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Eastern Shore, Loch Lomond in Autumn

18/11/2019

 

Wonderful autumn colours await the explorer

Its a beautiful autumn day - clear skies, snow capped mountains and some amazing colours on the trees.
Just around the corner from Appletree Cottage is an interrupted view to the north.
Ben Lomond, its peak covered in snow pokes above the characterful Conic Hill (which forms part of the route of the West Highland Way.  
​This view and the weather inspire a trip up the east shore of the loch...
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Ben Lomond pokes its head above Conic Hill. Taken from close to Appletree Cottage.
The route is via Drymen Village where the road up the eastern side of Loch Lomond turns off to the left.  It takes only a few minutes to pass through the small hamlets en route to the shore.  First is Buchanan Smiddy - a couple of rows of terraced houses on the right hand side of the road.  Next is Milton of Buchanan.  On the right is the old mill which although a private dwelling still retains its mill wheel and some of the internal workings.
After Milton of Buchanan we arrive at Balmaha.   This hamlet grew up around a dye factory which ceased trading when synthetic dyes were produced.  Since then it has grown into a small marina with a number of self catering properties, all squeezed in to get a loch view.
There is a popular pub The Oak Tree, a coffee shop and a small general store.
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Tom Weir's statue stands by a wall at Balmaha
Down by the shore is a statue of Tom Weir, a much celebrated presenter of Scottish Television's hugely popular travelogue of Scotland "Weir's Way"  Tom lived in nearby Gartocharn village and thoughout his long television career travelled to almost every part of Scotland.  The statue often wears a red wooly hat.
Holiday Rental ScotlandPontoons at Balmaha marina
In Balmaha Boatyard most of the boats have been taken out of the water for the winter.  Remaining berthed up at the jetty however is the ferry boat to the isle of Inchcailloch.  This boat, which it is said served at the Dunkirk rescue in the Second World War, transports passengers across the short isthmus to the island which is now a nature reserve.  There are no roads on the island but a foot path leads through the centre to a beach at the western end.  There the wooden picnic tables have been provided with steel plates on which to place a disposable barbecue whilst taking a dip in the secluded gentle sloping bay.  Bit cold at this time of year though.

Picture
Loch Lomond Scotland
Mist creeps gently to fill the gap between Clairiach (left) and Inchcaillach (right) islands on Loch Lomond
Heading further north up the eastern side of the loch is Mallarochy Bay camp and caravan site which is still open at this time of year.  There the loch is still and the leafless trees dark against the water and sky.  The mist is creeping over the headland.
Loch Lomond Scotland
Millarrochy bay looking south
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Millarrochy bay looking south west
After Millarochy bay another campsite at Cashel.  This smaller site is closed for the winter but the low winter sun poking though the trees is nonetheless stunning.  This popular camping site in the summer lies at the foot of Queen Elizabeth Forest, planted with native species in the 1990's, partly funded by the National Lottery.  The nearby Cashel Farm has an exhibition hall and a well maintained small apple orchard to visit.
Loch Lomond holiday rental Scotland
Trees by the shore at Cashel camp site
Still further up the loch is Sallochy Bay.  There are some good walks from this location which we have blogged about in the past.  One route follows the shoreline around Sallochy point, the other is up into the hills to the ruins of a once busy farm steading.
Sallochy bay with its pebbly beach is popular with paddlers, swimmers and picnickers in the summer.  Today it is a perfect place for dog walkers.
Sallochy bay Loch Lomond
Rocks at Sallochy Bay
Loch Lomond Scotland
Sallochy Bay pebbly beach and shore line
The road on the east shore of Loch Lomond does not go all the way up the loch.  It goes as far as Rowardennan Hotel which is at the foot of a path leading up Ben Lomond.  At the end of the road is a car park, a small pier, a caravan site and the aforementioned hotel.
In summer the hotel is a great place to have lunch outside in nice weather.  As well as the terraced patios there is a large well kept lawn leading down to the shore of the loch.
Loch Lomond Scotland
Rowardennan Hotel with its lawn sloping down to the loch shore
Rowardennan was a popular visiting point for The Maid of the Loch paddle steamer.  This ship is currently undergoing renovation in Balloch slipway (see previous blog).  In the meantime the pier is served by vessels from Sweeney's Cruises and the Loch Lomond water bus.
Arrochar Alps Loch Lomond
Looking north from Rowardennan seeing the pier and the snow covered Arrochar Alps in the distance
The view looking north from Rowardennan is fantastic - with the Arrochar Alps in the distance.  Immediately to the west at this point is the small island of Eileen nan Deargainnan (Gaelic meaning Isle of the fleas or sand hoppers)
Eilean nan Deargainnan Loch Lomond
Eileen Nan Deargainnan seen from the shore at Rowardennan
Ben Lomond Scotland
Ben Lomond viewed from near the end of the road at Rowardennan. A path from the car park here leads to the summit at 3,196ft or 974 meters.

