Holiday rentals in Rowardennan

Located on the eastern shore of Loch Lomond, 30 miles northwest of Glasgow, tiny Rowardennan has become a hub for outdoor activities. There’s little here but the jetty, a small beach, a National Park information centre, holiday accommodation, and a sprinkling of hillside cottages. Some people come here to lose themselves in the views of heathery hills, glens, and peaks of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, where you can watch for ospreys swooping down to seize fish from the inky depths of the vast freshwater lake.

But spectating has its limits. To truly experience the fullness of the region’s offerings, most visitors opt to get up close and personal with nature. Cycling and mountain biking are popular in Rowardennan, as are kayaking, paddle boarding, wake surfing, and exploring the wilderness with your own two feet on an epic hike. Day trips might take you to Dumbarton Castle, set on a towering rock to the south, and Queen Elizabeth Forest Park for scenic rambles around several captivating lochs.

Summer sun makes everything glorious in Rowardennan, but there is the small itchy issue of midges to contend with, which can be a pain on calm damp days. Autumn and spring are often preferable for that reason, and in winter the hiking is even more spectacular when the peaks are crested with snow. The Loch Lomond Food and Drink Festival, a feast of cooking demos, food stalls, and spirits tastings, is held in Balloch in September, with its Springfest version in April. The RSPB Loch Lomond Nature Reserve in Gartocharn sometimes hosts family activity days.

Climbing Ben Lomond

The trek up Ben Lomond is a classic hike and can be done on a day trip from Glasgow. From the 3,193-foot summit you’ll be rewarded with amazing views across Loch Lomond and its dozen or so low-slung islands, perhaps glimpsing a ptarmigan, pine marten, or golden eagle along the way. Near the start you’ll pass archaeological features such as an old turf-roof house, ruined 19th-century hunting lodges, and ancient woodland.

West Highland Way

This long distance walking route from Milngavie to Fort William is a 96-mile nature extravaganza. Most tackle it from south to north, so that the terrain gets steeper and gnarlier as you go. Rowardennan is in the easier early stages. Walk the route south to Drymen to see the village of Balmaha and the southern loch islands, or north towards Inverarnan for more isolation, bigger mountains, and wild goats. A waterfall at Inversnaid cascades into the loch.

Balloch

Your nearest lively place is Balloch, at the southern end of the loch, considered the gateway to the national park. Balloch Castle and a good selection of restaurants are among the draws. Don’t miss Maid of the Loch, a restored paddle steamer with an Art Deco interior, which used to cruise to Rowardennan, now moored at the pier.