A great easy walk with beautiful panoramic views is not what we were expecting on this day out from our brilliant #luxuryselfcatering #holidaycottage @lomondtrossachs which is Appletree Cottage

 From Appletree Cottage we drove to Balloch and then north along the A82 turning left at the roundabout at Arden following signs to Helensburgh.
At the second roundabout along this road we turned right and down a single track road into Glen Fruin.  At the bottom of the hill, just over a cattle grid, we parked in a small (free) car park and traced our way back over the cattle grid up the hill for a bout a hundred yards to the beginning of our walk marked by a sign reading Helensburgh 3 miles.

The path is well maintained and the gradient is gentle.  After a few minutes of easy climbing we looked back and got our first views of Loch Lomond.

About a mile further on as we reached the crest of the ridge the #riverclyde came into view.  At that point we could see Loch Lomond to the north and the Clyde to the south, stretching up to Glasgow in the distance.  Helensburgh hugged the bottom of the hill on the shore of the Clyde

The path took us through some very pretty woodland until we arrived at a car park just above Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s world famous Hill House.

#Hillhouse is currently undergoing renovation and repair.  In order to carry out this work the contractors are building a huge steel cage around the house.  This will eventually have glass or clear Perspex to allow maximum light whilst roof repairs and dry rot removal are undertaken.

From Hill House it is about a twenty minute stroll down the hill into Helensburgh.   We decided however to retrace our steps back to the car once again enjoying the stunning views on our return journey.

Today, Sunday 7th April 2019, the 11th Flying Scotsman Vintage Car Rally passed Appletree Cottage.  A procession of 104 beautifully manicured motors, spaced approximately two minutes apart, kept us entertained for over an hour.
The Rally started in Windermere on Friday and made its way to Slaley, then Donald Trump's Turnberry Hotel finishing at Gleneagles Hotel.  Contestants stay in luxury  accommodation in all three of these locations, revitalising their driving and map-reading skills for the following day

Despite their age the cars passed us at a fair speed making it difficult to photograph them with out motion blurr.  The drivers then made much use of their brakes at the junction just beyond us to make their left hand turn.
The quiet single track road past Appletree Cottage was no doubt selected as part of the route because of its stunning views and scarcity of traffic.  For drivers it would not be too difficult to imagine that they were traveling in an earlier age.

More information about the Flying Scotsman Vintage Car Rally and a list of the entrants can be found here
https://www.endurorally.com/events/the-11th-flying-scotsman-2019/
along with details of the much more ambitious Peking to Paris Vintage Car Rally!

7At the village of Tarbet the road splits.  Straight ahead is the A81 to Arrochar and Invararay.  We stayed on the A82 by turning right towards Ardlui and Crianlarich.
Although still double track this road has quite a lot of bends in it until we reached Inveruglas Visitor Center and its large car park on the right hand side of the road.  Immediately before arriving at this point its worth a look out on the left hand side of the road for the four giant pipes carrying the water from Loch Sloy on the other side of the hill (Ben Vorlich) to the turbine power station beside the main road.  (For a great walk to Loch Sloy from Arrochar see our previous blog with pictures from August 2017

Further along the road we came to Ardlui, the last village before the head of the loch.  It has a railway station, a hotel and a marina as well as a handful of houses.
About thee miles after Ardlui we passed the Drovers’ Inn at Inverarnan.  Well worth a look inside this ancient hostelry is just what it says on the tin – it was a rest for the drovers who were taking their cattle and sheep to the markets in the south to be sold.
The walk up Ben Glas beside the waterfall is also worth a visit – but that was for an other day.
After the Drovers Inn we began to look out for signs to the Falls of Falloch on the right hand side of the road.

Soon the path arrives at the edge of a huge almost circular pool with a high waterfall flowing into it.  The deep peaty pool is about 21 meters (70 feet) across.  This is what is known locally as Rob Roy’s bath tub. Whether Rob Roy actually bathed in this pool or not is unknown. It is however the most idyllic spot and popular with walkers and visitors in the summer when swimmers brave the cool waters.

