With the Easter break well underway, people and families across Scotland will be looking for ways to spend the time. From peaceful gardens to sandy beaches, there is no limit to what you can get up to.
The recent heatwave may be over, but sunny spells are forecast across the country throughout the remainder of the week. If you are looking to explore, now is the perfect opportunity to visit a lovely town or village.
All over Scotland, there are peaceful and picturesque villages that you might never have even heard of. These hidden gems are perfect if you are looking for an escape from the chaos for a day or two.
Over the weekend, Scotland Now’s Alexander Smail visited Balloch on the shores of Loch Lomond. Read on for his thoughts on the small village.
‘A breath of fresh air’
On Sunday, me and my partner were looking for ways to pass the time. We both decided that we wanted to spend the day somewhere, but with so many options we struggled to settle on one place.
Eventually, after scouring a map of Scotland, we settled on the village of Balloch along the shores of Loch Lomond. We both wanted to head to a loch, since with the weather being sunny we wanted to find a quiet beach to sit.
The first thing I noticed when stepping out of the car in Balloch was how quaint it was. After spending the weekend walking around the busy streets of Edinburgh, it was a breath of fresh air.
I looked at the weather, and it seemed like rain was on the way, so we decided to make the most of the sunshine while we had it. We immediately headed for Loch Lomond, and thankfully it was easy to make our way from the car park to the Balloch House Country Park.
The country park is absolutely spectacular, comprising 200 acres of woodland. It runs alongside the edge of Loch Lomond, so the views are incredible throughout.
Every direction I looked, there were dogs on leads and running around. If you have a four-legged friend, I can imagine them loving a walk around the woods.
After walking for a while, we found a secluded rocky beach where we could sit down. The views out across the loch were absolutely breathtaking, and I easily could have spent all afternoon just listening to the sound of the waves crashing against the shore.
We eventually packed up our stuff and continued walking around the Balloch House Country Park. Our next destination was the park’s beautiful Walled Garden.
Comprising a massive square full of plants and trees, the garden was a green oasis. Around the edge of the garden, there were a number of benches and we took some time to sit and take in the gorgeous vistas before heading back to Balloch.
On the way, we came across the Green Rose coffee shop. The charming little shop offers a variety of baked treats, as well as chocolate bars and coffee, and the staff were friendly too.
After we returned to the village, I had an opportunity to walk along Balloch’s main street. There was a wealth of gift shops, cafés, and even ice cream shops to explore, but we felt like a drink so we headed to the nearby Balloch House.
The inn features a spacious beer garden, with lovely views through the trees down to the River Leven. After putting our bags down, we headed inside to order.
From my brief glimpse, Balloch House looked like the perfect place to stay the night. I had a peek inside its pub and restaurant, and it looked just as cosy as you would hope for from a village inn—with plenty of comfortable seating and a fireplace.
Stepping back out, I sipped my cider and soaked in the last moments of sunshine of the day. As the weather started to turn chilly, we figured it was time to head home.
All in all, Balloch was the perfect destination for a day out—from its idyllic views of Loch Lomond to its charming shops and pubs. If you are looking for a getaway spot in Scotland this Easter, I highly recommend it.