Loch Lomond & The Trossachs
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 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.
History
The Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park was the first of the two national parks established by the Scottish Parliament in 2002; the second is the Cairngorms National Park. The Park became fully operational on 19 July 2002 and was officially opened by Princess Anne on 24 July 2002.
Geography
The Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park can easily be divided into four distinct parts. They are:
Argyll Forest Park
The Argyll Forest Park stretches from the western shores of Loch Lomond south as far as Holy Loch, providing spectacular scenery on the peninsula. The park includes the Arrochar Alps, north of Glen Croe and Glen Kinglas, whose Munros offer some of the best climbing in Argyll: Ben Ime (3318ft) is the tallest of the range, and Ben Arthur or "The Cobbler" (2891ft) easily the most distinctive
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 3,191 ft (973 m). 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.
Visitor Attractions
- The Argyll Forest
- Balquhidder - Rob Roy's grave
- Balloch Castle Country Park
- Ben Lawers National Nature Reserve
- Blair Drummond Safari Park
- Bracklinn Falls
- Duck Bay
- Gartartan Farm Shop
- Hermitage Park
- Inchmurrin Island
- Inchmaholme Priory
- Linn Botanic Gardens & Nursery
- Loch Lomond Aquarium
- Loch Lomond Bird Of Prey Centre
- Luss Village Paths
- "Maid of the Loch" - Historic Paddle Steamer on Loch Lomond
- Mansefield Studios
- Rob Roy McGregors cave
- The Titan Crane
- West Highland Way