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).

First of all - the path to The Cobbler is not on The Chalets, that was just the closest I could…read moreget. You can park in car park off the A83 just across from that street (The Chalets). Cross the street and you're in! Logistics: The first part of the climb is a steep-ish zig-zag through the trees. It's not too hard, but will get your heart pumping. When you get above the tree line is when things really start to get fantastic. You walk through a magnificent valley filled to the brim with mountain streams, flora, and giant rocks that give the landscape an otherworldly feel. It's just one gorgeous vista after another, and the best part is it's mostly flat! But then...it gets tough. The ascent to the mountain is steep, and you will need serious hiking boots. Don't make the mistake we did. When you get to the fork, go right. If you go left, it is faster, but it's also a perilous climb up a rocky riverbed. If you go right, you will stay on a trail which is both easier and safer to climb. The Cobbler receives rave reviews all over the interwebs, and having tackled it this weekend, I can see why. I didn't even get to see those spectacular views from the top (it was foggy at the peak) and I was still amazed by it. I'd say anyone who is in reasonably good shape and has a pair of hiking boots and a waterproof jacket can do this round-trip in under six hours. This is the day trip to beat all day trips! You will be surrounded by beauty and feel amazing afterwards.

So today was a sunny spring day so a group of us decided to head to the whangie, I'd been before…read moreearlier in the year but it was so icey we had to turn back after only getting half way.. The whangie and Queens view is only 30 minutes from Glasgows city centre in the car, unfortunately I don't think there is any public transport to get there. There is a small car park at the bottom which on sunny days will be busy.. The first part of the walk is the toughest bit, but even then it's not that tough.. It's a lovely walk for walkers of all abilities.. There are parts which you have to be careful and concentrate on, but most of it is easy.. As I said today it's a talkie walk, which means you can chat whilst doing it without needing to catch your breath.. The views from the start are amazing you can see loch Lomond which today looked beautiful and blue.. Once you get to the top you see the actual Whangie.. It's a big piece of rock that has a slice through the middle which you can walk through, it is beautiful, I loved it.. Legend has it that the whangie was created by an angry dragon whose tail smashed through the rock, creating the slice.. It's a really lovely walk and to the top and back down took about 1 1/2 hours..

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.

A rainy, misty day but the perfect day to visit the Bonny Bonny Banks of Loch Lomond…read more Unfortunately, we were expecting to have views as we drove along the road as in the Lake District. It is obvious that views of the Loch are restricted to the numerous trekkers and walkers that we saw. However, what we saw through the trees, and on the odd viewpoint, was impressive.

Hi Guys, cycled…read morethrough Scottland from Glasgow to the northern boarder, to the ouder hebridies, to Edinburgh, back to Glasgow, twice. Took the boat from Inverness for return trip to Fort William - 30 years ag (1990/1991). Great experience - without any E-... . Today I am cycling an E-MTB:.. To take a rest we stopped in Fort William for 2 days - but did not rest... I a booklet we rent from university "Mountainbiking in the Scottish Highlands" a tour was described around Ben Nevis. (unfortunately at this time my English has had much room for improvements..... and I did not understand the rating "challening"...... Well, we started at 9 and arrived the West Highland was at 6pm, followed the West Highland way to Fort William and arrived in Fort William at 9pm. the B&B lady was so friendly (and afraid about her house.......) and offered us to wash and cleand our stuff - if we would leave it outside.......... It was really a very nice lady. we have had very good experience with Scottish. On the ouder hebridies we recognized that we needed a post office to collect some money - but unfortunately the only one was located north of the mountains on Lewis or Harris - dont remember which one is the northern one - and a postbus driver invited us to join him on his car and trip to Stokinish. It was such a nice experinece "bloody old English ...." 500times during the 2 hours trip. In the evenig he invited us to join us at legioneers Pub / Club. It was so nice. If I would find some power for the E I would do it again....... Great country, people, weather........(:...).

We did the WHW from 6th - 15th June this year and really enjoyed the hike over the 8 days, the trek…read moreis really good marked and we reached after 154 KM Fort William, I highly recommend to do this once in a life time :-)

Several months ago as we were planning our trip to Scotland, MIL sent me a clipping of an article…read moreshe'd spotted the "Washington Post": the best things to do in Scotland with kids. 1) She still snail-mails newspaper clippings. 2) We don't have kids. And 3) She knows her son well. As soon as I read about Raptor World, I broke out the laptop and e-mailed for a reservation. Husband's big on birds, even more so on those large birds of prey, so I booked the Thistle Experience for our first full day in Scotland. It was billed as a half-day, personalized experience in the Scottish countryside. And since our party comprised five people, no one else would be joining us (group size maxes out at six). The description is nearly exactly what we received. For a little over three hours, six of us -- including our capable guide, Stuart -- hiked through the Scottish country with two Harris hawks. We received a brief introduction to handling the birds, including how to hold them using gauntlets (thick leather gloves), release them to hunt, call them back and feed them. Our birds, Squeak and Orkney, were beautiful, patient and largely cooperative, and Stuart was incredibly knowledgeable and informative. We learned the history of falconry and were able to witness this ancient craft in action as Squeak and Orkney stalked prey amidst some truly spectacular scenery. Adding to the enjoyment were the verdant sheep pastures and farmlands, carved into the rocky hillsides, through which we passed (Scotland's Laws of Trespass allow public access to private lands so long as "no damage" is done to said lands). Raptor World's excursions leave from several places in Tayside. We departed from the Bridge of Cally Hotel in Blairgowrie where we met Stuart in his rugged Santana right on time. Prices vary by experience, but we ended up paying around US$150 (roughly £98) per person, which seemed reasonable considering the richness and length of our experience. When we got back home, husband declared that our Raptor World afternoon was his favorite experience of the trip -- ten days and dozens upon dozens of other experiences in between. I definitely feel like we discovered one of the best things to do in Scotland with kids at heart.

