Loch Lomond Gallery. Balloch Castle Country Park. Walled Garden.

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A gallery of photos taken around Loch Lomond, Balloch and Balloch Castle Country Park. Above is a Loch Lomond Shores info board and a nice varied walk can be had on minor roads and wooded trails from here up the western shore of this famous loch.

We started off at the free car park in Balloch near the country park then crossed the River Leven, seen here above, before walking to Lomond Shores. Outdoor TV legend Tom Weir was once quoted as saying " The great thing about Balloch is that it's easy to get out of..." but that's a bit harsh as it is a scenic spot. Loads of moored boats dot the River Leven around Balloch and its popular with tourists and walkers most of the year. A frequent train service from Glasgow and various buses also drop you very close to both the country park and Lomond Shores so its easy to reach as well.

This building houses an aquarium...kayaks, Segway electric scooters and a tree top adventure course can also be hired if you have the spare cash.

The tree top route is in a good spot and fairly long compared to some others I've seen but obviously geared to extract coins from peoples pockets. As usual our wallets stayed shut, apart from a cheeky wee smoked sausage from the chip shop afterwards

A nice period pub in Balloch.

Tour boats operate around Balloch Pier. Loch Lomond is one of the biggest inland lochs in Scotland (freshwater not a sea loch)  has 23 wooded islands, mainly at the shallower, wider southern end and grows both narrower and deeper the further north into the mountains it travels. We were originally supposed to be heading for the mountain peaks to do a Munro but when we arrived the forecast had changed to mist, drizzle and dull conditions. The story of the west coast Scottish summer this year.

If we had headed further north as intended we would not have seen much as the mountains stayed buried in thick mist most of the day. A view here of Inchmurrin, the largest island in the loch. Several of the biggest islands are inhabited with farms, a few cottages, (Inchmurrin has a seasonal pub, which I've been in, and a very hardy nudest colony... which I've never seen a member of in 40 odd years of hopeful staring from my kayak)
As it was such a revelation to me years ago when I first explored the wonderful archipelago of islands out here after many years of racing past them in various cars to do the Scottish Munros I knew I had to give them a major chapter in my outdoor comedy novel Autohighography and drop an obvious clue as to my early years, somewhat unorthodox, methods for finding certain club members. Once a collector -always a collector.

Tour boat with the slopes of Ben Lomond behind, Scotland's most southerly Munro, rising into the mist.

Autumn colours beside the Maid of the Loch, a static paddle steamer which is free to visit.

A better view from the other side. Hopefully at some point they will have raised enough funds to properly restore it and get it operating again. I presume it will then be confined to the 23 mile long, 5 miles across at the widest point, loch. A large boat, even for Loch Lomond.

The shore walk takes you past Cameron House Hotel, an upmarket establishment where the sea plane is now based. Flights start at £100 pounds or thereabouts.

The seaplane coming in to the landing jetty.

Duck Bay Marina, a popular hotel and summer picnic spot with a large grassy meadow and long parking bays overlooking the loch. At this point we circled round to the front entrance gates of Cameron House and a different wooded path takes you back not far from the main road but still secluded and enjoyable through open woodlands.

We then had the option of following the River Leven downstream, past all the boats, until we reached the quieter middle section of the river at Alexandria.

Cyclists on the River Leven path which makes a fine walk/ cycle in itself from Dumbarton to Balloch. Worn out from fighting wars with the English to gain Scottish Independence Robert the Bruce settled near here in a mansion house to spend his final years, hunting ducks in the nearby Leven Swamp and sailing on the river past Dumbarton into the expansive Firth of Clyde.
A spot of lunch and a rest followed before we cut back via Alexandria main street and its lovely park, seen here.

Autumn flower displays.

Former motor factory now an outlet shopping arcade in Alexandria.

A detail above the entrance doors.

Balloch Castle and Country Park. A popular large former grand estate containing many different varieties of trees, sweeping meadows, small sandy beaches beside the loch,... and a pretty walled garden, which featured in the last post. (most photos were taken around this garden in the last post but a couple were included from Glasgow parks to get a full spectrum of colours.)

                                                      The Walled Garden. A panorama.

                                                          October trees in Balloch

                                               And a last view of Loch Lomond, below.

I thought readers might enjoy this. Ireland is rightly famed for its musical talent where it seems almost every family has someone in it that can play an instrument, sing, or dance to a very high standard. Unlike Glasgow and the Highlands where pubs are shutting at an alarming rate, after the smoking ban and cheap supermarket booze offers, I noticed on trips to Ireland that the pubs there are still thriving. No wonder though when you have ability like this on show. As reported on here earlier we went to the Merchant City Festival in Glasgow a couple of months ago and ended up in the Barras Market instead as it was mainly food pop up stands everywhere and not much genuine street entertainment going on.
Few cities or towns in the world can beat Ireland for putting on a show and they seem to be able to play together seamlessly at the drop of a hat. When I was learning the piano I never could and anyone else playing alongside me just put me off. I wasn't good enough, basically. This is a brilliant video set in Ennis, a town in County Clare near the River Shannon. What tourist looking for something different or unique wouldn't want to be in the crowd walking down that street? Ireland is also famous in recent years for quality food at all income levels. Although we have great scenery and a colourful history, Scotland certainly has a lot to learn in some areas. Also noticed on visits the towns and villages in Ireland all look like Tobermory, i.e a wonderland of colourful houses and villages that sparkle and cheer the mood, even in the rain...we have Tobermory ...and that's it. Tobermory on Mull is a photogenic Scottish tourist attraction yet it really has nothing extra over other Scottish villages except its painted waterfront houses. Definitely missing a golden opportunity there... for a few tins of paint and some creative imagination.

DIY Image on a door in the park. Presumably put up unofficially by an unpaid young local artist, showing his or her stencil skills. Every town or village usually has someone with artistic flair- many going unrecognized at present.
 For example... why not Scottish flower murals-like thistles, yellow poppies, lupins etc... pastel or vivid, subtle muted basic tartan patterns,nothing garish though, or black and white stencil drawings on some of the prominent houses, pubs or shops-obviously not all...or a village mural trail painted by the local youngsters... mix it up for each village or town that looks fairly drab and uniform at the moment ( a lot of them currently do :o) to make each different and stand out but keep the better ones as they are now- i.e. Scottish traditional white or grey cottages...like the sparkling white ones on Islay as they are perfect already....we don't have to copy Ireland's flair -we can surely invent our own individual style... but still keep good taste as to the design. Even a dozen or so extra villages, like Tobermory, but different and individual, would boost the local economy.











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