Fabulous Autumn Weather at Appletree

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.

Autumn Berries

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.

Autumn Colours in Croftamie

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

Ben Lomond in the distance with its first dusting of snow this season

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

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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.

Engines turn for first time in nearly 40 years

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!

View from along the road by Appletree Cottage.