Well as a newbie to Glasgow, a cycling trip to the Isle of Cumbrae seemed like a perfect way to…read morespend a day! Now you might be thinking that cycling to Cumbrae from Glasgow is a bit of a tall order and I'd be the first to agree! Thank goodness for an excellent hourly train service from Glasgow Central to Largs which allows the train to take the strain with the bikes stowed safely onboard. Furthermore, there are some stunning views across the water to Arran! Upon arrival in Largs, it's a short cycle down to the waterfront to catch the regular and cheap ferry across to Cumbrae. Even this short crossing gives you magnificent views of the bay, Cumbrae itself and right up to Dunoon. Once across, the ride begins in earnest and it doesn't matter what type bike you have as the roads are all excellent, flat and it's a circular route so no chance of you getting lost. You don't need a flashy mountain bike or a whizzy road bike - a Tokyobike would work just fine! So the choice is yours, clockwise or anti-clockwise - either way it's 10 miles and you get stunning views of the island, the surrounding coastline, the flora and fauna and plenty of wildlife - what more could you ask for?.... Well, if you need refreshments, stop at Fintry Bay tea rooms or take a wander around Millport which has plenty to see and do for a few hours or even longer. Lots of places to eat and drink or just be merry! Then it's just a short hop back to the ferry terminal for the journey home! So what's stopping you....get on yer bike and ride!!

Cumbrae is a beautiful little island just off the west coast. You can reach it by ferry from Largs…read morein just 10 minutes. It's ideal for cycling in particular, as the entire circumference is just 10 miles, so achievable for lots of levels of fitness. It's a fab day out from Glasgow - we took our bikes down on the train then hopped on the ferry (the ferry was only £3.70 return and bikes are free), but you can also hire a bike on the island. The town of Millport itself is a very picturesque little seaside town, with plenty of cafes and the like. A lot of them are only open in season though - on our recent November visit, most of the cafes and shops were closed. ~The Garrison was open though and it's excellent - it's a beautifully renovated Victorian mansion, with a cafe inside, as well as the library and the most excellent Museum, which explains the history of Millport. It's been inhabited for over 9000 years! If you are having a wee jaunt on a bike, on your way round the island, look out for the curious rock formations that the locals seem to like to paint - Crocodile Rock and Indian Rock, and there's also Lion Rock. There are also sandy beaches and lots of rocks for scrambling about on or looking in rock pools, and you might even see a seal bobbing about. There are also walks you can do, round the island or over the hills, as well as other activities like crazy golf. The day we went, the scenery was breathtakingly beautiful. It was a clear, crisp November day, and as we cycled, we were treated to all the colours of autumn, and the snow capped mountains of Arran in the distance.

The Holy Loch is one of the most spectacular and picturesque lochs in Scotland. There are…read moreattractive villages around the shores and rugged, forest-covered, mountains rise behind. During World War Two the loch was used by the Royal Navy for exercises and a submarine base. From 1961 (amid violent controversy) it was used by the US Navy for various vessels and as home to the Polaris nuclear submarines until it was decommissioned in 1992. Now there is no sign of the military presence and the whole area has returned to its former tranquil beauty. Along the shore road just 3 miles from Dunoon (the nearest town) is Lazaretto Point and the beautiful 35 ft high circular war memorial. It's possible to park here and there are several benches where you can sit. The view across Ardnadam Bay and the Holy Loch is really superb. The point takes its name from the quarantine station built in 1807 during the Napoleonic wars. The ferry across to Gourock on the other side of the Clyde can be found at nearby Hunter's Quay where there is also a caravan park and 'holiday village'. Further on is the large Holy Loch Marina which has developed considerably in recent years. Well worth a visit, whether driving, walking - or just sitting to admire the views! One of my favourite places which I return to as often as possible.

I am jealous. I am jealous that there are people in this world who can get up every morning and go…read morehere, even if just for a quick morning walk. We visited Loch Lomond on New Year's Day and can I just say it made for the most magical start to a new year for me. I'm floored by its beauty and tranquility and if its the start of the Highlands, holy cow - or rather coo! My tour group couldn't get over how stunning the light, filtered through clouds touched upon the hillsides. The park was clean and everyone did their part to keep it that way. No one was too noisey either. Would love to come back and explore more!

