather path way to stroll along and enjoy the scenery.
Luss.
Luss is the
setting for Scottish Television's "Take the High Road" programme. It is very
popular with couples who come to Luss Parish Church to get married. There
are many places of interest to visit within a short distance of
Luss.
It is also the ancestral home of the Clan Colquhoun.
Ben Lomond.
Ben Lomond is the southern most Munro in the Highlands, and standing at 974
metres high, dominates the landscape around the loch. The Ben and surrounding
hills are excellent places for the more adventurous and energetic walkers. The
hills are home to a large selection of wildlife amongst the woodlands and
heather.
Tarbet.
Tarbet
has a Tourist Information
Office, Post Office, restaurants, tea rooms and a picnic park. The park has
ample free parking and from here you can take a boat cruise on the loch. Queen
Victoria described Tarbet as "a small town" with "splendid passes, richly wooded
and the highest mountains rising behind".
Take a train from Tarbet and enjoy the ultimate in scenic touring. Take a day trip on the West Highland Line north to Fort William and beyond. An experience not to be missed!
Arrochar.
Arrochar is a welcome and hospitable
rural Highland village nestling between Loch Long and rugged mountain peaks.
Arrochar was once home to the savage MacFarlane clan and was the landing site of
Viking raiding parties. From here, they would roll their long boats over land on
logs to Tarbet and Loch Lomond, from where they could advance further inland.
Helensburgh.
Helensburgh
is an elegant Victorian town, once described as a "museum of villas". These
"villas" are fine houses built by Victorian entrepreneurs using wealth generated
in Glasgow. The finest of these houses is Charles
Rennie Mackintosh's Hill House.
Helensburgh is also the birthplace of John Logie Baird, the inventor of television.
Helensburgh boasts a promenade, a pier for ferries, an unusual range of individual shops, and the largest selection of coffee shops on the north Clyde shore.
Glasgow.
Glasgow is renowned for it's pubs and nightlife. The many clubs and nightspots
are both up-to-date and fashion conscience. Glasgow also enjoys a lively and
cosmopolitan restaurant scene. During the day, Glasgow has a wide and varied
shopping choice, and numerous art galleries, museums and visitors centres. These
include the Art Gallery, the Museum of Transport, and the Hunterian Museum and
Art Gallery. Glasgow is the UK City of
Architecture & Design 1999 and is home to the Lord Foster-designed Clyde
Auditorium, nick-named the "the Armadillo" due to it's shape.
Stirling.
Stirling is home to Stirling Castle. In site of the castle walls, is the site of
the Battle of Bannockburn where, in 1314, Robert the Bruce defeated the English
occupying forces in the final conflict of the Scottish Wars of Independence.
Close by is the National Wallace Monument erected in tribute to Scotland's first freedom fighter, Sir William Wallace, whose story is depicted in the movie "Braveheart".
Callander.
Callander is the location of the
Rob Roy & Trossachs Visitors Centre. Rob Roy was a real life Highlander,
cattle dealer, and outlaw who became a Scottish folk hero.
Things To Do!
Fishing.
Scotland
could be described as the home of trout and salmon fishing & Loch Lomond is
home to salmon, sea trout & brown trout. Loch Lomond & the River Leven can
produce salmon from the opening day of the season. Loch Lomond is
however legendary for it's pike and is one of Scotland's premier pike
waters. In 1934, the head of a pike estimated to have weighed 70 lbs was
found in the River Endrick, a tributary of the loch. The loch is home to
good stocks of other course fish and, uniquely, the powan, a freshwater
herring. The River Endrick offers roach, dace and bream in good numbers.
Local Tourist Information Centres can provide further information on local
fishing including prices of permits.
West Highland Line.
Click here
for more information about the West Highland Line.
Golf.
There is the exclusive Loch Lomond golf course, home of the Loch
Lomond World Invitational. There are another 17 courses locally and Lomond
Castle is within two hours drive of the majority of Scotland's most famous
courses.
Click here for a list of Golf Courses around Loch Lomond.
Walking.
Within two minutes of Glen View you can follow many country park walks of
gentle, all-weather pathways.
Queen Elizabeth Forest Park encompasses a wide area east of Loch Lomond taking walkers along loch side and woodland trails.
Wildlife.
More information can be found from the Scottish
Wildlife Trust.
Castles.
There are a number of castles in the area to visit,
click here for more information.
Additional Information Sources.
Further information about Scotland can be found from the following sources:
Scottish Tourist Board +44 (0) 171 930 8661
Central Information Dept +44 (0) 131 332 2433
Argyll, the Isles, Loch Lomond, Stirling & Trossachs - Tourist Board
The National Trust for Scotland +44 (0) 131 226 5922