West Central Scotland Tourist Attractions
We have provided some suggestions about places you may wish to visit and activities in the West Central region of Scotland. It is difficult trying to advise our guests on where to go and what to do. There is just so much within easy reach. Visitors to the Loch Lomond area really are spoiled for choice.
Glasgow, which is widely regarded as being second only to London as a shopping city, is only 45 minutes away using the regular (30 minute service) electric train service. Edinburgh too is less than an hour and a half by car. Perth is just over one hour away and Stirling about 45 minutes.
(All of the links below open in a new window)
Glasgow
Glasgow is not only an excellent shopping city. It has too many visitor
and cultural attractions to list here but these include several excellent
galleries
and museums and unusually, entrance to all of these is
free. The Glasgow
City Council website is good source of information about the
"toon" and what's going on.
Glasgow is also a city with some amazing architecture, a feature that is not often acknowledged. Many visitors to the city miss this as all they see are the standard high street shopfronts as they walk through the city centre. My advice to you is "When in Glasgow - Look Up!"
The Trossachs (Rob Roy Country)
The Trossachs is an area of outstanding natural beauty that is located
roughly between Aberfoyle and Callander. This includes some amazing
scenery and several beautiful lochs.
It
also includes the Lake of Menteith, the only significant body of
water in Scotland to be known as a "lake" (as opposed to "loch").
You can also visit Loch Katrine, which was the setting for Sir Walter
Scott's novel, "The Lady of the Lake". Loch Katrine is
now more famous as the source of much of Glasgow's water supply.
This area with its glens, mountains and forest paths is a dream for hill walkers, cyclists and mountain bikers.
The small towns of Aberfoyle and Callander are very picturesque and tourists are well cater for throughout the area. At the top of Loch Voil you will find Balqhuidder, a small hamlet where you can view Rob Roy's grave.
Stirling
About 40 minutes scenic drive from Balloch you will find the University
town of Stirling with its castle, which one
of Scotland's largest and most
impressive castles.
The Stirling area has many attractions of its own. The town has many historic connections. Once Scotland's capital mainly because of the castle, which like Edinburgh castle is strategically located on a large rock.The castle was the reason why famous battles like the Battle of Bannockburn and the Battle of Stirling bridge were fought in this area.
Perth
Perth is just over one hour's drive from Balloch. This is a small city
located right in the centre 
of
Scotland on the river Tay. Like Glasgow and Stirling this is very
much a walking town. Its compactness ensures that you never need
to wander far to find its many shops, bars and restaurants and other
attractions geared to the tourist.
Perthshire is often called Scotland in miniature with all sorts of countryside, rivers,mountains and glens.
Perth is also a whisky town being the original home of the both Bell's and the Famous Grouse. Other towns around this area include Crieff, Auchterarder, Dunkeld and Pitlochry.
Inverary
Inverary in Argyllshire is a fairly unique town. It was designed
and built as a new town between 1753 and 1776 to house the agricultural
workers, fishermen and mill workers of the area. The original architecture
still stands and it a beautiful wee town to visit.
This
is Campbell's country and you can visit Inverary
Castle, which is the home of the Duke of Argyll who is the
head of the Campbell clan. This fairy tale castle is open to the
public although it is still the Duke's main residence.
Inverary Jail and Courthouse, an authentic 19th century prison, is the major attraction and visitor experience in this area. It is located right in the centre of the town and here you can see the old jail as it used to be. You can watch trials taking place in the courthouse and meet the residents of the jail (played by actors) in the exercise yard.
The above is just small sample of the many attractions that you can find near our base in Balloch, Loch Lomond. There are many more. Scotland's capital city, Edinburgh is within an hour and a half by car as is the "City of Discovery", Dundee and the beautiful Ayrshire coast.
You can drive up to Oban through some of Scotland's most rugged and dramatic countryside or head up through Glencoe to Fort William. All of these places can be reached easily on good roads with only very light traffic.
Enjoy Your Stay!