People travel about 30 miles or 48 kilometers north of Glasgow, Scotland, to immerse themselves in an area between the highlands and lowlands of Scotland known as the Highland Boundary Fault. Loch Lomond is part of the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park. Scotland established the park in 2002, and it is Scotland’s first national park.
Some 22 islands and 27 islets rise up out of Loch Lomond. Historic figures like Mary Queen of Scots, Robert the Bruce, and William Wallace are believed to have called a few of these islands home. Mel Gibson portrayed William Wallace in the 1995 epic movie Braveheart, who fought against the tyranny of King Edward I of England.
Why is Loch Lomond so Famous?
Although historians reject the historical accuracy of the events and people portrayed in Braveheart, the movie brought Scottish history into global significance. Loch Lomond is associated with these historical events:
- Neolithic Era: People first arrived in the area around 5,000 years ago, leaving traces at Balmaha, Luss, and Inchlonaig.
- Early Medieval Period: Vikings raided the loch. They hauled their longboats over at Tarbet and sacked islands.
- 8th Century: Irish missionary St Kentigerna settled on Inchcailloch, an island on the loch.
- 1236: The Vikings raided Loch Lomond as part of the Battle of Largs.
- 1745: The Jacobite Uprising took place near the loch, with Catholic supporters of the exiled Stuart Dynasty rising against the Protestant English government. The Scottish song “Loch Lomond” was inspired by these events.
- 1773: James Boswell, a Scottish biographer, diarist, and lawyer, and Samuel Johnson, an English writer who made lasting contributions as a poet, playwright, essayist, moralist, literary critic, sermonist, biographer, editor, and lexicographer visited the islands of Loch Lomond, noting that it was already a popular destination for travelers.
- Rob Roy MacGregor, a clan leader who acquired land on Loch Lomondside and at Balquidder in 1701, where he prospered as a legitimate cattle dealer. After a business transaction with the Duke of Montrose turned sour because one of MacGregor’s men took off with the duke’s money, Rob Roy became an outlaw and folk hero who used the road past the loch to herd his stolen cattle.
Besides its cultural and historical significance, today Loch Lomond is well regarded for its mythological associations, national park, outdoor activities, scenic natural beauty, and tourism and accessibility.
Is Loch Lomond Worth Visiting?
Around two million visitors flock to Loch Lomond every year. This high level of tourism reflects its status as one of Scotland’s most popular natural attractions. Most of Loch Lomond island’s names use the prefix or suffix “inch” from the Gaelic word “innis”, meaning island. Quaint villages like Balloch and Luss offer delightful local shops, eateries, and historical sites around the lake.
Visitors describe the landscape as breathtaking, gorgeous, and stunning, with hundreds of acres of pure scenery. The Highland Boundary Fault, which divides Scotland’s Highlands from its Lowlands, follows a south-westerly direction through the islands of Creinch, Inchcailloch, Inchmurrin, and Torrinch.
It is popular to climb Conic Hill from the village of Balmaha for a magnificent view of the Highland Boundary Fault line. The Island Of Someone Called Wallace is located in the mouth of the Inveruglas water, just south of the village of Inveruglas. Historical evidence reveals that this island could be where William Wallace sought refuge or that someone else named Wallace owned the island.
The Glengoyne Distillery (malt whiskey) and Loch Lomond Distillery (malt scotch whiskey) call Loch Lomond home. You can lay out a five-star picnic location along the shoreline, take a boat tour to some islands, and explore the magnificent scenery from the middle of the lake.
Loch Lomond covers approximately 27,500 acres (about 11,200 hectares). It is one of the largest freshwater lochs in Scotland by surface area. Loch Lomond has approximately 150 miles (240 kilometers) of shoreline. Its lengthy shoreline includes a blend of sandy beaches, rocky outcrops, and wooded areas.
Loch Lomond is a glacial lake and reaches a maximum depth of about 623 feet (190 meters). From there, the loch varies in depth depending on its geological complexity. Loch Lomond accommodates canoes, kayaks, rowboats, motorboats, PWCs, sailboats, and tour boats.
Can I Swim in Loch Lomond?
Yes, you can swim in Loch Lomond in Scotland, but you should follow water safety regulations. Thousands of people participate in mass swimming events each year because open water swimming is so popular at Loch Lomond. Loch Lomond’s water quality is monitored, and it is usually suitable for swimming, but visitors can check with local officials for updates.
Swimming alone in Loch Lomond is dangerous. Always swim with at least one person, tell someone where you are going, and when you expect to return. Wearing safety gear like brightly colored swim caps and tow floats, and wetsuits to stay warm in cooler months is advised.
Fishing in Loch Lomond
Loch Lomond is popular with anglers and offers some of the best game and coarse fishing in the UK. Coarse fishing is a common type of angling in the UK. Coarse fish are not salmonids and are undesirable as food or game fish. Coarse fish, like bream and roach, develop bumpy growths when they spawn, making them feel coarse to the touch.
What City is Closest to Loch Lomond?
Glasgow is the closest city to Loch Lomond, which is about 30 miles (48 kilometers) north and takes about 45 minutes or an hour to reach Arden at the southern end of the lake. It depends and where you want to go around the loch. Edinburgh is about 80 miles (129 kilometers) southeast of Loch Lomond.
What Monster Is in Loch Lomond?
The story goes that a monster-sized being that resembles a plesiosaur or an enormous crocodile resides in Loch Lomond. Over the years, witnesses have reported this creature is 12-feet long with short spikes on its back. This could be that there are two separate creatures or that witnesses describe this monster differently. No one knows for sure…
What Is a Fun Fact About Loch Lomond?
Loch Lomond is Great Britain’s largest inland body of water, with a surface area of 27.5 square miles. Loch Lomond is 24-miles (38-km) long, up to 5-miles (8-km) wide, and over 600-feet deep (190) meters deep at its deepest point.
Loch Lomond is famous for its reference in the Scottish song, The Bonnie Banks o’ Loch Lomond.
The Loch Lomond Bird of Prey Centre in Balloch has a variety of British birds and some unusual species from around the world, including owls and golden eagles.
Loch Lomond is the largest loch in terms of surface area in Scotland.
The total population of the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park in 2011 was 17,752, with the population spread across many towns and villages.
