Sunday 23rd April 2023
Lazy morning, took our time over coffee and toast. We are leaving site today and after packing up we set off for Loch Lomond at 11am. Weather has changed and today is grey with some light mizzle. Lovely drive through open moorland with mountains all around us. Stopped for a coffee in a lay-by then the road hugged the shores of Loch Lomond for about 10 miles until we arrived at our next site Lomond Wood in Balloch. Arrived at 1.15pm and self service check in, the barrier opens on recognition of our number plate and they have emailed a park map showing where we can pick our potential plot. Filled with water then made a decision on where to park. Once set up we walked in to find the Visitor Centre. Got lots of info then after buying a loaf of bread we came back and had a very late lunch at 3pm! We decided to do a wash as it’s been a week and the laundry bag is getting full. Cooked tea just after 7pm, then showered and settled down for another evening without any tv reception!!
Monday 24th April 2023
We decided on a bike ride today, it’s the Rob Roy Loop. We hadn’t quite realised it would take us an hour to get there but reconciled ourselves with seeing more of the Lochs and Trossachs area. Parked in the village of Strathyre and set off on the 8 mile loop. The ride started out through a forest then opened out past a loch and open moor land. We stopped in the village of Balquhidder to see the grave of Rob Roy. He was an outlaw who later became a folklore hero, a bit like Robin Hood, half villain and half hero. Easy cycle path all the way back to the car park.
We drove to Callander and parked by the river in the centre of town. Had a wander round the shops then had lunch in the van. Got back to site, it’s been a cloudy day with some light spots of rain but also sunny spells when the clouds break apart. Settled for a relaxing evening.
Tuesday 25th April 2023
Blue skies again but with a chill in the air, we decided on a walk from site to Balloch Castle Country Park. The castle isn’t open to the public but the vast parkland that borders the loch is. We looked around the landscaped gardens and the walled garden before taking the path through the woods to Whinny Hill. As the name suggests it was uphill all the way and disappointingly the surrounding views were hidden by all the trees. We sat and had an apple and chocolate bar before walking back down and taking the path along the shoreline. It was just over 8 miles and although the clouds came over it was pleasant weather to walk in.
After a late lunch, Del set off on another bike ride to Helensburgh.
Later in the afternoon the sun came back out and we had to open the windows and door of the van to keep cool! Had showers then cooked tea. Watched more tv on the iPad before bed.
Wednesday 26th April 2023
Our early blue skies soon gave way to grey clouds, but it’s dry, there’s no strong wind to speak of and it’s not too bad temperature wise. After breakfast and coffee Del got the bikes down and we decided on a 6.5 mile ride to Dumbarton. The main reason for doing this was due to the non traffic flat cycle path all the way there alongside the river. Easy riding for me as my leg has been painful lately. Sadly on arrival the town looked very down at heel and neglected. We didn’t even want to leave our bikes unattended so I got takeaway coffees and snacks and we sat by the river with our bikes next to us. Del had spotted a Lidl so I nipped in there to get something for tea. We then rode the 6.5 miles back to the site, stopping for Del to get a lottery ticket for the Motorhome Funsters syndicate.
After lunch Del did a longer ride out along the shores of the loch to Luss. Same as usual in the evening, showers, drinks and tea.
Thursday, 27th April 2023
Woke up to rain this morning, so a steady start to the day. By midday the rain had stopped, so we did a walk along the banks of Loch Lomond to Ducks Bay.
On our return we had to take a look around The Shores retail park, just to see what was on offer. Luckily nothing was bought. Had some lunch and then returned back to the van, to prepare for the next journey to North Berwick, where we are meeting up with the Adria Club on their rally.
Lazy morning, took our time over coffee and toast. We are leaving site today and after packing up we set off for Loch Lomond at 11am. Weather has changed and today is grey with some light mizzle. Lovely drive through open moorland with mountains all around us. Stopped for a coffee in a lay-by then the road hugged the shores of Loch Lomond for about 10 miles until we arrived at our next site Lomond Wood in Balloch. Arrived at 1.15pm and self service check in, the barrier opens on recognition of our number plate and they have emailed a park map showing where we can pick our potential plot. Filled with water then made a decision on where to park. Once set up we walked in to find the Visitor Centre. Got lots of info then after buying a loaf of bread we came back and had a very late lunch at 3pm! We decided to do a wash as it’s been a week and the laundry bag is getting full. Cooked tea just after 7pm, then showered and settled down for another evening without any tv reception!!
Monday 24th April 2023
We decided on a bike ride today, it’s the Rob Roy Loop. We hadn’t quite realised it would take us an hour to get there but reconciled ourselves with seeing more of the Lochs and Trossachs area. Parked in the village of Strathyre and set off on the 8 mile loop. The ride started out through a forest then opened out past a loch and open moor land. We stopped in the village of Balquhidder to see the grave of Rob Roy. He was an outlaw who later became a folklore hero, a bit like Robin Hood, half villain and half hero. Easy cycle path all the way back to the car park.
We drove to Callander and parked by the river in the centre of town. Had a wander round the shops then had lunch in the van. Got back to site, it’s been a cloudy day with some light spots of rain but also sunny spells when the clouds break apart. Settled for a relaxing evening.
Tuesday 25th April 2023
Blue skies again but with a chill in the air, we decided on a walk from site to Balloch Castle Country Park. The castle isn’t open to the public but the vast parkland that borders the loch is. We looked around the landscaped gardens and the walled garden before taking the path through the woods to Whinny Hill. As the name suggests it was uphill all the way and disappointingly the surrounding views were hidden by all the trees. We sat and had an apple and chocolate bar before walking back down and taking the path along the shoreline. It was just over 8 miles and although the clouds came over it was pleasant weather to walk in.
After a late lunch, Del set off on another bike ride to Helensburgh.
Later in the afternoon the sun came back out and we had to open the windows and door of the van to keep cool! Had showers then cooked tea. Watched more tv on the iPad before bed.
Wednesday 26th April 2023
Our early blue skies soon gave way to grey clouds, but it’s dry, there’s no strong wind to speak of and it’s not too bad temperature wise. After breakfast and coffee Del got the bikes down and we decided on a 6.5 mile ride to Dumbarton. The main reason for doing this was due to the non traffic flat cycle path all the way there alongside the river. Easy riding for me as my leg has been painful lately. Sadly on arrival the town looked very down at heel and neglected. We didn’t even want to leave our bikes unattended so I got takeaway coffees and snacks and we sat by the river with our bikes next to us. Del had spotted a Lidl so I nipped in there to get something for tea. We then rode the 6.5 miles back to the site, stopping for Del to get a lottery ticket for the Motorhome Funsters syndicate.
After lunch Del did a longer ride out along the shores of the loch to Luss. Same as usual in the evening, showers, drinks and tea.
Thursday, 27th April 2023
Woke up to rain this morning, so a steady start to the day. By midday the rain had stopped, so we did a walk along the banks of Loch Lomond to Ducks Bay.
On our return we had to take a look around The Shores retail park, just to see what was on offer. Luckily nothing was bought. Had some lunch and then returned back to the van, to prepare for the next journey to North Berwick, where we are meeting up with the Adria Club on their rally.
