Loch Lomond
I’ve commented about this before, but it’s amazing how much I took for granted when I grew up in Dumbarton, a mere 6 miles or so from the recently opened Loch Lomond National Park, it was something I took for granted. Revisiting it yesterday was truly like seeing it for the first time.

Obviously the mode of transport helped, as did a hearty lunch of mince-n-tatties, a couple of beers, a bottle of wine and the company of some old friends. Ultimately the scenery stole the show. We trawled up the loch, leaving Cameron House marina behind us, lunched on Inchmurrin, and headed past Inchmoan, and onwards to the head of the loch. There are many better websites out there that will give you the details, but of the facts I do know, we were travelling on the longest (26 miles), deepest loch (or lake) in the UK.

The day had started out overcast and with a slight chill, a warning of a winter to come, in the air. We met our friends at Cameron House, then headed down to the marina.

They bought their boat 2 years ago but this was the first time I had seen it, and I was dully impressed. Even more impressive was the ease with which they handled it, and the fact that, despite repeated offers, they didn’t need my help. So I joined the others inside and opened a beer.

It’s difficult to put into words just how stunning the Loch is, particularly towards the top end where the mountains plummet down to meet the water’s edge. This is a place hewn from stone and massive amounts of energy. Throwing up several 3000ft+ mountains, and dredging out a 650ft+ channel. It is dramatic and lush and, despite the fact you are less than an hour away from the throbbing metropolis that is Glasgow, you could be anywhere. The gateway to the Highlands no less.

We spent all afternoon touring up the Loch to Inversnaid hotel (an impressive building itself built on the shores of the loch), before turning back. Dusk joined us on the trip back down the water, and we sat in silence as the boat skimmed across the waves, slicing through the water turned pink by the setting sun. Spears of light flickered across the surface of the water as the sun settled behind the mountains. We arrived back in the dark. Lights twinkling from the shore. A wonderful end to a glorious day.