Autumn Winter 2018 | No. 22 The The magazine of the Friends of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs Backing for Balloch Tourist Resort Development ALSO INSIDE Friends of OUR park, Park News, Nature of the Park, The Falls of The Trossachs and more THIS ISSUE: INVERBEG HOLIDAY PARK 5 STAR HOLIDAY PARK ON THE SHORES OF LOCH LOMOND Wake up ENJOY FRESH LOCAL PRODUCE to this Join us for seasonal menus with locally sourced ingredients, a fantastic wine list and hand-pulled craft ales. 01436 860420 lochlomondarmshotel.com Book your adventure now at inverbeg.com LOCH LOMOND ARMS HOTEL MAIN ROAD LUSS G83 8NY The finest Scottish seafood, served alongside a splendid SCOTTISH INSPIRED GIFTS AND HOMEWARE wine list created by expert Matthew Jukes. FROM LOCAL ARTISANS AND CRAFTSPEOPLE 01436 860420 luss-seafoodbar.com 01436 860820 lussgeneralstore.com LUSS SEAFOOD BAR PIER ROAD LUSS SCOTLAND G83 8NY LUSS GENERAL STORE PIER ROAD LUSS SCOTLAND G83 8NY Scottish Highland arts and crafts in the oldest cottage in Luss Activity Hub BIKES GORGE WALKING KAYAKS BOAT TICKETS SPEEDBOAT CANYONING Shore Cottage • Luss • G83 8NZ LUSS CARPARK LUSS LOCH LOMOND www.theclanshop.com 2 The Voice - Autumn-Winter 2018 Chairman’s Introduction WELCOME TO THIS AUTUMN EDITION OF VOICE, which features interesting articles about different aspects of the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park and news on recent activities of the Friends and others working to make the Park a better place for people and nature. As the only independent conservation of campervans with the area lacking in remainder of this site and West Riverside and heritage charity covering the proper infrastructure provision to cater which has been the subject of massive, National Park, we continue to strive to for them. Sadly, there were reports of and often ill-informed, press and social make a difference through campaigning, irresponsible effluent disposal in National media coverage over the past year. fundraising and volunteering activities, Park rivers and lochs. Urgent action It is to the credit of the late Dr Hannah working closely with partners such as the is required to increase the number of Stirling MBE, the late Professor Gavin Park Authority, local communities and effluent campervan disposal points as Arneil and other founding members that tourism groups. part of the Your Park initiative, which the the Friends is still a vibrant organisation, What a glorious summer, the likes of National Park Authority has been investing as relevant today as it was back in 1978, which has not been seen since 1976 heavily in over the past couple of years. upholding the original vision of trying to according to keen weather watchers and The Friends recently celebrated its 40th make a difference and working for the historians. The balmy sunny days of May, anniversary with the planting of trees on benefit of people and nature. June and July combined with a rich array Loch Lomondside. It doesn’t seem that A great number of individuals over the of community and international events, long ago that Dr Hannah Stirling MBE years have freely contributed time, such as Callander Summerfest, Balloch and other founding members gathered an effort and money to further the aims Festival, various Highland Games and the impressive 200,000 signatures, in pre- of the Friends and many members and flagship European Open Water Swimming internet days, to prevent a major hydro businesses have continued to support Championships at Loch Lomond, all scheme destroying the shoulder of Ben Friends activities. A big thank you to contributed to showing off the natural and Lomond, which was saved for the nation everyone and here’s to the next 40 years cultural assets of National Park at their and transferred to the National Trust for helping to care for what is a very special best. Scotland to care for. place enjoyed by millions of people from The great spell of summer weather has Some 30 years ago, the Friends won home and overseas. not been without other benefits and another famous battle at a public inquiry Please enjoy reading this edition of Voice challenges with record numbers of visitors to protect the land around Drumkinnon and enjoy what experts predict is going boosting the trading performance of many Bay at Balloch from being covered in to be a very colourful Autumn due to tourism-related businesses including cruise housing and to secure its future for the sustained heat over the summer and campsite operators who experienced people to enjoy for tourism and recreation producing perfect conditions for a riot a large uplift in visitor numbers. However, purposes following restoration of the of reds and oranges to rival anything we there were additional visitor pressures derelict former industrial sites and the have seen before. in popular towns and villages and at development of tourist facilities, such many lochside locations resulting in large as those now available at Loch Lomond All the very best. accumulations of litter, toileting and Shores. On pages 4 and 5 we set out