For this section we drove to Balmaha early and parked. On a hot day the car park fills very early. We got there for 10am-ish ! We walked to Rowardennan. The heat rose to 27 degrees we think. Not ideal although the forest paths do provide some shade. There are three hills on this route - one particularly bad one just goes on and on ! its fairly near the end. The walk I think took us four hours including a lunch stop on the beach. A lot of the walk is in forest so you dont get views all the time, but its a lovely walk and the Rowardennan Hotel at the end is just a wonderful finish point- get a drink or a meal there and sit out and admire the views of Loch Lomond and Ben Lomond !
Morning at Balmaha - it's going to be a hot day !
The Camping and caravanning club site at Mullarochy Bay.
Cashel Campsite - looked nice and had a shop where we were able to get ice cream !
The reception and shop
A River runs through it !
This field was mostly hard standings but was right onto the Loch and its slightly stony beach - lovely.
Lunch break - looking up through the trees on a beach on Loch Lomond
You can camp at Sallochy ... there are eight designated sites along the loch (see map below) and others in the field. Apparently they can be booked on hotels.com for £48 for 3 nights. How idyllic is that - photos of the tents and plots below!
The oak woods were planted and the oak bark was used to make an acid which was used in the dye industry.
The camping plots along the beach - how nice ...
And onwards .....
pine marten poo ? the pink colour shows they eat berries- I think ...
it was 27 degrees by now ... nearly there ...
This is as close to wild camping as you can get really ... how idyllic - this was near to Rowardennan. Apparently you can wild camp beyond the Rowardennan Youth Hostel, but in the summer months in the areas up to the Youth Hostel you must camp in designated zones. But I think it appears to be very well managed. There was a lot of trouble in the past and now I think it appears to be a good balance so everyone can enjoy the countryside .. you might just need to plan ahead a little !
Wood cabins at Rowardennan Hotel
Made it - my face is matching my shirt - Gavin remains cool throughout ...!
Still Game...
The Rowardennan Hotel outside eating area - with a great playpark too and views to Ben Lomond
Very Nice ! From the Holiday Fellowship - at the bottom it says "These words, printed on a card, price 2D, can be obtained from the Holiday Fellowship Ltd, "Highfield", Golders Green Road, London .... Lovely words and would be interesting to read more about "the Holiday Fellowship" !
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