LOCH LOMOND HOLIDAY PARK

WATERSIDE LODGES

Don’t be put off by the fact this is a holiday park , It was a new experience for us , However ! what a place if you want peace and quiet to relax and unwind in the winter months. Visiting mid November it was time for us to take some time out with The Pointer Dog , Foxy Roxy and Mr C and this did not disappoint.

Which Room ? – We chose a Waterside Lomond Lodge with hot tub (No 83 ) . It had 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms, a fully equipped kitchen and a 6 seater dining table, wrap around decking which was enclosed and a hot tub you can swim in. The enormous hot tub overlooks the Loch, a perfect way to unwind after walking throughout the day or just enjoying a glass of wine in the evening under the stars.. Bliss. Take note that there are only a few Lodges on the waterside itself , some are set back and you would have close neighbours and Lodges in front of you – so book carefully or call to check https://www.argyllholidays.com

Access all Areas ? – The dogs have the run of the Lodge, We took blankets to cover the furniture just in case . The decking is secure and so they can sit out with you without fear of them disappearing anywhere. Outside dogs need to be on a lead on the park , there is a dog beach where dogs can go and have some fun and a swim with a few little tracks off it to walk along the shore further. It is very dog friendly and the staff were great. Take note that the short dog walk does run alongside the side of the A82 which is a VERY busy road and so keep your dog close if walking the path.

Further out there are many walks through the stunning Scottish scenery, you do need to cross the main road , so do ensure your dog is on a tight collar and lead to make sure there are no risks of slipping the lead. Head to the top of the park , walk to the right for a meter or so and then across and quickly behind the traffic barrier ..It is a 75 strides across the road on a narrow piece of grass, then take the 1st left through a gate and you are away .. It is a very busy road but we crossed it each day with care.

We followed two routes on the Loch Lomond and Cowal way, day one was the walk to Loch Sloy Dam which was Worth the 1400 ft climb to catch the views of the Dam itself and the Loch above, it can be VERY windy at the top, especially as you emerge from the end of the tunnel , so do take care, Foxy Roxy was almost blown away ! We also walked a 10 mile route in the opposite direction to Tarbet and the Goil Sea Loch, a great walk through some stunning countryside, this walk is rocky , icy and hilly and would need a general level of fitness.

There are cows and sheep on the first leg , however after that we saw few animals and so the dogs could have a run around the forest, under control. We dropped into Ben Arthurs Bothy for a quick drink , the view from the restaurant is stunning , however dogs are not allowed in there and only in the bar , the bar has no views and could really be a working mans club anywhere .. so not impressive from that respect but a good spot for a quick drink , in summer you could sit outdoors with your dog overlooking the sea loch and the staff were very dog friendly. We ended up at The Slanj for lunch and a glass of wine. If you don’t wish to walk all the way back you can get a lift from the owner but do check first as this is limited in winter.

Whats in it for the Humans ? – The beauty of the area is enough for me , to sit and watch the Loch and take in the stunning views. If you feel the need to step away from the Lochside there are lots of other places to visit , we went to Luss on our way to Loch Lomond , it is a pretty little village with lots of circular walks , There are deer around and so do be careful if your dog is off the lead. Our Pointer Dog was very happy with himself having a bit of a go at stalking. In summer Luss is packed with tourists , parking is good , however I have been informed that in summer you probably wouldn’t get much of a chance to park after 9.30 am . There is a water bus that runs from here . It was not running during our stay .. also a point to make would be that the pier has no railings and is a drop down approx 20 feet ! so watch your dog at the end of this pier … unless of course they are a champion dock diver !

Food wise , there are no facilities on the park for food , apart from a little shop selling essentials. There is everything you need to rustle up some food if you need to in the very well kitted out kitchen, you can BBQ outdoors too. In the surrounding areas there are pubs and restaurants to eat in with your dog. The Loch Lomond Hotel in Luss was lovely , Open fires and candle lit , beautiful , in summer this would be very busy. Our trip had no such issues and we got a table easily. As mentioned above the Slanj is also on the walking route, it serves decent food and they can bring you back to the park but this is very limited in winter and would be best to check beforehand if you are walking in winter. As a tip they do also sell a very good sustainable wine and the owners are lovely. It is very dog friendly.

We also went to the Drovers Inn , This is further up the A82 and serves super food , is very dog friendly and they have live music on weekends , check their website for details – https://www.droversinn.co.uk It is a fabulous location and there is further walking in the area and a beautiful waterfall in the background. They do also have rooms if you wanted to elongate your stay , it is said to be haunted tho ! so maybe for the brave.

The Packing List ? – Everything but the kitchen sink ! The beauty of going in the car is you can take anything you think you may need, alongside everything that you don’t .. But towels for muddy paws and blankets for the sofa were a must for us. Good walking boots with support, Small rucksack to bring a mini emergency kit , compass, whistle , torch for winter etc .. I also took a small dog coat as they got cold and wet and so it came in handy once we stopped for food etc to stop any chills. Waterproof in case of rain and layers to keep you warm that can be stripped off if you get hot . And water !

Budget ? – ££ – We paid £420 for 4 nights , this was with a discount sue to low season.

££££ – Summer prices booked early will have a discount and be approx £2,098 for a week in the school holidays. I think it may be a different kind of holiday in the summer as it would be much busier and also lots going on on the water in terms of boats and activities.

Would we Return? – Yes , definitely , The dogs and a super time , we loved the walking in the surrounding areas and it was a very relaxed and peaceful holiday.