David and I have been back home for a week now after having had a wonderful week away to Scotland’s Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park. During the holiday, we had some wonderful weather, which makes me think that having to cancel the same holiday last October was a good thing, though at the time it didn’t feel such a positive. Thankfully we managed to book for the same place as was first planned and everything came together perfectly. This is what we got up to on day one of our Scotland 2021 holiday!
Our Monday morning began by finishing packing our suitcases and then loading up the car with all our supplies for the week ahead. We left Artie in the care of my mum and embarked on our four hour plus journey north. We hit the M6 at 10am, passing The Lake District before the long slog through the lowlands of Scotland. We stopped off for lunch at Gretna Green Services which was busy with holidaymakers. Our journey passed Glasgow and Stirling before we drew close to our destination for the next four nights, Callander and the shores of Loch Venachar.





We arrived at East Lodge, Cabin on the Loch at the scheduled 3pm. We let ourselves in and quickly orientated ourselves. The cabin has bi-folding doors which opens to a wonderful north-west view of Loch Venachar, and mountains Ben Venue and Ben Ledi. One of my wishes was to stay at a cabin overlooking water and mountains and finally, now I had.
After resting from the long journey, David and I headed towards the rocky, sandy beach for my first swim of the holiday! I’d packed 12 swim suits for this swim holiday, and Loch Venachar was to be my first swim of many that week!
Loch Venechar not only welcomed David and I holidaying in 2021, but was also visited in 1869 by Queen Victoria and her children. The loch is reported to be the home of an each-uisge or water horse (kelpie). Sometime in the 1800’s, fifteen children were playing near the loch and were enticed by the kelpie into the water to their deaths. There is a wood on the north side of the loch called The Wood of Woe. Sadly during my many swims in Loch Venachar, I did not spy the each-uisge, during sunrise, noon or night.




After my swim, we headed back to the cabin to relax. While I had a shower, David spent time photographing the visiting birds on the feeders before we settled down and had dinner, of M&S pizza and salad and watched the sunset.
An early night beckoned as we had three swim planned the next day!
Have you holidayed in the Trossachs?
Thanks for reading,
Christine x
Christine the cabin looks wonderful. I can imagine you and David saw plenty of wildlife from there. Kind of glad the Kelpie didn’t lure you into the loch though!
I have been to the Trossachs before when I was a little girl so don’t remember much about it. However our family holiday booked for next year near Largs is not that far away, so I may get to visit then. X
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Thanks Sharon, think I swam in a few lochs that supposed to have a kelpie in during the week! David and I spotted red squirrels and a great spotted woodpecker as well as bats flying during the evening. It’s nice writing these blogs to reminisce. Enjoy your holiday next year 🙂 xx
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It all sounds heavenly. Love seeing Red Squirrels. Always exciting! X
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I’ve stopped off on the way up to Fort William on the other side of Loch Lomond, near to Tarbet and done a walk up The Cobbler (Ben Arthur). But that was my only decent look at the Trossachs to be honest. Being so far south I’ve neglected Scotland badly really
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It can be quite a drive to Scotland, hence why I stay for a while. Hope you get to so in the future. It’s a lovely country. 🙂
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Looks like a grand area – and plenty of opportunity for your wild swimming. Have you tried one of those paddle board things? I reckon if I had a good I’d be joining you in the water!
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I’ve thought about getting a paddle hoard. They look so much fun! 😁
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I saw someone using one on the Leeds Liverpool canal the other week. definitely wouldn’t fancy falling in there!
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