Scotland series #2 - Loch Lomond

After spending first weekend in Scotland doing next to nothing, I realized I don't want to spend the few weekends I had in Scotland sleeping in. Yet not willing to take package tours I took the bus to Loch Lomond. The bus stand next to airport, not only have frequent buses to this Loch, but also daily buses to Highlands. I didn't know Loch Lomond have so many villages on its shore until the driver asked me to specify which place I want to go. Looking at my confused face, he pulled out a map and, when I continued to look clueless, suggested a place ideal for sightseeing - Balloch. 

It was hardly 30 minute drive and, when I got down at the stop, I was totally lost. There was no foot path or crossing or any signs to indicate proximity to Loch. Somehow managing to cross the road and walking through damp path with overgrown grass in sandals, I started considering to wait at the bus stop for return bus. Cursing myself for not even checking what a Loch even means, I went back to the bus stop - thankfully next bus wasn't due for another 6 hours. Left with no choice, I started walking in other direction which is when I saw the sky walk and the narrow road winding down with still no living being in sight. Marking the bus-stop location in google maps, I went down the deserted road. After few minutes, first sight of habitation came to view - a dog kennel.

Finding no one inside apart from the barking canines, I continued walking through the path and soon started seeing signs of residence. Like in some horror movie, there are absolutely no one on the streets. Few minutes later, I found a park with few people who bought their dogs for a walk. One of them told me to cross the path to reach the Loch and warned me to be careful as the ground was damp. While walking through the uneven path, my expectations on the location went down with every step.  

Finally, I reached the Loch and at first saw a Kayak club and, next to it, Maid of Loch. 

There aren't many visitors, which is a good thing as the ship is relatively smaller. 

The Loch is quite beautiful and surrounded by hills. It seemed vast and I was only looking at a small part of it from the deck. A thumping music attracted my attention to other part of the shore. It took only few minutes walk by the shore to reach the place and it is packed with food tents and other kinds of stores like clothing, leather goods, crafts etc., 

Towards the end there is guided boat ride at regular intervals and took us till the part of Loch famously known as entrance to Highlands. 

Only then I could see the magnitude of the Loch and it still wasn't the complete stretch. In my later trips, when ventured further into highlands, we drove across the Loch for hours. The boat took us through the castle, Michael Jackson's favorite hotel (which was burnt and getting renovated) and one of the few inhabited islands before returning to the shore. 

Adjacent to the stores, there is Bird of prey Centre with wide range of owls. They have Falconry show twice everyday and I reached in time for the afternoon one with the owls flying past us to their trainers. Its nice to see the birds treated with love and care. 

I did a bit of shopping and had the famous haggis with nachos from one of the tents. Though it's description isn't very appealing, haggis is a delicious dish. 

I skipped the 4 pm bus I intended to take and went for the 6 pm one taking a different path to the bus-stop. The return path is less like forest and more like town but equally deserted though. Even with bit of a rocky start, it was a fun afternoon and boat trip is my favorite.