Balloch, Loch Lomond and the Local Area
On this page we are providing some information about the tourist attractions in the local area as well as some others within an hour's drive of Braeburn Cottage. We have also provided some photos of the cottage and surrounding countryside. Click the Photo Gallery Image to view these, The Balloch and Loch Lomond area is renowned worldwide for its beautiful scenery. Our Farm Cottage accommodation has a view over Loch Lomond to Ben Lomond, which at 3,192 feet is Scotland's most southerly Munro (mountains over 3,000 feet). Loch Lomond has attracted visitors from all over the world for around 200 years. These include UK royalty from as far back as Queen Victoria and Prince Albert and the Empress Eugenie of France, who visited the area in 1860.
Balloch
Balloch itself is a lovely little tourist town. From the old bridge in Balloch you can enjoy views of the boats on the River Leven and up to the south end of Loch Lomond. It has a good selection of pubs, hotels and restaurants where you can enjoy a night out.
Loch Lomond Shores
Since it opened back in 2002 Loch Lomond Shores has become one of Scotland's leading visitor attractions. It includes a speciality shopping mall and Jenner's department store as well as eating options and the Loch Lomond Sea Life Centre (the large building in the foreground).
Loch Lomond Bird of Prey Centre
This is a visitor centre which doubles a a rescue, conservation and education facility. Get up close and personal with many of Britain's Bird of Prey species. Link >
Loch Lomond Sea Life Centre
Great for the kids, this is an aquarium like some of the others in the popular Sea Life group. It includes exhibits related to Loch Lomond and hands-on Rockpool Experience. Link >
Balloch Castle Country Park
Situated on the banks of Loch Lomond, the park is one of Balloch's outstanding attractions. Breathtaking scenery, pleasant walks, walled gardens and a Gothic castle are all part of its appeal and it's free! Link >
Sweeney's Cruises
You can take an enjoyable cruise on Loch Lomond with Sweeneys Cruises on one of their large passenger vessels. This is a Scottish Tourist Board four star tour. Vessels are licensed so you can enjoy a drink on board. Link >
Can You Experience
This is an outdoor activity company based near Loch Lomond Shores where you can hire canoes, bikes, Segways, go hiking or orienteering and take part in lots of other activities. Link >
More
These are just small sample of the activities available to you in and around Balloch, which is not much more than five minutes drive from Braeburn Cottage. Other near by attractions include The Maid of the Loch paddle steamer, Vale of Leven swimming pool, Loch Lomond Galleries shopping mall, Antartex Village and several golf courses. The Vale of Leven Golf Course is a hillside course adjacent to Braeburn and there are many other excellent Golf Courses nearby or within less than one hour's drive.
Further Afield and Days Out from Balloch
Glasgow is an easy, thirty minute drive from Braeburn Cottage, Edinburgh and Perth are not much more than one hour. Stirling is just over half an hour. All of these cities offer great sight seeing and shopping and entertainment. Here is some more information about some of these places as well as some not quite so well known attractions.
Glasgow
The buildings in Scotland's largest city display some of the finest architecture in the UK. The city centre is compact and it has excellent transport links. It is also recognised as one of the UK's best shopping centres. There are literally hundreds of nice restaurants and bars in the city as well as theatres, cinemas and nightlife. Glasgow is also home to some of Scotland's finest museums and the city council have a policy of free entry for all of these under its control. It's well worth a visit. Why not try the Hop On, Hop Off city tour bus?
Edinburgh
Scotland's capital city is also its main tourist destination. The Edinburgh International Festival and the military tattoo take place during August and at this time visitors flock to the city from all over the world. Perhaps not as good a shopping destination as Glasgow, it does have many other attractions including its amazing castle. Edinburgh also has several Hop On, Hop Off bus tours.
The Hampden Experience
This is the museum of Scottish Football, "As one of Glasgow’s Leading Attractions, the Scottish Football Museum is an ideal day out for families, avid football fans and novices eager to gain knowledge of Scottish football. With over 2500 objects on display, the museum is home to the world’s most impressive national collection of football related objects, memorabilia and ephemera." Link >
Glasgow Science Centre
Since it opened back in 2001 the science centre has become one of Scotland's top attractions. "Glasgow Science Centre is one of Scotland's must-see visitor attractions - presenting concepts of science and technology in unique and inspiring ways." It's titanium clad building makes an impressive site from either side of the River Clyde. The site also features Scotland's first IMAX cinema. Link >.
Dumbarton Castle
Often overlooked because it is off the main tourist trail, Dumbarton Castle is one of the oldest strongholds in the British Isles. "From the 5th century AD until 1018, Dumbarton Rock was the capital of the British kingdom of Strathclyde. Legend tells of Merlin the magician staying at King Riderch’s court there in the 6th century." Climb to the top of the Castle Rock and enjoy some stunning views over Dumbarton, the Clyde estuary and Ben Lomond. The castle is about six miles from Braeburn Cottage. Link >
Denny Ship Model Experimental Tank Museum
This Dumbarton museum is situated close to Dumbarton Castle so both of them can be visited on the one trip. The museum is on the site of the former Denny Shipyard. The tank was used to test the buoyancy of scale models of ships hulls before final construction.Link >
Braehead
The Braehead shopping mall and retail park is just about 20 minutes drive from Braeburn Cottage. It has a large indoor mall and there are over 100 shops on the site. It also includes an arena where sporting events take place, an ice rink and a curling club. Link >
BBC Scotland's Dumbarton Studio
This studio was developed on the site of the old J&B whisky plant in Dumbarton. It is home to the BBC Scotland soap, River City. "Since 2008 has played host to numerous film and TV productions including Personal Affairs, Hope Springs,How Not To Live Your Life, Garrow's Law, Eagle of the Ninth and The Deep." Link >
Xscape
The same site at Braehead (featured above) is also home to one of the UK's three Xscape centres. If you're looking for an exciting day out where you can ski on the> UK’s biggest REAL indoor snow slope, learn how to ski on a beginners slope, visit a 12 screen multiplex cinema, 22 lane bowling, go rock climbing on one of the largest freestanding climbing walls in the UK, try out a state of the art aerial adventure course, experience the world’s first passenger carrying robot, or jump and freefall on the Fandrop, Xscape is the place for you.Xscape is an excellent day out and it really does have something for everyone. Link
Whisky Distillery Tours
The Auchentoshan Distillery is not much more than 15 minutes away by car, back along the A82. They offer excellent distillery tours with different options, well worth a visit. Link >
Glengoyne Malt Whisky Distillery Tours
The Glengoyne distillery is another that is popular on the malt whisky trail. It is about 20 minutes drive away. They also offer excellent and entertaining tours of the distillery. Link >
Blairdrummond Safari Park
Blair Drummond Safari & Adventure Park is a good value for money day out, which is about a 45 minute drive from Braeburn Cottage. From the Wildlife Animal Reserves to the Adventure Playground and many more attractions, there is plenty of fun and excitement for all the family. Wild Animal Reserves, Adventure Playground, Boat Trip around Chimp Island, Pets Farm, Lemur Land, Flying Fox, Giant Astraglide, Sea Lion Shows, Bird of Prey Centre & Displays & Pedal Boats. Link >