Paths on either side of the pool lead to plunge points where wild swimmers can jump off the top of a cliff into the water.  It must be noted however that there are strong currents in the pool – especially around the waterfall and the point at which the water leaves the pool to follow the River Falloch.   More information about swimming in Rob Roy’s Bath tub along with information and warnings of certain aspects of the site can be found here: https://wildswim.com/falls-of-falloch-rob-roys-bath tub

To those not already in the know, Rob Roy MacGregor (1671-1734) was a Scottish outlaw and cattleman who later became a folk hero. He took part in the eventually unsuccessful Jacobite rising of 1689 to support King James II of Scotland who had fleed to France.
More about Rob Roy can be found here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rob_Roy_MacGregor

For those on foot, not wishing to divest and take the plunge, a steel viewing platform has been built out over one side of the pool to enable visitors to see the site safely.

After some time at the bath tub we followed the River Falloch for a bit looking at the other smaller pools until we returned to the car park and were heading back down the road enjoying the views of Loch Lomond.

Nearly back home, we decided to have a quick refreshment at the excellent Clachan Inn in Drymen (https://www.clachaninndrymen.co.uk) which is only five minutes from Appletree Cottage.   This ancient inn, the oldest licenced establishment in Scotland, was once managed by Rob Roy’s sister.  However, as far as we know,  there is no surviving account as to where her bath tub was located.

During the winter months many of our guests at Appletree Cottage are from the UK - particularly Scotland as they know just how fantastic the days can be here in winter and what lovely walking there is to be had in unspoilt countryside.

One of our favourite walks is up to the hill with the TV mast on it.  From here you can get fantastic views of Loch Lomond and also of the Campsie Hills.
It's a really good time of year to do this walk for two reasons:
Firstly it is easier to park in the lay-by at Finnich Toll (about 5 minutes drive from Appletree Cottage) as there are fewer people parking up in winter to explore Finnich Glen (The Devil's Pulpit). 
Secondly, the cattle have all been taken indoors for the winter so there is much less danger of suddenly coming across a hears of cows demanding to know what you're doing in their field.

As we walk along we notice that the snowdrops are out in full flower (it is the 15th Feb 2019) and the whin (gorse) is starting to bloom, brought on by the recent mild weather.
After about ten minutes we come to a gate on our right.  We go through, remembering to bolt it again behind us -  although the cattle are indoors there may well be sheep about - and make our way up the track towards the TV mast in the distance.

It is an easy walk up to the mast along the sometimes grassy, sometimes muddy track.  There is one other gate to open (and close)  on the way.
Once at the top we stop to admire the view.  It is a bright but hazy day and although we can easily see Loch Lomond below us with the naked eye, it is not so distinct in the photograph (at the top of this blog)
Looking to the east we can again see the Campsie Hills - though all the more clearly.

The walk to the mast has been across part of Cameron Muir  - a wild and lonely place with few visitors.  Romantic desolation to some, a nature spotters paradise to others with deer, pheasant, osprey and other birds of prey seeking their dinner.
In the distance we can see a notch in the hill where the famous Whangy rock formation nestles under the cliffs.  This unusual site is hugely popular with climbers practicing their sport within easy reach of Glasgow.

Having taken in all the views which were to be viewed we started to make our way back down the track to the road.   On a clear day we would usually be able to see the tower blocks of Glasgow peeking out from the gap between the hills.

Once back on the road, walking towards Finnich Toll again we notice that the fence between the field to our right hand side (south) and the road has been removed, presumably for replacement. 
As the cattle which usually inhabit this field were away in their winter quarters we took the opportunity to explore.  Walking due south we came to a precipitous drop down to the Carnack burn.  Following a trail, presumably made by the aforementioned cattle, we descended a long steep bank until we were down by the crystal clear  fast flowing water.

