A splendid sunny stroll up at Sallochy

30/1/2021

Exploring the Eastern Shore of Loch Lomond from Appletree Cottage

On a beautiful clear sunny day we drove for a a few minutes up the east side of Loch Lomond from Drymen to the pretty Sallochy Bay for exercise in the fresh air.

A jetty north of Sallochy Bay looking south.

Sallochy Bay is just a couple of miles past Milarrochy Bay which we visited in the mist and fog. (see blog)
Sallochy Bay car park and camp site which is on the West Highland Way is run by the forestry commission and is a small well-kept peaceful area on the eastern shore of the loch. Across the water the magnificent Luss hills rise out of the water covered in snow at this time of year.

View to the west on a gorgeous January afternoon

Luxury family holiday cottage Loch Lomond

Bridge from the car park across the Alli a'Mhuitinn burn

From the car park we walked north across the foot bridge over crystal clear waters of the Allt a'Mhuitinn burn past a couple of picnic tables which in this area are built with a steel plate to hold a disposable barbecue. We followed the tree lined footpath hugging the shoreline which forms part of the West Highland Way.

The path through the woods follows the shoreline.

At this time of year, one is able to see the buildings of Glasgow University's Scottish Centre for Ecology and the Natural Environment station discreetly hidden up on the hillside. Down on the shore at this point an attractive jetty runs out into the water beside a small pumping station. At any other time of year, they would be hidden from the view by foliage.

Buildings of the Ecology and Natural Environment station hidden in the trees

Jetty pointing south

All the way along the route we come across one secluded small bay after another

Loch Lomond and fully en-suite holiday cottage Croftamie

Many secluded tiny bays are on the route

Sallochy lies on a strata of slate, which runs through from the Aberfoyle Slate Quarries across Loch Lomond to Luss on the western shore and beyond. The small slate pebbles make excellent material for skiing stones across the surface of the water. Many happy hours can be spent doing this!

Fully en-suite holiday cottage for 8 Loch Lomond

Skiffing stones can be an absorbing pastime

Magical mist at Milarrochy Bay, Loch Lomond

24/1/2021

Beautiful eastern Shore of Loch Lomond

Loch Lomond luxury holiday cottage for eight

Still waters at Milarrochy Bay

Another misty January day here at Appletree Cottage and Shandon Farm. So we hop in the car and head up to Milarrochy Bay, just past Balmaha on the east shore of Loch Lomond and about 15 minutes away. The car park is nearly empty and just a handful of people have come to exercise here.

Loch Lomond luxury self-catering lodge in Croftamie

Is this the most photographed tree on Loch Lomond?

As we arrived the mists were beginning to clear. Looking to the north the sun was beginning to warm the hills and lift the mists.

Loch Lomond luxury self catering Appletree Cottage

Looking north from Milarrochy Bay Loch Lomond

Milarrochy bay is a hugely popular place for swimmers, sunbathers and paddlers in the summer. However hardly a soul was to be seen there today.

Loch Lomond holiday cottage fully en-suite for 8

Tom Weir resting on his travels

After a bit of a walk at Milarrochy we headed home stopping off briefly at Balmaha. The boatyard is currently closed to all visitors but we walked round to the pier past the statue of Tom Wier the famous climber and walker who for many years hosted his travelogue of Scotland on Scottish Television. Brother of Molly Weir ("Cleans baths without scratching" and star of Rent-a-ghost TV series), he covered hundreds of miles in his pursuit of exploring the remoter parts of Scotland.

Balmaha nearAppletree Self Catering Loch Lomond

The pontoons and moorings at Balmaha were encased in ice

The moorings and pontoons at Balmaha were frozen over but the ice nearest the shore had been broken - perhaps by the ducks which seemed very keen to greet us!

Wildlife near Appletree Cottage Loch Lomond

A duck (male mallard)

Another duck (female mallard)

After our brief stroll down to the passenger pier it was back in the car and return to Appletree Cottage and Shandon Farm.

Loch Lomond has fab self catering at Appletree Cottage

Beautiful Sunset at Appletree this evening

20/1/2021

Sunset at Appletree Self Catering Loch Lomond

Looking west (of course) from Appletree's patio

A dry but overcast day which gave way to this magnificent sunset. Rushed indoors to get the camera and just made it in time.

Sunset at Luxury self catering for eight Loch Lomond

Appletree Self Catering Cottage and the sunset.

Hopefully this means that the weather will be good tomorrow!

Sun, snow and blue skies - a perfect day

15/1/2021

Strathendrick Golf Club, Drymen, Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park in the Snow

We've had a few days of snow here at Appletree Cottage which gives a whole different appearance to the area. Stunning when the sun is out. By way of exercise, we went for a walk around Strathendrick Golf Course which is one mile away from Appletree Cottage

Luxury self catering accommodation Drymen

Looking down the 6th at Strathendrick Golf Course

Strathendrick Golf Club

This excellent and beautifully maintained nine hole course was created in the early 1900s, by Willie Fernie. As well as some challenging holes it has some of the bet views you will find on a golf course anywhere.

Strathendrick Golf near Appletree luxury self catering cottage

Strathendrick Golf Course club house

The original distinctive clubhouse is still in position but there was not a should around when we visited on this snowy day apart from a couple of dog walkers in the distance.

Strathendrick Golf Course near Appletree Luxury Cottage

Deer on Strathendrick Golf Course

A herd of deer occupied the fourth hole - taking their opportunities whilst the course was empty. they quickly legged up to the 5th as we approached.

