Lots for Kids to do near Appletree Cottage!...

29/9/2018

Things to do with kids at Appletree Cottage, Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park

Very Local Easy Walks …

Walk up Duncryne Hill – about 10 minutes drive and 15 minutes to get up to the top. Fantastic views across Loch Lomond. Very satisfying brief walk.

Walk along old railway line over good high bridge over the River Endrick

When you’re here we can point out other good walks, local and otherwise.

There are also Nature Reserves nearby if that is of interest.

Buchanan Arms Hotel Swimming Pool and Spa - Day membership usually available, 5 mins drive, for wet weather cover.

(Appletree Cottage has Netflix if things get desperate.)

Around or nearby to Balloch which itself is about 15 minutes drive…

Sealife Centre in Balloch (buy tickets at the tourist office which are almost half the price of tickets on the door.) https://www.visitsealife.com/loch-lomond/

Tree Zone tree top adventure in Balloch (next Lomond Shores ) – about 20 minutes drive https://treezone.rezdy.com/catalog/46981/treezone-loch-lomond
A short stroll from the Sealife Centre (above) and the Maid of the Loch Paddle Steamer…

Maid of the Loch – paddle steamer http://www.maidoftheloch.org - open for tea and exploration within.

Sweeney’s Cruises on Loch Lomond https://www.sweeneyscruiseco.com
Various cruises commencing from Balloch, Balmaha and Luss

Dumbarton Castle
Medieval Castle on top of a rock with fantastic views over the Clyde Estuary
https://www.visitscotland.com/info/see-do/dumbarton-castle-p248621

Lomond Shored Weekend Market
A weekend market at Loch Lomond shores during October
http://www.whatsonglasgow.co.uk/event/006318-loch-lomond-shores-weekend-market/

A market at Loch Lomond Shores

Maid of The Loch Paddle Steamer available for boarding at Loch Lomond Shores Balloch.

East Loch Lomond, Loch Katrine and Lake of Menteith - about 20-40 minutes away

Take the short passenger ferry from Balmaha boatyard across to Inchcailloch nature reserve. No cars or houses on this island but great exploring paths and nice beach at the far end. Picnic tables by the beach have a metal sheet on which to place your portable barbecue for an alfresco lunch. https://www.lochlomond-trossachs.org/things-to-see/inchcailloch/
Back at Balmaha The Oak Tree is great for lunch with a good menu and nice atmosphere and excellent smoked salmon salads – and sometimes their own beers for grown ups! https://www.theoaktreeinn.co.uk/

North of Balmaha there are good beaches on the loch and paths through the woods.

Lake of Menteith – ferry from Port of Menteith to Inchmahome ruined priory on the island.
(open till 31 Oct) https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/inchmahome-priory/getting-there/ (about 25 mins drive)
Also see photos on our blog page at www.lomondappletree.co.uk

Loch Katrine Cruise – cruise up the loch to the lovely tea room at Stronachlacher and back again. Alternatively, hire a bike (at ferry point) and cycle back along the very quiet lochside road (about 40 mins drive)
https://www.lochkatrine.com

Stronachlachar tearoom right on the loch is attractive and good for a light lunch https://www.thepiercafe.com/cafe-bistro-bar/

Alternatively a nice lunch for this day can be had at The Byre, Brig o’Turk which is about 10 mins from Loch Katrine Ferry base
https://the-byre-inn.business.site

Inchmhome Priory on Inchmahome Island - great to run around

Stirling Castle in the snow - though hopefully not until winter!

Over by Stirling (which is about 35 mins drive)…

Blair Drummond Safari Park (open till 28th October) https://www.blairdrummond.com

Stirling Castle, Stirling – 35 minutes drive https://www.stirlingcastle.scot

National Wallace Monument, Causewayhead, Stirling – about 15 mins drive from the castle
Great views from the top on a nice day! : https://www.nationalwallacemonument.com

Pony Trekking and Segway Trekking http://www.castlerednocktrekking.com/prices_and_booking_info.html
(there are some pony trekking places closer to Appletree but the Segway looked interesting.

Bannockburn Exhibition
Excellent state of the art 3d holographic imagery is used to tell the story of this epic battle.
Very much aimed at kits as well as grown ups
https://battleofbannockburn.com

Glasgow, good for wet weather cover and less than 45 minutes drive - or train

Glasgow Museum of Transport (free, small charge for parking)
Award winning fantastic transport museum in Glasgow (about 45 mins drive to museum car park)
https://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/museums/venues/riverside-museum

Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery, Glasgow (free, small charge for parking)
About 10 minutes drive from the Museum of Transport so a good thing to do on the same day
In the art gallery, as well as Dali’s famous Christ of St. John on the Cross there is a good collection of the Glasgow Boys’ works as well as that of the Scottish Colourists.
In the museum on the ground floor, there is room after room of varied exhibits within this building, initially built for the Glasgow International Exhibition in 1901 (reputedly 180 degrees round the wrong way!)
The adjacent Kelvingrove is adjacent - with plenty of space to run around and very pretty bits alongside the Kelvin River with Glasgow University tower above)
https://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/museums/venues/kelvingrove-art-gallery-and-museum

The Science Centre, Glasgow (not free) is about 15 mins drive from the Transport Museum and 15 mins from Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery
https://www.glasgowsciencecentre.org/

We’ve tried to check that the above suggestions are open during most of October but recommend you make sure before you travel to any activity etc. and that the activities are suitable for your kids.

Happy Adventuring!