Arriving by the river bank as the steep sides of the gorge levelled off to level ground we felt as though we were entering a secret world.  Usually the preserve of cattle and visited by very few people. 
Many trees had fallen across or into the water  The sun peeped through the trees shining on clumps of snowdrops and a host of bluebells yet to bloom.

A little further west from where we took these photos the Carnack passes under the A809 Drymen to Glasgow road and then enters  Finnich Glen better known to some as Devil's Pulpit.  This sheer sided gorge has been used as a dramatic location in films such as The Eagle and the Outlander TV series and has been very popular with younger visitors.
More of that in a future blog.
As the sun began to set and the light started to fade we made our way back to the top again and walked back to the car feeling that we had discovered a magical spot we hadn't even known was there.  Another excellent afternoon out!

Last weekend (2 Feb 19) after a light fall of snow the skies cleared to a clear blue and a warm sun shone brightly. So took our cameras (er. phones)  and went out to take some petty pictures.
.Our first stop was about ten minutes away at Duncryne Hill.  Known locally as The Dumpling and about five minutes drive from Appletree Cottage this drumlin is just south of the village of Gartocharn.  The short ascent  (10-15 minutes) from the small lay-by on the road road provides one of the  best views of Loch lomond

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From the small lay-by (free parking) above the village of Gartocharn a gate opens onto the footpath which threads through a pretty beech wood  and upwards to the top of the hill.  The ascent takes ten to fifteen minuites and is one of the best "hits" for time spent climbing versus fantastic views we've ever come across in this area. 
And not just for the stunning views up Loch Lomond.  Looking to the west one can see the Luss Hills and the ridge above the Vale of Leven..  Laid out to the east and clearly defined is the Forth Valley and the magnificent range of Campsie Hills which  separate the Fourth Valley from Kirkintilloch, Lennoxtown, Glasgow and the south.
The furtherst right hill of the Campsie range is known as Drumgoyne.  Slightly shorter and more pointed than the rest of the range.  At the foot of Drumgoyne is the internationally famous and excellent (one of our favourites)  Glengoyne Distillery which is well worth a visit for its tours (and only 15 minutes drive from Appletree Cottage) More information can be found here: https://www.glengoyne.com/

After descending Duncryne Hill (a little bit quicker than we climbed it!) we got back to the car and took a short drive via Gartocharn Village, (turning left onto the main road).  Taking the first right after the village shop we passed the primary school and followed the road down towards Ross Priory - the country centre/club of the University of Strathclyde - but open to the public.  It boasts a golf course, bar, restaurant, magnificent gardens and is hugely popular as a wedding venue.
Down on the shore by the Priory  we are able to get  an alternative but siill beautiful view looking up the loch.

 From the shore at Ross Priory we could see the village and anchorage of Balmaha on the east coast of Loch Lomond and so decided to visit there for a drink, if not something to eat (they do a very nice smoked salmon salad) .
So we got back in the car and headed back onto the main road, turning left and heading west.  Just before reaching  Drymen we crossed over the road bridge over the river Endrick and decided to stop to take some more photos.
In ancient days, before the bridge a ferry used to ply its trade across the Endrick Water as it is properly known.  Now the magnificent stone bridge ferries traffic on the the newly appointed trunk road between Balloch and Stirling.
Despite the route now being fairly busy with cars and lorries, only a few meters away from the main road one  quickly back is back into rural bliss!

 There is a huge open expanse of flat ground to the west of Drymen Bridge which as well as being a popular launching pad for microlite pilots is the venue of Drymen Show. The show, which is one of the longest running in Scotland takes place on the last Saturday of May.  Featuring  many of the usual agricultural competitions the show offers many exhibits and entertainments on the side including a fairground.  Generally a very good day out in beautiful surroundings.  More information about the Drymen Show can be found here: http://www.drymenshow.com

In the past the grounds were also popular for the curling pond..  Unfortunately the days of outdoor curling are not what they were and the curling pond, though still extant has been somewhat neglected over recent years.

