We have been fortunate enough to visit Loch Lomond a few times now. This part of the world is simply beautiful. We’ve compiled a list of 10 things to do around Loch Lomond.
Loch Lomond Shores
Loch Lomond Shores is a wonderful centre and a must-visit for tourists to the area. You’ll find a whole range of shops here. From chains such as Sports Direct to local, independent stores where you can buy those gifts and souvenirs.
There is also a Sea Life Centre which is very popular with tourists to the area. Our daughter enjoys burning some energy in the children’s play area.
There is always something going on here. Musicians play live music here and on certain days there is a local market which is held here.
Doune Castle
If you’re a Monty Python fan, like myself, then you’ll recognise Doune Castle as a location used in the filming of Monty Python and the Holy Grail. This 14th-century castle was also used in the pilot episode of Game of Thrones. It is a beautiful castle and well worth a visit. We spent a couple of hours wandering throughout the building and exploring the grounds.
The castle is extremely well-preserved and there are many rooms to explore.
You can listen to an audio guide as you wander through the castle which was narrated by none other than Monthy Python legend, the late, great Terry Jones.
For Monty Python fans, you can purchase empty coconut shells from the gift shop and re-create your very own Monthy Python scenes. I must admit we spent a huge amount of time playing around in front of the castle doing just that!
Luss
For those wanting to explore the water’s edge, we can highly recommend a visit to the village of Luss. Luss is located on the Western shore of Loch Lomond. There are ample routes to the shores from the village.
Luss is just one of the many small villages that lie along the shores of Loch Lomond.
Sweeney Cruises
If you’d like to see as much of Loch Lomond as possible, then I recommend getting onto the water itself and booking yourself a cruise.
We have used Sweeney Cruises on a number of different visits. An hour-long cruise enables you to see the Loch from a different angle – from the water itself. From here you’ll see just how vast the Loch is. The audio guide played through the speakers will give you an insight into the Loch’s history as you sail up and down this vast expanse of water. You’ll learn of Viking exploration and early settlements.
A cruise will also allow you to see some of the castles built along the shores.
There is a huge range of cruise options to choose from including evening cruises.
William Wallace Monument
The Wallace monument commemorates Scotland’s 13th/14th-century hero who led the Scots to victory over the English at The Battle of Stirling Bridge. Not for the faint of heart. The Wallace Monument is a 19th-century tower which stands at 67 meters. The tower is located on Abbey Craig, a huge hillside overlooking Stirling.
It took us a good half an hour to climb the hillside and reach the tower itself. Disabled visitors or those with limited mobility can make use of the minibus service which will take you up and down the hill. I consider myself relatively fit and healthy and it was challenging, but perfectly doable for myself and my 9-year-old. I would suggest you give yourself plenty of time for the walk, regardless of your fitness level.
Sadly because we had the dog, we were unable to explore the monument itself, however, we did take advantage of the panoramic views on offer from the base of the tower.
There is a gift shop and a large car park at the base of the hillside with toilets and a cafe too.
Blair Drummond Safari Park
One of the largest attractions close to Loch Lomond is Blair Drummond Safari Park. I must admit, this is one of the best safari parks we have ever visited. The attraction itself is large offering the opportunity for a full day of family fun.
On the safari, we saw plenty of animals in a seemingly very well-looked-after and maintained park.
A walk can be taken which allows you to see the animals from a different angle.
There is a huge children’s play area where we spent a huge amount of time. From here you can get a glimpse of some of the animals.
Visitors can take a different kind of safari and get up close and personal with the resident dinosaurs! This was phenomenal!
Picnics are welcomed as are BBQs. You can rent a BBQ from the attraction and cook your own food on it! Otherwise, we highly recommend the wood-fired pizzas!
Stirling Castle
Not far from the Wallace Monument stands Stirling Castle. A castle has stood on this site since the 12th century, however, the buildings we see today were constructed between the 15th and 17th centuries.
Sadly, like most castles in Scotland, dogs are not permitted. So we had to take turns to quickly explore the castle while the others waited outside with the dog.
Because of this, we didn’t get to see much of the castle, but we did capture amazing views of the landscape below.
During my time on ‘dog duty’ I wandered around the churchyard and cemetery that lie at the base of the castle. some of the graves date back to the 16th century. And some were rather lavish!
Balloch Castle and Country Park
If you’re looking for a place for the kids to run around and play, then Balloch Country Park is a great spot!
Lying with the castle grounds, the park lies on the shores of Loch Lomond. We enjoyed a picnic and watched the activities on the water as the kids played.
Smiddy Farm Shop
We always start the day with a trip to Smiddy! The cafe at Smiddy is second to none. The food is delicious and reasonably priced. Furthermore, they permit dogs in the cafe. Food is served throughout the day.
In the farm shop, you’ll find all sorts of tasty treats from fresh meats to biscuits and cakes.
Mains Farm
It’s where we stay every time we visit Stirling – Mains Farm in their Glamping pods. If you like the idea of camping but like a toilet and shower (as we do) then glamping is a great option. For more about glamping, see my post Our Wigwam Glamping Experiences.
Mains Farm is ideally located lying close to all the attractions listed above. The glamping pods themselves are always clean and study. The location is fabulous. The farm is quiet and peaceful and you really feel like you’re in the countryside. Mains Farm is around a 40-minute drive to the western shore of Loch Lomond and around an 18-minute drive from Stirling Castle.
I hope you’ve enjoyed our list of 10 things to do around Loch Lomond. If you have any ideas, please let us know in the comments below.
