There’s nothing better than turning up at your favourite beauty spot with a hamper fully laden with treats and an agenda of R&R. Fortunately, there are many stunning places dotted all around Loch Lomond in West Scotland that lend themselves perfectly to lazy mornings and long afternoons tucking into hearty feasts and admiring the views.
So you can waste no time in picking your favourite spot and kicking back with thickly cut sandwiches and wedges of Scottish tablet, we’ve picked out the best picnic spots around Loch Lomond just for you.
Island Picnics
Loch Lomond is home to dozens of small islands, including Great Britain’s largest freshwater island – Inchmurrin. Many of them are accessible via boat trips or via kayak (if you’re experienced) and make for idyllic destinations for picnics – ensconced in your own paradisiacal bubble. We particularly recommend Inchmurrin Island and Inchcailloch Island, which can both be accessed via boat.
Castle Backdrops
If you’re looking for a dramatic backdrop for your picnic at Loch Lomond, why not seat yourself at the foot of a romantic castle? There are many dotted around the shores of the lake, but Balloch Castle and Country Park is particularly popular. Boasting Loch Lomond’s only country park, Balloch Castle affords gorgeous views over the lake and has 200 acres of grounds, featuring picturesque gardens and nature trails.
The Best Beaches
You don’t have to travel to the Med to enjoy beautiful beaches. In fact, you don’t even have to go to the sea. All around Loch Lomond are inviting beaches fringed with sand and pebble shores that offer a tranquil alternative to days by the coast. Rowardennan beaches, Firkin Point, Culag Beach and Sallochy Bay are all ideal places to throw out a blanket and sit back with a picnic under the sunshine. You can even go for a paddle if the bracing water temperatures don’t put you off.
The Lone Tree
The atmospheric lone tree at Milarrochy Bay on the eastern shores of Loch Lomond has become an iconic subject for photos. It also makes for a great setting for picnics. To get there, you can either park up right by the bay and nab your favourite spot, or walk the mile and a half along the West Highland Walkway from Balmaha if you fancy working up your appetite.
On the Dumpling
Duncryne Hill near Gartocharn, or the Dumpling as it's affectionately called by locals, is a great place for a scenic picnic near Loch Lomond. A little way from the shores of Loch Lomond, the top of the hill commands far-reaching views across the loch and mountains beyond. Don’t be put off by the climb though – you can reach the top of the hill following a modest ascent of less than 300 feet in just under a mile.
Atop Conic Hill
If you’re up for more of a challenge, then Conic Hill near Balmaha will offer a worthy conquest. Following a 2.5-mile ascent, you’ll be rewarded to incredible views of a patchwork of fields, forest swathes, distant mountains and, of course, the awe-inspiring Loch Lomond amidst it all. As this is quite a demanding hike, you’ll need to wear appropriate footwear, bring warm and waterproof layers and, naturally, a hearty picnic to refuel at the top.
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