After exploring the curling pond we were back in the car and driving through Drymen and up the east side of Loch Lomond towards Balmaha.
Balmaha has grown considerably over recent years, mainly due to the popularity of the Oak Tree Inn and the many holiday chalets which have been erected by the owners.
It is a pretty place to visit and the boatyard is always interesting to stroll through.
What was different on this day was that the recent cold snap had frozen the water of the loch in the bay and marina.  The boats in the water were locked solid whilst ducks skidded around on the ice.  The ice made a heaving and cracking noise as occasional water surges lapped at the sides of the frozen mass.

Ater a quick drink in the very busy and popular Oak Tree pub at Balmaha it was time to head back to Appletree Cottage.
All of the places we visited on this day were no more than fifteen minutes drive from Appletree Cottage..  There are many more to discover.  Self-catering at its best!

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...

sThe 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 30 minutes 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 south 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 enthrall 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 we hadn't been the only customers we were now the only ones left.  So we thanked them 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 castelated 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....

The tree is decorated and lit up for Appletree Cottage's third festive season!

Enjoy the luxury of heat on the soles of your feet from the  underfloor heating through the blacknut wooden floor.  Netflix is available on the large TV at no additional charge.

Enjoy the quiet dark skies around Appletree Cottage at night, free from light pollution from street lamps.  Listen for the owls hooting or watch the deer forrage in the garden in the morning.

The path down is reasonably steep but is surfaced with tarmac and quite suitable for those with a wee one in a buggy.
 
The Wallace Way has been adorned with wood carvings created by Iain Chalmers.  The walk takes visitors on a journey through time to learn more about Stirling's fascinating history.

As we are descending the hill we seeing the sculptures in reverse order – going back in time.
 
The first carving up is an excellent representation of the National Wallace Monument standing about 7ft tall (2.1m) and carved from a single piece of wood.

Mind your heads - low flying aircraft...
Further on down the hill is an image of a pilot holding the propeller of his aircraft.  This is in celebration of Frank and Harold Barnwell who were born in Lewisham, London and moved to Balfron aged 2.  They set up the Grampian Engineering and Motor Company in Causwayhead (just at the foot of the hill) in 1907 and produced their first aircraft there in 1908.  However they had problems getting their aircraft airborne.  It wasn’t until 1909 that they managed to fly to the recorded height of 13ft (3.9m) – landing after 80 yards in a field near Caurwayhead.  This short hop was Scotland’s first powered flight.

At the junction of the footpath and the minibus route there is a carving celebrating the Battle of Stirling Bridge (1297)  William Wallace’s tactic at the Battle of Stirling Bridge was aided by the narrowness of the bridge at the time.  Only two horses could pass each other.  This meant that it took ages for the English army to cross the bridge heading northwards.  When more than half the English army had crossed the bridge Wallace sprung the trap and surrounded them on the north bank of the Forth whilst at the same time blocking their escape over the bridge.  This resulted in slaughter and a bloody victory for Wallace.

One impressive thing about these sculptures is that many, if not all, appear to be fashioned from a single piece of timber.
Other carvings on the route represent  the flora and fauna of the area, a bench with three characters carved sitting on it – a Roman a Pict and a Viking.  The heads are missing so visitors may stand behind and place their own heads at the top of the mannequins for photographic purposes.  A man holding a hammer above a modern looking anvil depicts Scotland’s First Metalworkers

Semi domesticated animals - comprising a sheep, a pig and a very nice pair of highland cows remind us of Scotland’s first farmers.  

A large whale sculpture tells us that whales abounded in 5000bc whilst a collection of wild animals including a bear take us back to the ice age 10,000 years ago.

