Balloch

The main settlement on Loch Lomond-side is BALLOCH, at the southwestern corner of the loch, where the water channels into the River Leven for its short journey south to the sea in the Firth of Clyde. Surrounded by housing estates and overstuffed with undistinguished guest houses, Balloch has few redeeming features, and is little more than a suburb of the much larger factory town of ALEXANDRIA, to the south. Balloch has big plans for a new marina and pier development to the north of the town, which will include a visitor centre showing a film entitled "The Legend of the Loch", as well as numerous shopping outlets (www.lomondshores.com). For a more edifying view over the loch, walk over the river and then into extensive mature grounds of Balloch Castle Country Park, to the northeast. Formerly a Lennox stronghold, the present mock-Gothic castle dates from 1808 and was built by local capitalist and one-time Tory MP John Buchanan. It's now a visitor centre (Easter-Oct daily 10am-6pm; free), and really only of use as a wet-weather refuge; the views from its terrace over the loch, however, are lovely.

Balloch has a direct train connection with Glasgow Queen Street, and opposite the train station stands the area's main tourist office (daily: July & Aug 9.30am-6.30pm; June & Sept 9.30am-6pm; April, May & Oct 10am-5pm; tel 01389/753533). There's really little point in basing yourself in Balloch, though it's worth mentioning that Scotland's most beautiful SYHA hostel, a turreted building complete with ghost (tel 01389/850226, www.syha.org.uk; April-Oct), lies two miles northwest of Balloch train station, just off the A82; you can either walk there from Balloch, or if you're travelling by bus, ask the driver to drop you off close by. In Balloch itself there's the year-round Lomond Woods Holiday Park, in Tullichewan (tel 01389/759475, www.holiday-parks.co.uk), an excellent campsite which also rents out bikes.

Various operators offer boat cruises from beside the bridge over the River Leven, taking you around the 33 islands scattered across the loch: Mullens Cruises (tel 01389/751481) operates daily trips on the Lomond Duchess and the Lomond Maid (£5); Sweeney's Cruises (tel 01389/752376, www.sweeney.uk.com ) runs one-hour trips departing hourly (starting at around £5), while their daily Balloch-Luss cruise leaves at 2.30pm (£7.50), and ninety-minute evening cruises operate daily during July and August only, leaving at 7.30pm (£6.50).

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Our cottages:

Loch Lomond Lodge Near Balloch, Stirlingshire Sleeps: 6, Bedrooms: 3

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