What to around Loch Lomond - Kids in tow
Discussion
Was up there in Feb of this year, going again next Feb for the OHs birthday.
Lovely area. IIRC there is horse riding places and that sort (we didn't do them, chose to walk a lot).
TI centres were VERY helpful, bordering upon brilliant.
Would reccommend 2 things personally:
1) the Loch Cruise. Even on a cold and misty Feb morning, was lovely. Plenty of kids on it who thought it was tanfastic.
2) Drive The Trossacs Trail as the scenery, roads and places you discover are fantastic.
Also, eat out where possible as there are some fantastic restaurants and pubs, all we went in had families in too. Haven't been anywhere as welcoming as Loch Lomond.
The Inverbeg Inn with it's Mr Cs restaurant is fantasic, as is The Cruin, both about 20mins-30mins from Balmaha. As is The Ballehennan {sp} .
Personally, first day you're there a visit to the TI centre is well worth a shout. Also, some internet research prior. The OH and I did a fair bit, and it made the trip far more enjoyable.
Be prepared to drive a bit, not mad amounts of miles, just time in the car as it's little roads and can be busy. So 60limits we were doing 40, that sort of thing.
The 3 cities we went to were all good. Edinburgh, Sterling and Glasgow. You pass Sterling going to the other 2 IIRC. Glasgow was the biggest shock, in terms of how nice it was. Well worth the trip.
Edinburgh we parked & rided it, was easy and cheap.
HTH
Lovely area. IIRC there is horse riding places and that sort (we didn't do them, chose to walk a lot).
TI centres were VERY helpful, bordering upon brilliant.
Would reccommend 2 things personally:
1) the Loch Cruise. Even on a cold and misty Feb morning, was lovely. Plenty of kids on it who thought it was tanfastic.
2) Drive The Trossacs Trail as the scenery, roads and places you discover are fantastic.
Also, eat out where possible as there are some fantastic restaurants and pubs, all we went in had families in too. Haven't been anywhere as welcoming as Loch Lomond.
The Inverbeg Inn with it's Mr Cs restaurant is fantasic, as is The Cruin, both about 20mins-30mins from Balmaha. As is The Ballehennan {sp} .
Personally, first day you're there a visit to the TI centre is well worth a shout. Also, some internet research prior. The OH and I did a fair bit, and it made the trip far more enjoyable.
Be prepared to drive a bit, not mad amounts of miles, just time in the car as it's little roads and can be busy. So 60limits we were doing 40, that sort of thing.
The 3 cities we went to were all good. Edinburgh, Sterling and Glasgow. You pass Sterling going to the other 2 IIRC. Glasgow was the biggest shock, in terms of how nice it was. Well worth the trip.
Edinburgh we parked & rided it, was easy and cheap.
HTH
mgmrw said:
The 3 cities we went to were all good. Edinburgh, Sterling and Glasgow. You pass Sterling going to the other 2 IIRC.
HTH
Whatever you do, don't type StErling into your sat-nav and blindly follow it as you will end up being disappointed. Instead of visiting a lovely town steeped in Scottish history you will end up at a massive furniture shop. On the plus side, you may bump into Dougie Donnelly HTH
Stirling????mgmrw said:
Was up there in Feb of this year, going again next Feb for the OHs birthday.
Lovely area. IIRC there is horse riding places and that sort (we didn't do them, chose to walk a lot).
TI centres were VERY helpful, bordering upon brilliant.
Would reccommend 2 things personally:
1) the Loch Cruise. Even on a cold and misty Feb morning, was lovely. Plenty of kids on it who thought it was tanfastic.
2) Drive The Trossacs Trail as the scenery, roads and places you discover are fantastic.
Also, eat out where possible as there are some fantastic restaurants and pubs, all we went in had families in too. Haven't been anywhere as welcoming as Loch Lomond.
The Inverbeg Inn with it's Mr Cs restaurant is fantasic, as is The Cruin, both about 20mins-30mins from Balmaha. As is The Ballehennan {sp} .
