Loch Lomond Shores is a small shopping complex mainly aimed at tourists so you will find an…read moreoverload of tartan and shortbread on offer here. There's a few stores including; -Jenners -Catherine Kinloch -Misty Glen -Edinburgh Woollen Mill -Thorntons -Julien Graves ...So it's not the kind of place you could go on a shopping spree but it caters for tourists and is a pleasant place to browse. In addition to the shopping centre there's also a Sea Life Centre and if you're looking for some activities then you can hop on the loch for a spot of canoeing or paddle boating. Like Gavin, I find it a little odd that there's a complete lack of place to eat apart from a small cafe attached onto Jenners and a restaurant with the worst looking menu I've ever seen.

Ugh, I clearly made an error in planning to launch my exploration of Loch Lomond from this site…read more It's a tourist-choked amusement park. Besides restaurants and an aquarium (to which I'll give a pass), they have paddleboats and a "retail crescent." They do offer some legitimate services for exploring the park, such as kayak and mountain-bike rentals. On the upside, the park service has a large visitor center here which serves as a gateway to Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park. What I really wanted to do was hike around the vicinity above the lake, since I didn't have time enough in my day to climb Ben Lomond. I got plenty of pamphlets and then got the hell out to drive up the west side of the lake towards Luss.

Perhaps one of the best leisure centres in te country!…read more The Waterfront in Greenock is a huge complex comprising of...wait for it...a 25m training pool, a wave pool, jacuzzi, the longest tyre flume in the UK, and outdoor swimming pool and a lazy river...an ice rink, a fitness gym, workout classes, spray tanning and much much more! If you're a fitness buff then you will love the gym, not so many people standing about adoring themselves as people actually training, so better than most. The changing facilities are some of the best I've ever experienced and all showers are individual for a welcome change...and they are power showers! Amazing. Gym can be quite expensive at around a 5er a pop but totally worth it!

For a start the ice rink has a hill in it, a hill! Which looks pretty tiny but trust me, once…read moreyou're up there and you have to get back down it feels like Mount Everest! They have "Ice Cold Fridays" on the rink which is skating but with a selection of dance anthems. On a Saturday nights it's "Sub Zero Saturdays" where they play the latest cheesy pop tunes. The toddler's swimming pool is the best I've seen with a tiny little double sided slide in it and lots of other watery attractions to keep little ones amused. For big kids like myself there is the body flume which goes outdoors and believe me you will know when you're going through the outdoors bit because your nipples will tell you! If that's not hardcore enough for you then you can always swim through to the outdoor pool which is heated but you won't be able to tell because it is still bloody freezing! We're Scottish though, we're hard and we can handle it! The gym has loads of great equipment which you would usually have to go to a private gym to find such as power plates, a climbing machine (which you can set to famous landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower which gives you a work out equivalent to climbing your chosen landmark!) and a ab solo machine which is a lot like those basketball games you get in arcades. If you're hungry after all that skating, swimming and working out then you can go and buy a delicious greasy sausage roll from the Waterfronts very own branch of Aulds! Random, but loving it

We ate at their restaurant Palominos, and the food was good, with amazing detail to helping with…read morefood allergies. Sadly though, service was extremely slow as they actually forgot to bring the meals Cocktail bar was good. Equestrian ambiance made it fun. We stayed in a little cabin which was quiet, relaxing before a 6:00 am flight in Glasgow. A very quick drive to airport. That would be a fun place for a horse show, meticulous stables.

Oh reviewing a country club are we? Bet you didn't know I am secretly posh!…read more Ingliston is located in Bishopton, about 15 minutes from Glasgow Airport and is surrounded by lovely views of the countryside. It is first and foremost an equestrian centre and although it has been years since I have ridden a horse myself I believe Ingliston has the best facilities in the country. There are classes for everyone from the complete beginner right up to the most experienced competitive riders. They can teach you everything from how to care for horses and managing a stable to show jumping and dressage. However, if like me you love horses but don't fancy getting quite so involved, you can go on one of the stable tours to check out the great facilities and meet some of the gorgeous horses. If you've had an injury from horse riding or are just a bit nervous about getting back into horse riding after a few years away from it, Ingliston have a simulator which gently eases you back into the saddle so to speak and helps build up the muscles you would use when riding a real horse. At Ingliston there is also a boutique called Flying Changes where you can buy all the gear for your horse as well as clothing for yourself by the likes of Joules and Toggi. You can also pick up some lovely equestrian themed gifts for little ones and adult alike. Ingliston also has ten gorgeous looking lodges which you can stay in and while on the outside they look a bit like fancy sheds; on the inside they are very modern, spacious and stylish. I have never stayed in one myself but I have had a little tour round them and I recommend you check out some of the photos I have posted from the Ingliston website as they really are quite impressive little sheds! The reason for most of my visits to Ingliston is for some food. There are four different dining areas all with a different vibe to them. I usually eat in Palomino's which is a bistro and wine bar and have had some wonderful afternoon tea here and several delicious meals. I highly recommend the steak pie followed by the sticky toffee pudding. You'll need a good 2 weeks solid at the gym to work that meal off but it is definitely worth it! At Palomino's there are huge windows which face onto the inside training arena and you can watch the riders practice. The Salerno Suite reminds me of the grand dining room aboard the Titanic! It is very Art Deco with a lot of the features being inspired from London's Savoy Hotel. This dining area tends to attract an older crowd for things like dinner dances but it can also be hired as a wedding venue. There is a beautiful terrace which would make a great place to sip champagne as the sunsets on your wedding day. The Polo Rooms attracts a younger customer as it has a very vibrant atmosphere and is decorated like a cocktail bar in Ibiza! There are often live bands playing or (horror of horrors) karaoke, but don't let that put you off! The summer barbeques are always good fun and we have to make the best of any decent weather we get in Scotland! The Polo Rooms can also be hired out for smaller weddings or parties. The Clydesdale and Shetland suites are more your typical function suites. Ideal for small parties and the seating can be adapted to suite your specific needs. All in all I highly recommend Ingliston whether you are interested equestrianism or not. You can spend a few hours there enjoying a great meal or a few days staying in one of the lovely lodges and taking a few riding lessons.

