We've had our first flurries of January snow here at Appletree Cottage, Loch Lomond....

Beautiful crisp days.  The red roof of our barn shines bright in the sunshine

A short walk down our quiet single track road gives another discovery at every corner...

The mists lift at Appletree Cottage and the trees sparkle in the sunshine

...A short drive away, in stunning rural countryside, the mists drift off the distant hills

Despite the rural appearance of these photos, civilization is close by!  Great eateries and pubs are 5 minutes from Appletree Cottage, Glasgow 35 minutes and Stirling a 30 minute drive.  Quality shopping on the shores of Loch Lomond and Loch Lomond itself only 15 minutes.

For those of unfamiliar with, Appletree, the cottage or lodge is a recently purpose built high quality self-catering holiday home at the southern end of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park.
The cottage sleeps eight people in four bedrooms - choice of twins or doubles.
Each bedroom has its own private bathroom with walk-in shower (or shower and bath) wash basin and WC. 
Underfloor heating keeps the wonderful open plan Lounge / Dining room / Kitchen toasty whilst wonderful views never fail to enthral whatever the weather.
The log fire and free Netflix add interest to the winter evenings.
It is suitable for families or groups who have a member with restricted mobility (see our website)
Appletree Cottage is on a quiet road, away from traffic noise, but close to shops, pub, eateries etc. as well as handy for Glasgow and Stirling.
Come and give us a try - you won't be disappointed!

Its a beautiful sunny day at Appletree Cottage and we decide to go for a drive
It takes us about fifteen minutes to drive to Aberfoyle.  From Aberfoyle we continue straight ahead along the main street (signposted Inversnaid and Stronachlachar)
A very pretty road takes us along the shores of Loch Ard where the water is still as glass.
Loch Ard is the source of the river Forth which at this stage is just a medium sized burn.
After passing the tiny village if Kinlochard the road enters a pretty birchwood forest and soon we see Loch Chon through the trees with menacing slopes towering above it on the far side.  Passing places allow vehicles to pass on the narrow track.
Eventually the road straightens out and we leave the forest.  To our left is Loch Arklet and we can see right down it to the gap in the hills in the distance where the road descends to Inversnaid on the remote eastern shore of Loch Lomond.
Soon we come to a T junction and the first house we've seen for a while.  We take the right hand-turn and descend for about two miles to the hamlet of Stronachlachar.

Loch Katrine is the setting for "The Lady of the Lake' written by Sir Walter Scott and hugely popular in 1810.  Fittingly the two pleasure boats which ferry passengers around the loch are called "The Sir Walter Scott" and "The Lady of the Lake"
However, there are no boats out today.  The water is beautiful, still and eerie and a mist shrouds the hills and adds to a sense of mystery.   The pier lies empty awaiting the visitors in warmer months.

The cafe is closing and although there had been other customers, we were now the only ones left.  We thanked the friendly staff and started to make our way home.
Back at the T junction (the one with the house) we decided to take a quick detour down to Inversnaid.  After following the shore of Loch Arklet we passed a small castellated dam at the head of the loch and then commenced our descent towards Inversnaid.
It was beginning to get dark when we reached Inversnaid Hotel - a huge building on the eastern shore of Loch Lomond.  Only accessible by foot, boat or the road on which we had come the hotel is popular with walkers on the West Highland Way which crosses its doorstep.  Across the loch we can see the lights of Tarbet village nestling in a gap between the hills.

As light was fast disappearing, we decided to make our way home.  On the way we again passed Loch Ard, bathed in the fading evening gloaming....