More information about the Wallace Way can be found here: https://www.nationalwallacemonument.com/the-monument/the-abbey-craig/woodcarvings/

By this point we are back at the visitor centre where we’ve parked our car. 
 
Had we had more time we could have explored some of the many other paths and trails on Abbey Craig – all of which are free.  However it was nearly time to go home.
 

Just before going home though we popped into one of our favourite cafes which lies adjacent to the roundabout at the foot of the hill:  Correris.  An Italian ice cream parlour and Italian restaurant founded 40 years ago and still producing excellent food and friendly service.  More about Correri’s can be found here: http://www.corrieris.co.uk
Highly recommended!!

After a beautifully cooked meal we drove the 35 minutes back to Appletree Cottage:

Appletree Cottage - luxury fully en-suite catering for eight people situated in the beautiful  Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park
Find out more about us at www.lomondappletree.co.uk

At the roundabout at Causeway head we turn up the hill (just before Correllie’s excellent restaurant and ice cream parlour.)
We follow the road up the hill and park in the free car park at the visitor centre.

Tickets to climb the monument can be bought either at the visitor centre or at the foot of the tower itself. 

In the end some of us took the bus up,  Some walked.   We all walked back down.

Once we arrived at the base of the monument the views were already terrific over the Fourth Valley towards looking south over Stirling to the castle and westwards over the village of Bridge of Allan

After a short climb we come to the first room – The Hall of Arms.
This large room with its high vaulted ceiling contains an exhibition of the remarkable life of William Wallace and his victory at the Battle of Stirling Bridge  There are video enactments information boards and many artefacts around the room.
There was a good amount of stained glass commissioned with the building in the monument and the windows of this chamber and the ones above testify to the skill of craftsmanship employed.

After a good browse around we climb the stairs again and this time arrive at the Hall of Heroes – an identical vaulted space to the Hall of Arms but this time with a collection of busts of famous Scots – poets, writers and inventors who transformed the story of Wallace into the legend we know today.  Quite fascinating.
Also within the Hall of Heroes is a replica of Wallace's sword - nearly 7ft long - a huge thing to manhandle.

Details about the monument are fascinating – for example that it was built for £13,000 with walls 1.5 meters thick at the top and 15meters (yes 15 meters!) thick at the bottom.
The design was put out to competition and 106 entries were received.  Unfortunately only the runner up entry plan and J.T. Rochead’s winning design survive on paper.
Construction began in 1861 with private subscription.  It took eight years to build with local stone from Abbey Craig until completion in 1869
The sighting of the structure on Abbey Craig is significant for a few reasons –
1. It was midway between Edinburgh and Glasgow – each city was vying to have the monument within their boundary.
2. Abbey Craig is supposed to be the point from which Wallace is supposed to have surveyed the lie of the land prior to the battle of Stirling Bridge and the place where he and his men camped the night before the battle.
A summary of the Battle of Stirling Bridge can be found here: https://www.nationalwallacemonument.com/sir-william-wallace/
 
Wallace himself came to a nasty end in London being hung, drawn and quartered on the orders of his old adversary Edward 1st of England. In 1305.  His sword however survives and a replica can be seen in the hero’s chamber of the monument.

After the Royal Chamber we make our final climb up to the top of the structure – thus completing the full eight of the 246 steps to the top.
 
At the top the narrow spiral staircase opens out into the sky and a walk way around all four sides of the building.

At the end of this walkway are the final steps to the top and inside the crown.  The crown is a massive stone structure of columns – rather like flying buttresses all  which run form each corner and half way along each side of the viewing platform and rising up majestically to meet at the apex.

After about twenty minutes of viewing from the top we decided to make our way back down again and make our way westwards and home to Appletree Cottage.
This took us down the Wallace Way and to Correri's excellent restaurant / cafe.
Please see our next blog!

Appletree Cottage - luxury fully en-suite catering for eight people situated in the beautiful  Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park
Find out more about us at www.lomondappletree.co.uk