I am jealous. I am jealous that there are people in this world who can get up every morning and go…read morehere, even if just for a quick morning walk. We visited Loch Lomond on New Year's Day and can I just say it made for the most magical start to a new year for me. I'm floored by its beauty and tranquility and if its the start of the Highlands, holy cow - or rather coo! My tour group couldn't get over how stunning the light, filtered through clouds touched upon the hillsides. The park was clean and everyone did their part to keep it that way. No one was too noisey either. Would love to come back and explore more!

Truly, a magnificent park and one a few untouched by development in Scotland. Jagged peaks and…read moresteep mountain tops punctuate the sky and mark some of the most prestige wilderness areas in the world. I wholeheartedly loved this park and my time exploring it. Going back, I would spend a weekend and camp here to really immerse myself (guess I have a good excuse).

We stopped at the South Car Park and picnic area on Loch Lubnaig off of the A84 near Callander…read more It's managed by Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park. There's not much in the way of facilities here. Just a few picnic tables and grill. You'll find the rest of the facilities at the North Car Park that is about a mile up the highway. The picnic area is just to the left of the entrance and over the bridge. It does get a little boggy there since it sits right on the bank of the lake. However, it appears to be a good place to launch paddle boats. The water comes right up to the edge. We did see a person paddle boating along the way. Just make sure to heed the warnings about the sudden drop close to shore. It's very deep water. It truly is a hidden scenic spot that is worth a visit. We enjoyed a peaceful view of whispy clouds, mountains, forested hills, and the beautiful Loch Lubnaig (the crooked lake). It's the perfect spot for those who enjoy water activities and nature.

A lovely place Be…read moreaware: Marker on map is way off (at the time I wrote this at least - Park is at the Balloch Castle in Balloch) We walked around Balloch for a while until we started walking along the Loch. It's a nice, pretty short trail leading along the Loch or through the woods. Shortly after you'll find yourself on a huge lawn in front of the Balloch Castle. There are several trails around this area to choose from. The big lawn is really a paradise for humans and pets as well. Even though it was a lovely summer day it never felt crowded and everybody had enough space to do whatever they liked. A good place to let your doggy run free. It offers lots of nice picnic spots with nice views. The Castle itself was partly under construction at the time. The lakeside right at Balloch feels more crowded, be sure to walk just a wee bit further to this park for more space and more views.

I can see the Loch, feel the sun, and there are about 8 people and a dog in my fields of vision. It…read moremay be worth paying the £6 odd train fare and a 40min train journey from Glasgow to go to a park not absolutely mobbed with people and noise. It's about a 10min walk from the train station and there's a Keystore little shop which I am guessing would be good for grabbing snack and beverage provisions. We also have GPS on two phone so not worried about getting lost...

I have only recently got back in to cycling in the last year or two and I have had nothing but…read moreexcellent service from Alec and Kirsteen, you can really tell Alec has extensive knowledge in his craft and Kirsteen too. Whether I have needed just a general service or whether I have brought my bike in because something just wasn't right, I have been very happy with the repairs. Only a few weeks ago, I took my bike in as my gears weren't shifting smoothly and my brakes seemed a bit stiff, since the repair and getting back out on my bike, its like a brand new bike! Thank you Helensburgh Cycles, you have a lifelong customer and friend!

I've been going back to Helensburgh Cycles for coming on for fifteen years now, having bought…read moreseveral bikes and countless parts in that time. For a compact shop, there's a good selection of low to mid-range road & mountain bikes on display, as well as a plethora of accessories, clothing and helmets to browse, too, and what isn't in the shop can be ordered in. The real value of a local bike shop is the quality of customer service and after sales care, though, and it's here that Helensburgh Cycles truly shines. Alec & Alexis will take the time to offer advice on what's best for your bike or style of riding - often with a hot cup of tea to go with it. If you have a technical problem that Alec can't talk you through, "Just bring it in!" he'll say, and you can drop your bike off for some TLC. Alexis is great when it comes to sorting out the kids bikes - she treated my daughter like a princess when we went in to buy her first bike, which was built and collected a couple of hours later along with a free gift. Whether you're local to the area or just passing through on the way to a ride, it's well worth your while to pop in and stock up on spares or energy supplements before heading off on a ride. If you're going by car, turn up Maitland street and park off to the right, although you can park right outside the shop for drop-off and collection purposes.

Beautiful lake in the Trossachs area of the Highlands. We came on an extremely cold day or we would…read morehave taken a boat tour. Pretty area to hike or bike around. The tiny gift shop has hot tea served by a friendly staff.

If ever I needed encouragement at the mid-point of a challenging, torturously hilly 32 mile cycle,…read morethen catching sight of Loch Katrine was it. The Aberfoyle/Dukes Pass/Loch Katrine loop we tackled was a beautiful, scenic route and any difficult climbs paid off in the abundance of awe-inducing views as we came soaring back down. Loch Katrine was a definite highlight for me. She's a beauty and well-worth the visit whether you're planning on biking, walking or taking a trip on the flagship Sir Walter Scott steamship which we were lucky enough to catch sight of. Cyclists, this whole area in general is just great and this route has been my favourite so far. The hills are tough but coming down them is genuinely breath-taking. I definitely want to return to Aberfoyle again and do all kinds of lovely touristy things. Visiting Loch Katrine will definitely be one of them.