Fabulous Autumn Weather at Appletree

4/11/2019

 

Autumn Colours in Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park

Now is a great time to get out and about to see the wonderful autumn colours in Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park.  And where better to stay when doing it than Appletree Luxury Self Catering Cottage in Croftamie.    The berries on the trees this year have been both abundant and bright - some say this heralds a cold winter.
Picture
Autumn Berries
Self-catering Loch Lomond
Looking north to Conic Hill and Ben Lomond
A short stroll (about 100 yards) from the gate of Appletree Cottage takes you round the corner to a fantastic view of the Lomond Hills.  In this picture Ben Lomond is in the far distance between the two trees with its first dusting of snow just peeking above the nearer Conic Hill
DaA short stroll down to Croftamie village takes us onto an old path down to Dalnair House.  The path, a former service road but now much overgrown, runs alongside the catterburn.  The sun lights up the oranges, reds and browns of the autumn leaves fallen on the path ahead.  There is not another soul around in this enchanting and long forgotten part of the former Dalnair estate.
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Autumn Colours in Croftamie
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Catterburn meets the Endrick by the former railway bridge
We find ourselves at the confluence point of the Catterburn (on the left) into the Endrick Water.  In the distance can be seen the former railway crossing which formed part of the Fourth and Clyde Railway running from Balloch to Stirling.  The bridge has been replace with a footbridge and the railway is now a tarmac footpath / cycle track.  Under the footbridge is a huge pipe carrying water from Loch Lomond to towns and cities in the east of Scotland.

​A short trip in the car takes us down to Balloch pier where the Maid of the Loch paddle steamer is undergoing restoration.
As we near the gangway to the former pleasure steam ship the view across the loch to the north east is stunning with Ben Lomond centre frame with its recent first dusting of snow.  This shot was taken during a couple of weeks of wonderful, clear, crisp autumn weather
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Ben Lomond in the distance with its first dusting of snow this season
Maid of the Loch, Loch Lomond
Maid of the Loch berthed at Balloch
The Maid of the Loch was the last steam paddle steamer to be built in the UK.  It was constructed in Glasgow then dismantled and transported by rail to Balloch at the south end of Loch Lomond where it was reassembled.  After serving decades as a pleasure cruiser on the loch, the ship made its last voyage in 1981.  Recently it has been refurbished and the original engine painstakingly reassembled by a team of dedicated volunteers

​
When we visited last weekend the engine was turning once again.  Temporarily powered by a mobile steam boiler on the shore the piston rods and crank shafts could bee seen moving under power for the first time in nearly 40 years.  The team still have to find and install a permanent boiler on board but this is a question of serious funding which they are now pursuing.  It is great however to see progress and moving parts.
Maid of the Loch Loch Lomond
Engines turn for first time in nearly 40 years
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Shandon Farm orchard

​Back home the farm orchard is looking great in its autumnal colours.  The tall yellow willow is beginning to shed a carpet of leaves on the orchard floor as the apple trees slowly follow suit whilst the bright red  Berberis hedge gives striking colour across the lower frame.
A cold winter is supposed to be good for an apple orchard.  So our fingers are crossed for a good harvest next year!
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View from along the road by Appletree Cottage.

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  • HOME
  • SEE INSIDE
    • Why Appletree is fantastic!
  • STEP OUTSIDE
    • Local shops, pubs & eateries
    • About Shandon Farm
  • THINGS TO DO
    • Highland games dates
  • BOOK HERE!
  • ACCESSIBILITY
  • CONTACT US
  • BLOG & INFO