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Katrine,
Loch&o=10616
Katrine, Loch&o=10616

Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park

Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park (Scottish Gaelic Pàirc Nàiseanta Loch Laomainn is nan Tròisichean) is a national park in Scotland. It is centred on Loch Lomond, and includes several ranges of hills, the Trossachs being the most famous. It was the first of the two national parks established by the Scottish Parliament in 2002; the second is the Cairngorms National Park.

It is the fourth largest national park in the British Isles, with a total area of 1,865 km² (720 mi²) and a boundary that is 350 km (220 miles) long. It includes 21 Munros (including Ben Lomond, Ben Lui, Ben Challum, Ben More and two peaks called Ben Vorlich), 20 Corbetts, two forest parks and 57 designated special nature conservation sites.

Towns and villages within the Park

Council area Towns and villages
Stirling Aberfoyle, Balmaha, Brig o' Turk, Callander, Crianlarich, Croftamie, Drymen, Inverarnan, Inversnaid, Killin, Kinlochard, Lochearnhead, Port of Menteith, Tyndrum, Strathyre, Stronachlachar, Balquhidder, Kilmahog, Stirling (Known to be the Eastern Gateway to the National Park thought it's outside), Gartmore, Glengyle, Auchtertyre, Ewich, Benmore (Breadalbane), Lochdochart house, Auchessan, Luib, Ledchary, Auchlyne, Ardchyle, Lix Toll, Inverlochlairg, Monachylemore, Stronvar, Auchtoo, Leitters, Kingshouse (Srtathyre), Ballimore, Derrydaroch, Frenich, Royal Cottage, Teapot (Hamlet near Loch Ard), Glenshart, Milton, Milton (Brig o'Turk), Pass of Leny, Stank (Near Loch Lubnaig), Ardchullarie, Braeval, Portend (Lake of Menteith), Inchmahome (Island of Lake of Menteith), Cobleland, Dalmary, Lednabraw, Sallochy, Millarrochy, Milton of Buchanan, Buchanan Smithy, Buchanan Castle, Baws
West Dunbartonshire Alexandria, Balloch, Croftamie, Gartocharn, Duncryne, Ross Priary, Jamestown, Cameron House, Dumbarton (Known to be southern Gateway though just outside), Pirniehall, Balquhain, Blairlusk
Perth and Kinross St Fillans, Ardvorlich, Ardrostan, Finglen
Argyll and Bute Arden, Ardentinny, Ardgarton, Ardlui, Arrochar, Benmore, Bernice, Blairmore, Carrick Castle, Glenbranter, Glenlean, Inverarnan, Inveroaden Kilmun, Lochgoilhead, Luss, Rest and be Thankful, Tarbet, Succoth, Strone, Butterbridge, Ardkinglas, just outside Cairndow, just outside Strachur, Glenmassan, Ardbeg, Rashfield, Eckford House, Dunoon (Known as Gateway to National Park though just outside by only a few miles), Culmuich, Glensluan, Glenfinnart, Craighoyle, Aldlochlay, Edentaggart, Invergroin, Ross Park, Stuckgowan

Lochs within the National Park

Stirling

West Dunbartonshire

Perth and Kinross

Argyll and Bute

The sea lochs of The National Park

In Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park the boundary crosses from Callander, to Lake of Menteith, to Gartmore, to Croftamie, to Balloch, to two miles (3 km) north of Helensburgh and Rhu, to Ardmay to Lochgoilhead, to Ardentinny, to Kilmun and up to Breadalbane, but the boundary follows the coastline from Ardmay to near Dunoon. The lochs of Loch Long, Loch Goil and the Holy Loch, in a way make it a costal National Park too, but this National Park has the landscapes, as alongside, culture, Geography, history.

