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The area

Situated within the magnificent Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park, and very close to Loch Lomond, there are so many opportunities for outdoor pursuits, such as walking, mountaineering, sailing, cycling, kayaking, wild swimming - as well as plenty of places for relaxation in the shape of spas and restaurants. Glasgow is only a 40 minute drive away, and Glasgow airport even closer – whilst lochs and mountains and beauty abound – it really is the best of both worlds.

Stable Cottage sits halfway between the villages of Balloch and Gartocharn. Balloch is often considered a gateway to the Highlands – an area of famous wild beauty - and also to Argyll with its stunning coastline, fair few Munros, gorgeous islands, and temperate rainforest. We are just 10 miles from the attractive town of Helensburgh with its independent shops and eateries. And in the other direction there is Stirlingshire, with its picturesque villages of Drymen and Killearn just minutes away, as well as more lochs, pretty towns and hills a little bit further - so there is plenty to explore in all directions.

DJI 0088 Above Stable Cottage IMG 2712 Loch Lomond from Aber Shore IMG 7443 Whinny Hill IMG 1512 View from Whinny Hill path towards Lorn IMG 6044 Coffin Road above Stoneymollan IMG 6046 Coffin Road, Balloch - Helensburgh IMG 6035 Coffin Road above Stoneymollan IMG 6024 Sheep near Boturich IMG 4941 John Muir Way, near Gallangad IMG 8229 Rowardennan IMG 8175 Kayaking on Loch Lomond IMG 7942 Inchcailloch Island Nina at inchmurrin Inchmurrin Island IMG 7180 Millarochy Bay IMG 6368 Loch Lubnaig IMG 4801 Sallochy Bay IMG 4981 View from Ben Lomond IMG 3346 View from Ben Narnain IMG 3335 The Cobbler IMG 1119 Ben Dubh, Luss Hill IMG 0971 Loch Lomond from Ross Loan Pexels elgolovchenko 12319481 Gallery of Modern Art, Glasgow Pexels nikola pavlackova 262754331 12845039 Glasgow University Pexels urlapovaanna 3061345 Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Glasgow Seaplane Seaplane, Cameron House

Wildlife

Whilst the wider Loch Lomond area is famously full of interesting wildlife, our garden has its fair share of wild inhabitants too. We regularly see deer in the field and gardens, and there is a whole host of resident birds including robins, wrens, tree-creepers, woodpeckers, tawny owls, tits, finches, nuthatches – to name but a few! There is an elusive red squirrel that pops up from time to time, a heron who stalks the field, a buzzard who regularly prowls overhead, and we have even heard a nightjar. Swallows and housemartins can be seen diving about in the summer, and we also have plenty of bats residing in the roof of Ashfield House which dramatically help to keep the midge population down – very handy indeed!

Things to see and do

Stable Cottage is a wonderful haven where you can just relax and forget the outside world. But if you do want to venture out, there’s plenty to see.  The See Loch Lomond website is a very informative resource. And here's a few of our own recommendations:

On doorstep:
15 / 20 min drive:
30 min drive:
45 min drive:
  • Glasgow
  • Stirling
  • Callander
  • Loch Fyne
60 min drive:
90 min drive:
  • Edinburgh
  • Tighnabruiach
  • Glencoe