Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park scotland (original) (raw)

A National Park in Scotland ! What's it all about?

The National Park encompasing Loch Lomond and the Trossachs covers around 700 square miles and as it straddles the highland boundary between highlands and lowlands it includes contrasting landscapes with mountains, lochs, rivers, forests and miles of rolling lowland hills. Visitors from all over the works come to enjoy the beauty of the National Park . The map on the right shows all tourist information centres in and around the Park.

The Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park opened in July 2002 and the extent of the national park has been defined to encompasses the whole of Loch Lomond, the Trossachs, the area around Callander, Balloch in the south to Crianlarich and Killin to the north, (and a bit more besides over to the west of Loch Lomond to Loch Long, Gareloch and Strachur in the Cowal Peninsula).

This is where the Highlands meet the Lowlands, where the lochs, mountains, rivers and villages hold secrets of history, legend and tradition.

It's a place where visitors can enjoy adventure, sport or tranquility when they Visit Scotland.

There are over twenty Munros (mountains over 3,000 feet), 19 Corbetts ( 2,500 to 3,000 feet), over twenty lochs, dozens of 'lochans', 50 rivers and two forest parks in the National Park. This wonderful outdoor environment attracts many outdoor enthusiasts every year. Popular outdoor activities include walking, cycling, mountaineering, water sports, golf, horse riding, wildlife viewing and many more

The Park is home to many bird species including birds of prey. The capercaillie is one of the iconic animals in the National Park. Other wildlife in the Park includes deer, red and grey squirrels, badgers, hedgehogs, bats and more.

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National Park Aims

The National Park is managed by the National Park Authoritiy. The Authority is responsible for three core activities:

• Conservation, visitor experience and rural development. Conservation is necessary to ensure that the natural heritage including land and water resources is managed in a sustainable way.
• Promoting the National Park as a sustainable tourism destination.
• Rural development, the third core activity, ensures that the Park has a local distinctiveness and the quality of life for the local communities improves. There is an outdoor access code by the Park Authorities.

The Areas within the National Park

The four Areas of the park have been named:

Loch Lomond

The area surrounding Loch Lomond, including Balloch, Rowardennan, Balmaha, Luss, Tarbet and Ardlui. Ben Lomond is on the east side of Loch Lomond and motor launches ply the loch between the islands. Cruises operate from Balloch and Balmaha.

This tends to be the best known and often most crowded area and is the 'water playground'. Many choose to stay away from Loch lomond because of this and will make Loch Lomond a 'day out' rather than their base. Ideal for those interested in water sports and boat trips. The rail link from Glasgow terminates at Balloch near the Gateway centre. Bus services operate on the west side of the loch en-route to the west highlands. The east shore road to Balmaha and Rowardennan is mostly single track after Balmaha. but is always popular.

Argyll

The western area including Helensburgh, Strachur, Arrochar and the Argyll forest park. Three sealochs penetrate this area, giving it an interest not seen in the other parts.

This is the land of forests and sea lochs. Loch Long, Loch Goil and The Gare loch are the better known lochs. Includes such resorts as Helensburgh and Dunoon - much loved by the Glasgow folks in the mid 20th c for the annual holiday 'doon the watter'. The Cobbler, or Ben Arthur is at the head of Loch Long near Arrochar .

Often referred to as 'The Highlands in Minature' - Less well known than Lomond area, but having a larger variety of scenery, mountains and lochs is often preferred by those interested in scenery, walking, cycling and hill walking. The area is steeped in history and tradition and was the haunt of Rob Roy MacGregor. Loch Katrine in the heart of Trossachs is well known for 100 year old pleasure Steamer Sir Walter Scott. Popular for corporate events and team building as well as leisure activities.

Breadalbane

The northern area including Glen Dochart, Killin and Glenogle. For vaguely political reasons, St Fillans and Loch Tay are excluded. Several well known Munroes lie in this area.

This is the part of Highland Scotland once owned by the notorious Campbell family and 'Black Duncan Campbell' with his castle at Killin. Vast open spaces here with some of the highest mountains and longest glens in Scotland. Loch Tay offers watersport facilities.

The landscape and history

A landscape formed by vulcanism, ice, water and over five thousand years of human occupation forms the heart of the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. This countryside of lochs, woodland, mountains and moorland has fascinated visitors since the early nineteenth century, when they first came here to view the wonders of nature.

Now, at the start of the twenty-first century, these same wonders still bring thousands of visitors every year.

It could be said that the sight of a visitor complete with camera and tartan bonnet is not unknown here!

Things to do and see

Whatever your interests or reasons for taking your holiday, there is something for everyone in Scotland's first National Park.

See Loch Lomond homepage for more things to do.

For architecture and history enthusiasts there are many towns and villages with historical buildings. The town of Stirling is nearby the National Park and has many interesting attractions such as the Old Town Jail, Stirling Castle and the Wallace Monument. One of the most popular attractions in the heart of the Trossachs is the SS Walter Scott, the 100 year old steamer on Loch Katrine. Experience the traditional Scottish hospitality and enjoy Scotland’s national drink, whisky, by visiting a distillery on the whisky lovers trail.

Throughout the whole year the National Park Authority and local communities in the National Park organise events for the whole family. This includes guided walks, festivals, markets, concerts and of course the Highland Games. No matter which season, there is always something interesting to see and to do in Scotland’s first National Park.

The Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park can be reached easily from Glasgow, Edinburgh, Stirling from the south or Fort William and Oban from the north. About 50% of the inhabitants in Scotland live less than an hour away from the Park by car.

Conservation

The Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park provides many important habitats. The native oak and birch, which once covered much of the land, have been reduced, mainly by the activity of man to a few small remnants which are home to a huge variety of plants and animals.

The National park is not just about tourism. The over-riding function of a National Park is to protect and maintain the environment of the park so that we and future generations may continue to enjoy this unique environment. The greatest challenge to the management of the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park is to balance the needs of conservation with the increasing demands of tourism and the harsh economics of modern life.

The Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park came into being in 2002.

Visit Loch Lomond and The Trossachs - see for yourself.

Queen Elizabeth Forest Park in The Trossachs Scotland

Disclaimer

The Trossachs - the place to be! Callander - the place to be in The Trossachs. Callander in the Trossachs - the place to be in the Loch Lomond National Park