The Holy Loch

The Holy Loch has views to the mountains of Loch Eck and the Clyde villages of Kilcreggan, Helensburgh, Greenock and Gourock involving the Rosneath Peninsula and Cloch Lighthouse. It is situated in the Cowal Peninsula, and the loch is a gateway to Loch Fyne, Dunoon, Toward and the Kyles of Bute. The villages of Hunter's Quay, Ardnadam, Sandbank, Rashfield and Kilmun guard the loch. These villages would have seen plenty of times, Dolphins, Porpoises, Seals and the sea birds of the likes of Oyster Cacthers, Sea Gulls and Swans. The Argyll Forest Park Headquarters are in Kilmun. These waters would have seen the Clyde Ships too, as World War Two took place in The Blitz across the water in Glasgow, Clydebank and Gourock. Though in general ships were common from before those times and afterwards as Cowal was popular for Pleasure Cruises from opposite the water and today, Cargo and Ferries cross the Open waters of the Firth of Clyde.

Loch Long

Loch Long is a narrow loch at the northern end, as it is mountainous with the Arrochar Alps on the west and the Luss Hills on the east as the North West at the Arrochar Alps and Tarbet are the real highlands. In the south, it is wide, with the hills this time being softer and gentle, as the southern end has the same Victorian houses as the Holy Loch with the examples of Kilcreggan, Strone and Cove, as they see the yachts passing by. On the meaning of the hills being softer and gentle, that would be the south eastern part as the west is always in the making of Mountains and is the Argyll Forest Park. Back to the northern end, Arrochar is the main village, with views to The Cobbler. An outdoor centre at Ardmay offers good activities for the area. Opposite the loch, Ardgartan sits in the Arrochar Alps, with a caravan site. The Eastern side is completely different from the west. Further down on the east, you will end up at Portincaple, a village were the road does not continue down the loch as it goes to Garelochhead. At that location, there are views to Carrick Castle at the mouth of Loch Goil.

Loch Goil

Ben Donich, Beinn an Lochain, The Brack, Mullach Coire a Chuir, Stob an Eas and Beinn Bheula stand steeply around the loch. There is an extensive range of wildlife from the costal, Porpoises, Seals and forest of Red Squirrel an Wildcats with the mighty deers and birds of prays in the area of the mountains. Lochgoilhead is a small Victorian village at the head of the loch. Once famous for one of the Waverley's stops, the village has a small pier, with shops, the odd place to eat and community activities. There are four signs within Loch Goil as there are Red Squirrels being reserved there. Further down the loch is Carrick Castle. It as well is a village alongside a castle.

The coastline

Loch Goil, Loch Long and Holy Loch are all the sea lochs of the National Park, but here is the places and attractions to the coastline that is over , starting at Ardmay House and ending at Dunoon:

National Park coastline of Loch Long part 1:

National Park Coastline of Loch Goil

Loch Lomond

Loch Lomond is the largest body of freshwater in Britain. It ranges from the flatter lowlands, to the northern end that is truly in the highlands and mountainous, there is a huge contrast from top to bottom. The Highland Boundary Fault crosses the first few islands (including Inchmurrin and Inchcailloch} and Conic Hill. Ben Lomond and Ben Vorlich are some of the famous mountain tops in the area. A golf course at Loch Lomond currently holds the Barclays Scottish Open. The districts on Loch Lomond are:

The Trossachs

Known as the land of Rob Roy MacGregor or the romantic and enchanted land, in fact this land is a small area. The area is like a circle, with one half in the Highlands and the other in the Lowlands. Callander and Aberfoyle are the two main towns, as Scotland's only lake, Lake of Menteith stands with a priory on the island of Inchmahome. Loch Katrine, with Sir Walter Scott's paddle steamer or the Lady of the lake is there. It is a remote loch, with the odd district on the shores. According to some maps, The Trossachs to them are an area with Buchlyvie, Kippen, Blair Drummond, Doune, Callander, Strathyre, Lochearnhead, Killin and Inversnaid as the first four towns to be listed are not currently in the National Park. The city of Stirling is just about on the outskirts of The Trossachs Doune is also an outskirt to the proper land, as well it is an outskirt to the National Park. Loch Ard, Loch Chon and Loch Arklet are some of the lochs of a majestic pass from Aberfoyle to the eastern shores of Loch Lomond at Inversnaid. According to some, the whole eastern shore of Loch Lomond eastwards is The Trossachs. To the north of Aberfoyle is the Duke's Pass. The places there are:

Loch Katrine

Loch Katrine can be accessed via the Inversnaid road or Brig o'Turk road. The paddle steamer there was named after SIR Walter Scott as he wrote lady of the lake.

