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345 CENTRAL HIGHLANDS
Central Highlands & ISLANDS & Islands
Scotland’s central Highlands and islands together make a superb area of exceptional natural beauty, brimful of contrasts and rich in alluring challenges. In the far west, floating dra- matically in the sheltered waters of the outer Firth of Clyde, the rugged Isle of Arran has something for everyone. There are spectacular, rock-encrusted ridges and peaks, crowned by Goatfell, the island’s highest. The peaceful, scenic and very accessible northern coastline offers surprisingly remote, fairly undemanding walking.
Scotland’s first national park, Loch Lomond & the Trossachs, embraces a wonderful array of glens, lochs and mountains, extending southwards from the Breadalbane district to the southern end of Loch Lomond, and eastwards from the Arrochar Alps to Loch Earn and Callander. Foremost among the high places are two renowned peaks: Ben Lomond, the southernmost of the country’s 284 Munros, affords magnificent views far and wide; while the iconic Cobbler, a fantastical cluster of huge granite tors in the Arrochar Alps, offers a test of nerves and skills almost second to none.
This superb slice of Scotland is compact and easy to reach from Glasgow, Scotland’s largest and most vibrant city. There are good public transport services to and around Arran, and to Arrochar. We have divided this chapter into two manageable sections: Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park and the Isle of Arran. These are followed by some notes about other walks on Arran and the magnificent wilderness of the remote Isle of Jura on p357 .
HIGHLIGHTS