The National Park is very accessible to visitors, being less than an hour from Glasgow and two from Edinburgh. A place of contrasts, it covers four distinctly different and special areas:
Ben Lomond towering over Loch Lomond, is the largest expanse of freshwater in Great Britain; the Trossachs, wild glens and sparkling lochs between Callander and Aberfoyle;
Breadalbane, mountainous country to the north, with some of Scotland’s finest Munros - Ben Lui, Ben Challum, Ben More and Ben Vorlich; and finally, the Argyll Forest of the Cowal peninsula bounded by the Arrochar Alps and bordered by sea lochs.
The area has been visited and enjoyed by visitors who have come here to walk, cycle, climb, breathe fresh air and enjoy the spectacular views for over two centuries.
Nowadays, a good place to start is at the National Park Gateway Centre in Balloch and Loch Lomond Shores visitor centre on the shores of Loch Lomond, as a good introduction to the area. Nearby Luss is home to the Clan Colquhoun and Luss Visitor Centre where bagpipes are made. Pleasure cruises on the loch operate all year round, and are the ultimate way to relax and soak up the atmosphere of the loch.
Further west is Dunoon which is home to the magnificent woodland garden of Benmore Botanic Garden, set amidst the mountains of the Cowal peninsula, and world famous for its conifers, trees and shrubs, including over 250 species of rhododendrons. Still in the National Park Area is Callander, where you can hear the story of Rob Roy MacGregor, Highland folk hero, at the Rob Roy and Trossachs Visitor Centre.
Throughout the Park, from Crianlarich in the north to the Argyll Forest Park in the west, there are plenty of signposted walks and trails.