Personally, first day you're there a visit to the TI centre is well worth a shout. Also, some internet research prior. The OH and I did a fair bit, and it made the trip far more enjoyable.
Be prepared to drive a bit, not mad amounts of miles, just time in the car as it's little roads and can be busy. So 60limits we were doing 40, that sort of thing.
The 3 cities we went to were all good. Edinburgh, Sterling and Glasgow. You pass Sterling going to the other 2 IIRC. Glasgow was the biggest shock, in terms of how nice it was. Well worth the trip.
Edinburgh we parked & rided it, was easy and cheap.
HTH
+1 on the above... Even more so on the Inverberg... That's our stop of choice on our trek upto the west coast.Lovely area. IIRC there is horse riding places and that sort (we didn't do them, chose to walk a lot).
TI centres were VERY helpful, bordering upon brilliant.
Would reccommend 2 things personally:
1) the Loch Cruise. Even on a cold and misty Feb morning, was lovely. Plenty of kids on it who thought it was tanfastic.
2) Drive The Trossacs Trail as the scenery, roads and places you discover are fantastic.
Also, eat out where possible as there are some fantastic restaurants and pubs, all we went in had families in too. Haven't been anywhere as welcoming as Loch Lomond.
The Inverbeg Inn with it's Mr Cs restaurant is fantasic, as is The Cruin, both about 20mins-30mins from Balmaha. As is The Ballehennan {sp} .
Personally, first day you're there a visit to the TI centre is well worth a shout. Also, some internet research prior. The OH and I did a fair bit, and it made the trip far more enjoyable.
Be prepared to drive a bit, not mad amounts of miles, just time in the car as it's little roads and can be busy. So 60limits we were doing 40, that sort of thing.
The 3 cities we went to were all good. Edinburgh, Sterling and Glasgow. You pass Sterling going to the other 2 IIRC. Glasgow was the biggest shock, in terms of how nice it was. Well worth the trip.
Edinburgh we parked & rided it, was easy and cheap.
HTH
shocks said:
Hey Folks,
Taking the clan up to Loch Lomond this week and looking for recommendations as to what to do, ages are 4 - 10years old, will be staying around Balmaha.
Looking for activities all can do, horse riding for the girls etc ? any recommendations ?
Ta
Have you booked your accommodation yet? When are you traveling.Taking the clan up to Loch Lomond this week and looking for recommendations as to what to do, ages are 4 - 10years old, will be staying around Balmaha.
Looking for activities all can do, horse riding for the girls etc ? any recommendations ?
Ta
Click on my website theres links for things to do and see in the area.
You can call me if you like, tourism is my business and I know the area well, including some crackin roads to drive before you get to some attractions.
All my details are on my website in my profiles. Pick my brains if you want although some might say that wont take long.lol
Here isa start: http://www.lovelochlomond.com/activities/horseridi...
Frank
Edited by Sunnysidebb on Monday 17th October 18:28
Hey folks
Thanks for all the replies
Yep all booked and here ! Up in rocking Balmaha - will be taking dog along to try the boozer tomorrow (thats the lab btw before I get any comments) @Frank stating at the Loch Lomond Waterfront lodges
Tomorrow we're off to Stirling, dropping the porker of at StuP at SP Autobahn for some fettling and care. So will be without the car which today showed a new talent for being also usable as a high speed aqua foil - sheesh there was some water on the roads, mildly moist isn't even close....
Then hitting the Peaks Leisure centre, was at the River House, great service but food wasn't all it could have been.
Plan for the week is :
(1) Stirling tomorrow - Leisure centre, Castle and then will see what else gives
(2) Arrange horse riding for the girls somewhere - still got to get on the phone to find one that can take them all for Wednesday
(3) Loch Cruise - will be looking at some of the options on these, can't get past SWMBO denying my need to rent a boat, need a plan B here
(4) Few wee strolls along west highland way, girls will no doubt ditch me and head to Loch Lomond shores
Still planning the rest, quite fancy the seaplane sightseeing but may be a bit pricey for all of us (or am I just being tight?)