Land of Rob Roy MacGregor

Here are some of the places that involved with Rob Roy MacGregor in the National Park:

He is known as the Robin Hood of Scotland.

Loch Tay and Loch Earn

These are some of the famous lochs in the Breadalbane area of the National Park.

Loch Tay

Loch Tay itself has just about only a quarter of a mile of the shoreline in the National Park. They guide you to Ben Lawers, that has an area up the mountain that is owned by the Natural Trust of Scotland. The Loch itself starts from Killin in the west in Stirling to Kenmore on the eastern side and in Perth and Kinross, near Aberfeldy and Pitlochry. Tay Forest Park has parts of the loch. In Killin, by the Falls of Dochart, the mountains above Loch Tay rising about over can be seen. Loch Tay is the end of Scotland's longest river, the River Tay. The water of Tay then starts by Carnoustie and Broughty Ferry as the Firth of Tay, then going past Dundee, (One of Scotland's cities), passing by Perth, towards Pitlochry as the River Tay then passing through Aberfeldy to Kenmore, meeting Loch Tay, then ending at Killin in Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park.

Loch Earn

Loch Earn at the western edge is in the True Highland landscape area, with Killin nearby, Glen Ogle and Ben Vorlich with Stuc a' Chroin It then travels to St Fillans, named after one of the Irish saints, were the landscape is a bit softer by being on the edge of the Highlands.

Mountains and hills within the Park

Ardgoil

Arrochar Alps

Ben Lomond Group

Crianlarich Hills

Ben Ledi and Venue Group

The Luss Hills

Tyndrum Hills

The Crieff and Loch Earn Hills

The Mamlorn Hills

Loch Eck, Holy Loch and Southern Loch Long Mountains

The Beacon

Ben Lomond, known as the beacon of Glasgow was once a Volcano, which is a natural disaster but not today. At the time Ben Lomond was a volcano, the hills of the Kilpatrick Hills, Campsie Fells and Ochil Hills, parallel to the Highland Boundary Fault Line were made from volcanic activity, at the same time Ben Lomond was active. Looking at Ben Lomond, you can see it from the front, e.g. from Balloch and across the water from Dumbarton, or from front/angle, e.g from Bearsden or Mugdock Country Park, from the east, a smooth and steep looking mountain looking from Stirling and Aberfoyle, the west, a sharp jagged looking peak, see from Tarbet and Arrochar, and the north, looking steep and dark, seen from Ardlui. It is the most popular mountain to climb in Scotland as it is as well the most southerly munro in Scotland too. It can be climbed from the car park or visitor centre at Rowerdennan, a small hamlet at the end of the road on the north eastern side of Loch Lomond.

The four parts of the National Park

In Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park there are four parts. They are:

Argyll Forest Park

Glen Croe drives into the heart of the Arrochar Alps, with Lochgoilhead the closest village, just at the south of the glen and in the heart of the mountain range.

Loch Lomond

Starting from Balloch in the lowlands, this loch starts from not remote lowland landscape, to mountainous, remote highland landscape. Ben Lomond dominates the loch, at . The West Highland Way starting from Milngavie in East Dunbartonshire goes up the eastern side of the loch all the way to Fort William. Green wooded islands stud the loch as the opening ones are the Highland Boundary Fault Line, where the Highlands meet the lowlands, that goes through Conic Hill near Balmaha. Luss and Tarbet (Loch Lomond) are two pleasure ride communities in Argyll.

The Trossachs

Starting from the Lake of Menteith the skyline to the south is the wall of mountain, the Campsie Fells that is a gateway to The Trossachs. To the 1960s people stayed as far as Torrance, East Dunbartonshire to go to the Campsies. Aberfoyle and Callander sit in the area, with easy access to, Loch Lubnaig and Loch Ard. Doune has a castle that sits between Callander and Dunblane. Loch Katrine, a loch known for its SSR Water Cruise named after a famous Scotsman. Loch Katrine itself is fairly remote but can be approached by road from Loch Chon and towards Loch Vennachar.