Truly, a magnificent park and one a few untouched by development in Scotland. Jagged peaks and…read moresteep mountain tops punctuate the sky and mark some of the most prestige wilderness areas in the world. I wholeheartedly loved this park and my time exploring it. Going back, I would spend a weekend and camp here to really immerse myself (guess I have a good excuse).

Luss Pier is located in the beautiful village of Luss in Scotland. The pier is not much in and of…read moreitself. It is a cool spot to view Loch Lomond and surrounding mountains. On your way to pier, you walk through the pretty village of Luss. Make sure to check out the shops, charming church, and the quaint stone cottage homes along your walk to the pier. From the pier, you can catch cruise and waterbus services which explore the islands of Loch Lomond. There is also a long beach to stroll along. Just a cool place to visit for a couple hours or the entire day. Want to explore more? Plenty of hiking trails abound nearby Luss Pier. Enjoy!!

Luss is an incredibly pretty village. Came here in 2016 for a daytrip. Liked it so much that we…read morereturned for four nights this time. Right in the middle of the village. Besides the beautiful village there's the Loch Lomond. A wonderful lake, great on sunny days but even more atmospheric on cloudy or even rainy days. And here from the Pier you get a great view. On the right there's a small Promenade with a bunch of benches and to the left there the beach with some BBQ spots close to the carpark. It's a pretty small village. Takes a few minutes to get from one end to the other. And still I can't get enough of it. If you do, think about taking a Loch Cruise. Several boats depart from here. Round Trips or One-way trips. Prices are really fair and it's a really nice thing to do. On sunny or rainy days. Or just grab some food at the Village shop and sit down at the pier area or on the beach to fully enjoy the spectacular views. Be sure to pay at the carpark. It's very strict here. And even it's packed with visitors (well, we're part of it), it's easy to see why. It's just a really pretty village with an amazing Loch location.

This small and attractive 6 acre loch is in the hills a mile above Dunoon (beside the A885 Sandbank…read moreroad - free parking in a lay-by) and seems to be used mostly for freshwater fishing these days, although it's also nice just to sit on the banks! I very recently found out that my favourite pipe tune, 'Lochanside', which I've loved for many years, was named after this loch. It was written by Pipe Major John McLellan remembering his time spent along the attractive and secluded shores. McLellan (born 1875), a multi-talented man by all accounts, was from Dunoon. A pity the loch isn't shown on the Google map; however, I've added the arrow in exactly the right place.

Been here twice before. Walking along the shores of Loch Lomond is just a nice thing to do…read more Start in Balloch and follow the path along the shore. Through some woodlands. Shortly you'll arrive at this Country Park with it's smaller, but beautiful castle. The grounds and park are pretty big and great to let your dog off the leash...as many do. There's enough space. Take a break, have a look at the castle or have a picnic. You can take another path back to Balloch from here. It's a nice little roundtrip. Very easy, flat...but unpaved. So it is more difficult with a wheelchair or a stroller. Especially when it's wet and muddy. We came here on a day with heavy rain. Only a handful of people around. But even though very wet, it was a nice little walk. If you're well prepared for any weather, then there's no stopping. Always nice to be back here.

Loch Tarsan is a 273 acre Hydro Electric loch, formed by the flooding of part of Glen Lean. It is…read morelocated beside the B838 about eight miles north-west of Dunoon on the Cowal peninula in Argyll; there is a dam on the west side and it is stocked with brown trout for fishing. From here the road drops steeply down towards Loch Striven. A breathtakingly beautiful area, great walking country too.

Came here for an easy walk along Loch Lomond. There's a good-sized carpark and even free public…read moretoilets. It was a cloudy/rainy weekday and plenty of space to park left. Just down at the Loch are several picnic spots. A nice little beach as well. Offering wonderful Loch views. From there we walked along the (traffic-free) path heading south. It's a nice, flat and easy walk. In the beginning lined with trees and very close to the water. We walked until Inverbeg and back again. That's about 4 miles. A nice little walk. Closer to Inverbeg the path is more out in the open, and sadly a lot closer to the A82, which makes it a bit noisy. But the views are fantastic all the way. It was really a nice thing to do. And we only met a handful of other walkers. On the way back it was fully raining. Somehow it always rains when we come to Loch Lomond. But it just added to the atmosphere and we were well prepared for a wet day out. Surely a nice place and a nice walk. Great for dog walkers (like us) as well.