One of my daughter's friends goes horseriding here http://www.welcometoscotland.com/things-to-do/acti... and recommends it - might be worth a phone call. They would probably enjoy the Aquarium at Lomond Shores too.
Regards boat trips on the loch, one of the best IMO is the mail boat from the boatyard in Balmaha. They take tourists round the islands. Bit late in the year now but if you get a good day it's excellent. I keep my boat at Balmaha, if it wasnt the end of the season and out of the water I'd have taken you for a wee cruise round the islands. The Oak Tree Inn in Balmaha is also a nice spot for a few drinks with a nice open fire.
If your walking up past Rowardennan, keep to the forestry track, will be easier walking with the ground being so wet and you also get some brilliant views of the loch in certain places. Also keep an eye out for the wild mountain goats.
If your walking up past Rowardennan, keep to the forestry track, will be easier walking with the ground being so wet and you also get some brilliant views of the loch in certain places. Also keep an eye out for the wild mountain goats.
Steve,
I've just left you a voicemail.
Mailboat goes on Thursdays only at this time of year. Departing Balmaha at 10.50 am, returning 12 noon.
The other decent option is Loch Lomond Leisure who will take you on a trip at a slightly better speed
You hire a speedboat with driver. They depart from Luss, which is a lovely wee village itself.
A 1 hour trip takes you around most of the islands (including 'the narrows' which is perfectly picturesque), and you can add on 30 minutes to stop at Inchmurrin Island for a drink/ snack. I did it with Rory (5) and Isla (3) and they loved it.
http://www.lochlomond-scotland.com/boat-tours/boat...
Loch Lomond Shores is nice (with good shopping for Louise). The Aquarium is worth a stop and the perfect size for spending an 1 hour with the kids. They have pools where they can touch the fish, turtles, etc
I guess you have seen the lodges now
We stayed there a couple of years back, and I thought they were spacious enough and well appointed.
Pub suggestion (already made above), is the Oak Tree Inn in Balmaha. I've only been in Summer, but the food/ drink was good and they are kid friendly too.
Have fun!
I've just left you a voicemail.
Mailboat goes on Thursdays only at this time of year. Departing Balmaha at 10.50 am, returning 12 noon.
The other decent option is Loch Lomond Leisure who will take you on a trip at a slightly better speed
You hire a speedboat with driver. They depart from Luss, which is a lovely wee village itself. A 1 hour trip takes you around most of the islands (including 'the narrows' which is perfectly picturesque), and you can add on 30 minutes to stop at Inchmurrin Island for a drink/ snack. I did it with Rory (5) and Isla (3) and they loved it.
http://www.lochlomond-scotland.com/boat-tours/boat...
Loch Lomond Shores is nice (with good shopping for Louise). The Aquarium is worth a stop and the perfect size for spending an 1 hour with the kids. They have pools where they can touch the fish, turtles, etc
I guess you have seen the lodges now
We stayed there a couple of years back, and I thought they were spacious enough and well appointed.Pub suggestion (already made above), is the Oak Tree Inn in Balmaha. I've only been in Summer, but the food/ drink was good and they are kid friendly too.
Have fun!
Thanks Folks
All great tips, went to Stirling today - left the car with StuP, wee bit of taking the ladies to lunch then shopping / sightseeing. Bitterly cold in the wind but dog is happy to report that his human owners are insistent of him retrieving his ball from the frigid waters, while he did this numerous times, on the 20th the look he gave said it all - if you think this is fun you bloody get it next time ! all rounded off with a hearty pint or three at Old Oak Inn, lovely wee place, didn't each much owing to large lunch but did have the scallops, yum !
Girls report that the hot chocolate pudding is truly from the gods, so much the Robyn cheekily ordered one after tasting Louise's... going to have watch that one.
@fraser - sorry missed you call - cell service is somewhat absent round here :/ but will defo head to Luss for speedboat tour
Cat & Fraser will try the postie boat on Thursday if we don't get hooked up with the horses all day !!Gassing Station | Scotland | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff