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E St Fillans W Crianlarich A NATIONAL PARK FOR EVERYONE A H N C Lochearnhead LOCH EAR O L ch BEN MORE lo al F er iv R Balquhidder

OIL Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park covers 720 square LOC H V Strathyre W Inverlochlarig e BEINN s t H AN T-SIDHEIN

i g miles (1,865 square kilometres) of varied countryside, from the Ardlui h l a n d

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S L O Y Stronachlachar Highlands. The National Park Authority aims to care for the area’s L Inveruglas O C H KATRIN L E Kilmahog Inveraray BEINN IME OCH ARKLET Inversnaid natural and cultural heritage and use its resources wisely. Through Brig o’ Turk E Callander N THE COBBLER Y (Ben Arthur) OCH R F L VENAC HA H Arrochar Tarbet our visitor facilities, publications and programmes, we help people C

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L L O BEN LOMOND R Strachur C i CH ve LO ARD r understand the Park and enjoy it; and we work with the Park’s Aberfoyle Te Lochgoilhead H Port of Menteith ith

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communities to sustain their economic and social development. H M

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I L HILL D Gartmore Balloch Castle Country Park Carrick Castle L

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The National Park embraces four very different areas – Loch H Visitor Information

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C K Lomond, The Trossachs, Breadalbane and the Argyll Forest – each Garelochhead Balmaha Visitor Information (summer only) Ferry

LOCH LONG G ater A Drymen Endrick W with its own distinctive character, shape and colour. Balloch Castle R Roads Ardentinny E L Railway O C Gartocharn Cyclepaths County Park is just one of our visitor facilities in the Loch Lomond H West Highland Way Railway Station Kilmun W Area. As you travel around the area, enjoy our other centres, e Helensburgh s t

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walks, picnic areas and boat launch sites. Alexandria a y

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© copyright. reserved Crown rights All Gourock Dumbarton NATIONAL PARK VISITOR FACILITIES IN LOCH LOMOND AREA GETTING HERE IS EASY

© Crown copyright. All rights reserved BY TRAIN, BUS, BICYCLE OR CAR LLTNPA 100031883 2004 A Inveruglas A regular train service is available to Balloch from Glasgow Queen Street. Parking, shop, snack bar, toilets, information The pedestrian entrance to the Country Park is just opposite Balloch Bus Ardlui Station. For information on bus and train services and timetables pick up a B Tarbet Pier copy of ‘Exploring the National Park by ferry, bus or train’ or contact Traveline Parking, toilets, picnic areas Scotland on 0870 608 2 608. st Board, LLTNPA st Board, C Firkin Point You can walk or cycle to Balloch on NCN Route 7, which runs from Glasgow Inveruglas to Inverness. A Parking, toilets, picnic area Inversnaid D National Park Centre, Luss Balloch is on the A811, just off the A82 from Glasgow to Crianlarich. Tarbet Visitor centre B BEN Luss Village Walks HAPPY TO HELP LOMOND National Park staff are available in our E National Park Gateway Centre visitor centres and area offices. Look out for Loch Lomond Shores, Balloch staff wearing the National Park badge. Visitor centre, tourist information, Firkin C art trail WALKS Point H IN THE COUNTRY PARK Rowardennan Balloch Castle Country Park from 15 minutes to 1 hour Visitor centre, gardens, walks •Keep dogs under control at all times •Take your litter home Duncan Mills Memorial Slipway VISITORCENTRE Milarrochy •Avoid all risk of fire Bay Loch Lomond Shores, Balloch G •Don't pick flowers - leave them for Public boat launching, boat LOCHSIDE PATHS Luss D others to enjoy Balmaha registration F WOODLANDS F National Park Centre, Balmaha FURTHER INFORMATION Visitor centre For more information visit the Balloch WALLED GARDEN Balmaha Millennium Forest Path Castle Visitor Centre or the National Park FAIRY GLEN G Milarrochy Bay Gateway Centre at Loch Lomond Shores Duck Bay Public launch site, boat (open all year except Dec 25/26). registration Tel: 0845 345 4978 www.lochlomond-trossachs.org Rowardennan H email: [email protected] E Balloch Parking, toilets close to pier Text by Fiona designed Price; and Touri by produced Shaw by photos and Text all Marketing Laurie Design, Campbell, Edinburgh; AILLST Welcome to Balloch Castle Country Park

BUILT TO BE SEEN CROWNING GLORY

y yon Bonnie Banks... At the end of the 18th century, John Buchanan of Ardoch, a wealthy While the garden owes its form to Buchanan and Lugar, much B Glasgow businessman, bought Balloch Estate and commissioned of its colour is down to the Dennistoun-Brown's, who bought celebrity-architect, Robert Lugar, to build his new gothic-style mansion. the estate in 1851.

On the banks of Loch Lomond, just a The castle is set in a commanding position overlooking the loch. Like many Victorians, they were keen plants collectors. short hop from Glasgow, lies one of It's enclosed by woodlands and borrows the surrounding landscape Their relations owned other estates in the area and it's likely Scotland’s best-loved gardens. as part of its design. Everything was designed to impress. that they passed on cuttings and seeds, just as we do with our neighbours today. Balloch gained a handsome array of exotic Balloch Castle Country Park is steeped Look around and you'll see that Buchanan was not alone. His trees and shrubs. in history and was the stronghold of neighbours also invested in grand houses and designed landscapes. one of Scotland’s most powerful Just across the loch you can see Cameron, Auchendennan, Arden and Victorian plant hunters were the Indiana Joneses of their medieval families. Almost 200 years Rossdhu Houses; each had its own designed landscape. As you travel day - suffering unimaginable hardships, shipwrecks, and ago a gothic-style mansion replaced around, look out for avenues of trees, gatehouses, boundary walls, encounters with hostile tribes in their quest for new species. the ancient castle and gardeners tamed follies, and graceful parkland - all telltale signs of 18th and 19th One of the stars of Balloch's woodlands is the Monkey Puzzle the wild landscape. Now it’s a Country century designed landscapes like this one. tree. When Archibald Menzies, a famous Scot's-born plant Park for everyone to enjoy. hunter, was dining in Chile, he noticed some nuts on the table GLASGOW’S GARDEN that he didn't recognise. He popped some in his pocket and Explore the paths through the gardens, woods and they sprouted on his way back to Scotland, where they grew meadows – many are suitable for buggies and Early in the 1900s, Glasgow Corporation bought Balloch Estate and into these weird and wonderful trees. wheelchairs. Enjoy a picnic by the loch or stroll into created Loch Lomond Park. It became a popular day trip for Glasgow Balloch where you’ll find a good selection of cafés and people and soon became known as Glasgow's Garden. In 1980 it restaurants. Throughout the year National Park Rangers became Balloch Castle Country Park and in 2002 it became the only run events for all ages – pick up a copy of the National country park in Scotland's first national park. Park’s Events Programme for more information.

To find out more about the grounds and what life was like for the people who lived and worked in the castle, drop into the Visitor Centre on the ground floor of the castle.

Please take care if you’re walking alone, especially after dusk.