Strathendrick Golf Cours near Appletree luxury holiday cottage

Footbridge to the second green at Strathendrick Golf Club

Sun, snow and blue skies were the order of the day. We appeared to be the first people to cross the bridge over the gorge on the second hole that afternoon.

Drymen Golf Cours near Appletree self-catering holiday lodge

Second Hole at Strathendrick Golf Course can be a bit tricky - driving across a canyon!

The course is open to visitors and charges a modest fee for a day ticket. Apart from competition days there is usually plenty of space. It is well worth a visit.

Endrick Water near Appletree luxury holiday let

Endrick Water runs past Strathendrick Golf Course

As we walked back to the car we walked along the bank of the Endrick Water which runs along the western side of the course. Ice was beginning to form on the water as the temperature dropped.

Appletree Cottage Luxury self catering for eight people

Appletree Cottage Luxury fully en-suite self-catering for eight people.

After an excellent walk it was back to Shandon Farm and Appletree Cottage for a cup of tea.

Fifth hole at Strathendrick - who can ask for better?

A beautiful day to go up the Whangie!

12/1/2021

The Whangie rock formation accessed from Queen's View on the A809

On a gorgeous crisp clear sunny January day, we take a walk up the famous Whangie.

The Whangie from luxury self catering Loch Lomond

Part of the famous Whangie rock formations

The Whangie is a bizarre and most unusual rock formation at the eastern end of the Kilpatrick hills. To get to it we drove for ten minutes south from Appletree Cottage and along the A809 until reaching Queen's View car park. From there a track leads up the side of the hill to the site.

The Whangie luxury self catering for eight

The path from Queen's View car park up to the Whangie

Although the path has been made up and maintained - with good styles, gates and walks over the boggiest bits it is recommended that secure stout footwear is worn.
The path follows the north flank of the hill and can be icy in winter.
The walk up to the Whangie takes about 30-40 minutes.

The Whangie near luxury self catering for eight Loch Lomond

View to the north looking up Loch Lomond. Ben Lomond is the highest peak on the right.

The views on the ascent are fantastic. To the north one can see Loch Lomond with Ben Lomond towering above it on the eastern side whilst the Arrochar Alps in the distance look exciting for further adventure on another day!
To the east there are views down the fourth valley with Killearn and Balfron villages nestling in the dip..

Looking east down the Fourth Valley with the villages of Killearn and Balfron in the middle distance

And to the south east lie the Campsie hills.

Family self catering Loch Lomond near Glengoyne Distillery

The western end of the Campsie Hills with Drumgoyne being the lump centre of frame. At the foot of Drumgoyne is the famous (and excellent) Glengoyne distillery

Arriving at the Whangie

The Whangie arrives quite suddenly and unexpectedly. It is not like any of the hills or geology which surround it.

The Whangie near Luxury family self catering Loch Lomond

Part of The Whangie

An unusual geological phenomenon the Whangie is the result of what is called "glacial plucking". This is caused when extreme low temperatures froze slabs of the basalt rock to the glacier. As the glacier moved the rocks stayed attached and were plucked from the hillside, causing a split and lean sheer rock walls rising above either side of the gap.

The Whangie near Family self catering for eight loch lomond

Looking through the fissure in the rock

It is possible to walk all the way through the cleft in the hillside

The craggy vertical sides are very popular with climbers

Ancient rocks shaped by glaciers and wind

The Whangie is hugely popular with local climbers due to it being easily accessible. The craggy stable rocks form many faces, gully and chimneys for the climbers to try out, practice and learn their skills.
More about climbing at the Whangie and its various routes can be found here: https://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/crags/the_whangie-193

Luxury holiday cottage Loch Lomond from the Whangie

Looking north from the Whangie to Loch Lomond and its surrounding hills

After a good look around, we climbed to the trig point at the top of the hill and thence to a cairn on the east. From there the views were panoramic. As well as Loch Lomond and its surrounding hills to the north, the Forth Valley to the east and the Campsie, we could see south to Glasgow with the distant high-rise flats on its outskirts clearly visible in the bright sunshine

The Whangie near Luxury cottage for eight Loch Lomond

Looking down to Glasgow and the south.

We followed the crest of the hill on the journey back to the car. This we agreed was preferable to the initial climb route as it was in the sun and less icy - although a little boggy here and there.
As the terrain began to tail off downhill we were treated to an excellent view of Glengoyne Distillery at the foot of Drumgoyne hill.

The Whangie near Appletree luxury holiday lodge for 8

Glengoyne distillery is the white building on the left, Drumgoyne is the smaller pointy hill centre right.

Glengoyne is one of the few whiskies in Scotland to be made without the use of peat. The water for its superb distillation is taken from the burn which runs down the hillside.

Appletree Cottage luxury self catering Loch Lomond and the Trossachs national park

Looking towards Ben Lomond in the distance. Appletree Cottage is the building to the left of the white farmhouse and red roofed barn in the centre of frame (Shandon Farm)

After a great walk we made our way down to Queen's view car park and drove back to Appletree Cottage at Shandon Farm - with perhaps the prospect of a dram of Glengoyne later!

The Whangie near Luxury Self catering holiday cottage drymen

The cairn looking east along Forth Valley towards Killearn, Balfron and Stirling

Foggy day and a feathered friend

7/1/2021

Grouse and some fog at Appletree luxury self catering cottage Loch Lomond

Freezing fog around Appletree Cottage today. I was out taking photos when I came across this pheasant looking a little surprised to see me. The cottage has been empty for some time due to covid and he may have become used to having the run of the place with nobody around to disturb him.