Breadalbane

Ben More comes in as the biggest mountain in the national park. From the East of Breadalbane of Highland Perthshire like landscape (Killin and St Fillans), to Argyll Like Highland landscape (Tyndrum, near the mountainous Argyll Highland area of Loch Awe and Loch Fyne. The northern half of Breadalbane is in the Central Highlands.

The Council Regions in the National Park

In Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, there are four different councils that represent, either, Loch Lomond, Argyll Forest Park, Breadalbane or The Trossachs.

Perth and Kinross

Loch Earn's southern and eastern half are in the huge council of Perth and Kinross. The Council itself starts, from north of Dunblane and all the way up to the Pass of Drumtocher in The Cairngorms National Park. In the National Park's area, St Fillans, Ardvorlich and Ardrostan are the settlements, that sit on the shores of Loch Earn. If the National Park extended further east that Killin and north of Dochart to Glen Lyon, the national park would be extended of Perthshire villages, towns and hamlets. In the meantime St Fillans is the main village, named after one of the Celtic saints. It sits on the eastern edge of Loch Earn, with the Highland Boundry Fault Line further east.

West Dunbartonshire

West Dunbartonshire in the National Park, like Perth and Kinross, is very valid. The council itself starts from Dumbarton up to the southern islands of Loch Lomond. The west side is towards Cardross and the east side, is Duntocher and towards East Dunbartonshire. Speaking of which, East Dunbartonshire could have been in a part of the National Park, as the northern end is in the area of Lake of Menteith, Kippen, Aberfoyle and Buchlyvie, with the Campsie Fells rising, and Loch Lomond being local. In the meantime West Dunbartonshire, has the districts of Balloch, Alexandria, Jamestown, Gartocharn and the island of Inchmurrin. Balloch is on the southern end of Loch Lomond with the outdoor, shopping, centre, sea life centre and pleasure trips. The northern end of West Dunbartonshire is in the Highlands. One of the Islands in Loch Lomond, West Dunbartonshire is Inchmurrin, that is on the Highland Boundary Fault Line that could cause the odd earth tremor. Most the islands on the loch are wooded. Further south is Gartocharn. It is a small district but one of the bigger ones in the national park for West Dunbartonshire.

Argyll and Bute

Argyll and Bute runs into the west of the National Park. The Councill itself is about 95% in the Highlands. It is remote, truly highland and mountainous. In the National Park, the districts of Luss, Tarbet and Inveruglas are in the Loch Lomond area. Tyndrum partly is in Argyll and Bute so a bit of Breadalbne counts there, but the rest is Argyll Forest Park. The Arrochar Alps dominate the scene. Arrochar itself is just about outside the range, and is the gateway to Argyll Forest Park, the start of the real highlands. Continue on and you will go through fantastic mountain pass ways, Glen Croe, near Lochgoilhead, Ardgartan, Butterbridge and Cairndow, Hell's Glen near Lochgoilhead, Rest and be thankful and Cairndow and finally Glen Kinglas, near the rest and be thankful, Butterbridge and Lochgoilhead. Lochgoilhead is remote, in the wilderness, with leisure faciliies. In the meantime, Luss sits on the sunny shores of Loch Lomond.Ardlui sits underneath Ben Vorlich, like Lochgoilhead sits underneath Ben Donich, The Brack and Beinn an Lochain with Beinn Bheula in the distance.

Stirling

Stirling has Loch Lomond, and many other places in it. The Council itself starts in the northern end of the Campsie Fells and up to Loch Tay. Stirling the town is not in the National Park, but has views to Ben Ledi, Stuc a' Chroin, The Cobbler, the two Ben Vorlichs and Ben Lomond. Doune nearby sits just outside the National Park too. The opening east end for Stirling is Callander. Aberfoyle, Lake of Menteith, partly Tyndrum, Killin, Balmaha and Lochearnhead are as well the bigger towns for Stirling in the National Park]]. Other landmarks as the River Forth travells into Loch Ard. The land of the Trossachs is a homeland to [[Rob Roy MacGregor, who had stayed before, in Lochgoilhead, Loch Lomond, Loch Fyne and Breadalbane.

Parks in the National Park

These are the parks or National Park visitor centres and areas.

Swimming leisure facilities

Sights

See also


External links

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Last updated on Thursday September 25, 2008 at 07:13:59 PDT (GMT -0700)
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