the JAMES FRASER indiscriminate parking which at times the reasons why we have taken the decision various authorities struggled to cope with. to provide qualified support for a major Chair - Friends of Loch Lomond There was also a countrywide ‘invasion’ tourist and recreation development on the and The Trossachs The Voice is the magazine of the Friends of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs, the only independent conservation charity working to protect, promote and provide projects and services for this most precious part of Scotland – The Loch Lomond and The Articles published in The Voice do not necessarily Trossachs National Park. To join us or to find out more about our work please visit www. represent the views of The Friends of Loch Lomond and lochlomondtrossachs.org.uk or use the form inside. The Trossachs. Charity No. SC015389 The Voice is published biannually in spring and autumn. Submissions on topics relating to Loch The Voice is printed on 100% recycled paper Lomond and The Trossachs National Park are welcome. Please send submissions to the editor supporting the re-use of forest resources and at the address below or email [email protected] in accordance with FSC standards only using Friends of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs; Carrochan; Carrochan Road; Balloch G83 8EG post-consumer recycled wood and fibre Telephone: 01389 727761 Email: [email protected] Designed and printed by www.lochlomondtrossachs.org.uk The Inglewood Press Ltd, Alloa, Scotland Cover: Women’s Timber Corps memorial at www.inglewood-press.co.uk The Lodge Forest Visitor Centre, Aberfoyle. email: [email protected] Image by Paul Saunders www.paulsaunders.co.uk www.lochlomondtrossachs.org.uk 3 FRIENDS UPDATE • FRIENDS UPDATE • FRIENDS UPDATE • FRIENDS UPDATE • FRIENDS UPDATE • FRIENDS UPDATE • FRIENDS UPDATE • FRIENDS UPDATE • FRIENDS UPDATE • FRIENDS UPDATE • FRIENDS UPDATE • FRIEND Backing for Balloch Tourist Resort Development Plans help deliver vision for Loch Lomond set out by planners almost 70 years ago. The Friends recently confirmed their qualified support for the proposed £30 million tourist and leisure development in Balloch at the southern end of Loch Lomond. In a detailed eleven page Center Parcs type of development retention of the public beach near submission to the National Park but have wrongly been portrayed the Maid of the Loch slipway and Authority the Friends set out as a major theme park by the scrapping the proposed large clearly the main reasons for their media and many of the objectors, viewing tower and also removing support and contend the plans will simply because of the Flamingoland the proposed floating holiday boats help deliver the vision first set out company name and their role as the planned for mooring along the River by Sir Patrick Abercrombie in the scheme promoters. Leven where moorings are currently Clyde Valley Regional Plan as far Commenting on their submission occupied by local cruising clubs.” back as 1949 and in subsequent James Fraser, Chairman of the He added: “The outline proposals, local development and subject Friends, said: “Our decision to with some modifications to plans for Loch Lomond. A full support the current development accommodate a bolder transport copy of the submission is available proposals was taken after very solution to move people around on the Friend’s website at www. careful consideration of the plans, Balloch more easily, linked to better lochlomondtrossachs.org.uk. a site visit and a number of pre- traffic management arrangements The Friends took a proactive role application meetings with the and car parking improvements, to influencing these plans which are developers. This led to some will have far reaching economic, broadly a hybrid version of a slightly elements of the original scheme social and conservation benefits larger Forest Holidays and smaller being modified to include the for Loch Lomond, Balloch and the 4 The Voice - Autumn-Winter 2018 FRIENDS UPDATE • FRIENDS UPDATE • FRIENDS UPDATE • FRIENDS UPDATE • FRIENDS UPDATE • FRIENDS UPDATE • FRIENDS UPDATE • FRIENDS UPDATE • FRIENDS UPDATE • FRIENDS UPDATE • FRIENDS UPDATE • FRIEND Vale of Leven and they will help to realise The Friends main reasons for supporting the proposals are: the undoubted tourist and recreational potential of Balloch as the gateway to 1. The proposals are comprehensive, appropriate in scale and nature and are in largely accordance with the zoning in current and previous local Loch Lomond.” development Plans; Around 30 years ago the Friends, local 2. The proposed development will help strengthen Balloch’s appeal councillors and the Area Tourist Board as a tourist destination and resort with a range of family orientated successfully fought a local public inquiry, accommodation, activities and wet weather facilities which should which prevented the land at Drumkninnon encourage longer staying visitors with consequent economic spin off Bay being covered by luxury Cala housing, benefits for the wider community and existing businesses; 3.