Can you review a mountain?…read more Evidently, you can! Besides, it's not like its feelings can get hurt. I just want to brag about how I climbed this bad boy yesterday! My first munro, just like Ickle M's. Definitely not my last, either! Ben Lomond is roughly 3100 feet, and one of the most popular climbs in Scotland. Its location lends to it being accessible by most on the central belt, and its gradual ascent makes it completely conquerable by people with little to no experience of walking, hiking or mountain climbing. As Ickle M said, it's only really sign posted towards the beginning, but it's a very sociable walk so no doubt you'll be able to tag along with fellow adventurers should you get lost. There is a path that takes you all the way up to the top from the information centre so as long as you stay on the beaten track you'll be safe. This was my first climb, so I'll give you some pointers if, like me, you're only just getting to grips with the great outdoors in such a dramatic fashion. First off, pack a bag full of food. There are no cafe's or scenic routes along the way - this is pure, untempered land. It may be a tourist attraction, but it's still rugged and left in its natural state (thankfully). Even if you get boiling, stuff your bag with as much warm clothing as it can hold. On a summer's day with no cloud cover you will likely not use any of it - we went up yesterday and I was roasting despite the cloud cover. But if it is cloudly, towards the top you will get drenched with water vapour and little ice particles in the air. If you are the type who doesn't like to get their hands dirty, don't bother. At several points you have to grab on to the neighbouring rocks to hoist yourself further up the path, and while you won't end up caked in mud, you still can't shy away from the great outdoors. If you're inexperienced, don't climb it in winter. I felt safe yesterday because my friend is a professional mountain climber (he had a pick axe with him and everything!). Although you don't need such extreme equipment for this Munro, it can get quite narrow and slippery towards the summit, and consequently quite dangerous. It may be an easier mountain to climb but there are still some sheer drops, so don't look down! Bring shoes with a good grip. I survived it in wellies that I bought at a festival! So it can be done. But I wouldn't recommend a summer skirt and court shoes for this trek. Climbing shoes or thick leather boots with a good grip would be ideal. From someone who has never climbed a mountain before, Ben Lomond was a great starting point. It's nice and near the city, the path is easy enough to climb even at its rockiest points, and there's plenty of opportunities to stop and gape at the gorgeous view. Unfortunately yesterday there was a lot of cloud cover, but on a clear day you can see for miles around. All in all, it's a good mountain to start you off, and makes a great day of extreme tourism. It's a good day out for older kids, accessible for older generations - there are even dogs who make it to the top! There are ususally plenty of people around that will gladly help you out if you need it, and there is a conveniently placed pub at the bottom. You will earn your pint after this adventure! Happy hiking!

This is a very easy, very rewarding wee hike right outside Stirling. It's real simple. Just drive…read moreinto the town centre (of sorts) of Menstrie, right on the A91. Across from the Spar there's a big open green, at the back of which you'll see a Scouts Hall. Park somewhere near there. Follow the path to the left of the Hall. You'll see a sign that helpfully says "Path," pointing to a cement staircase curving up to the right. The first part of the climb is a bit blah, but once you get past the teensy dirt path and the weird abandoned hobo pit (don't be scared...it's all ancient rusty cans) and over the crest of the hill, you'll be rewarded with magnificent views. There are approximately 72,004 sheep to terrify you with their horns, who will promptly skitter away if you come within ten feet of them. The last little stretch to the top is somewhat steep, but definitely do-able. We were all in sneakers (or trainers, if you will) and during our one hour hike to the ascent we were lapped by a man who jogged to the top and back in under 30 minutes. If a guy can do it every day on his lunch break, then so can you. It's a mostly beautiful amble with spectacular views of the William Wallace Monument and Stirling Castle once you reach the top. Well worth a visit and definitely earns a trip to the pub afterwards.

Harris, the Coo whisperer, was a legend. Great energy, set a wonderful tone. I like the small group…read moresetup.

Five stars for a great local tour company we booked through Viator and would book directly through…read morewith in the future. We did the 12 hour full day tour of the highlands from Edinburgh. Love the small group size- vans of 8 vs a big tour group. We got to know others on the tour and our guide Karen was excellent. Good variety of walking, driving, history and of course the Highland cows. It was by far the best part of our trip and I wish we had the time to do a multi day tour with the group. Side note I have to say their responsiveness and communication ahead of time was next to none. Allem helped us out when we were running to meet the group a few minutes late (for the meet time not the leave time - they have a fifteen minute window thankfully) and that wouldn't have been as easy had he not texted me the day before to make sure we had all the info.

This is a great hike just outside the bonanza of quaint that is Callander. The website given here…read moregives a very exact description of how to get there, where to park, and the hike itself so I'll leave that for you to click yourself and get on to reviewing the experience. Well, it's not as spectacular as the beloved Cobbler, but it's also not as strenuous. It's a steady incline up and up, with some very boggy spots if it's been raining recently (and when hasn't it?). But you are rewarded with fantastic 360 degree views at the top, and lots of places to sit and contemplate. This is a great hike for even the most novice hiker--the path is clear, there are no scary scrabbling spots or perilous gradients, and it only takes about four hours in total. Bring hiking shoes, a waterproof jacket, a hat (it's windy!) and a packed lunch and you are pretty much good to go. This is a very rewarding day trip that allows you to explore Scotland's beauty.