The Trossachs and Loch Katrine

Because Loch Katrine is in Scotland, it is not always lovely blue skies. In fact, more often than not, the cloud is down on the hills. I still enjoy cycling round the loch in those types of days as the sense of silence and solitude is greatly magnified in the mist.

The road is quite hilly around the Portnellan area but you do get some nice views of the loch from here, assuming the mist is not too thick.



Jutting out into the Loch is the old grave yard of the McGregors. Of course Rob Roy McGregor is not buried here. His bones were put to rest at Balquhidder which is not far over the hills as the crow flies but a fair journey by road.



The water level in the loch has been raised by the water board on three occasions, and on each occasion the engineers had to protect the graveyard by walls and raising the level of the island.



Just before reaching Glengyle,there is another old boathouse on the loch side. The days of numerous boats are long gone as water sports are discouraged on the loch due to it being the main Glasgow City reservoir.



Glengyle house stands on the site of the croft where Rob Roy McGregor was born. Without doubt, he would have known every inch of the area but the present day loch may not have been familiar to him as the water levels have been raised by dams.



Rounding the north end of the loch offers some fine views along its length.



Finally the road reaches Stronachlachar where there is a pier and a cafe. From here, after a coffee, you can either return by boat if you have timed it right, or do as I do and cycle back the way you came.



There is something magical and almost Victorian about cycling round the loch in the off season when the many tourists have long departed and you are left alone with your imagination.

The Trossachs and Loch Katrine (continued)

If anyone was wondering where I have been and why I have not posted for a while, it is because I was on “garden Leave” at my work. I thought garden leave was supposed to be "take it easy time" and unwind before finishing for good, but nope, for me, it was not to be. It feels like the company wanted me to dig their garden before leaving, which I did because I was always a conscientious worker. Im no longer a worker as I left at the weekend and now for the first time in many a year I think Monday’s are wonderful :-D

To get back on track, I will continue with my photographic tour of Loch Katrine.

Sadly, autumn has not turned to a bleak wet winter but there was the odd nice day before the mist descended. After passing the boathouse, there are one or two unusual trees beside the loch side. I was attracted to this view with Ben Lomond in the Background



So I painted it too



Try as I might ..I just couldn’t get an inspirational composition from these old trees, so they are a picture yet to paint.



Ben Lomond looks lovely across the loch with a little sprinkling of snow on its summit.



As do the Arrochar Alps from this view point.

The Trossachs and Loch Katrine

A little further along the loch is a small point jutting into the loch where there are a couple of benches and picnic tables.



The views from here are lovely especially on a clear sunny day. It was this view that inspired the following painting.







Looking back to the road and picnic area from the end of the point.



From the point is a view across to a small boat house.



Where there is a very scenic beach of pebbles.

The Trossachs and Loch Katrine

I never weary of seeing Loch Katrine. Everytime I visit the place, I see it in a different light or mood. These photographs will help to illustrate my point. They were taken a few weeks earlier in the season that the last posing I made, and were taken from virtually the same places. Yet they have a completely different feel about them.

The Trossachs and Loch Katrine

I guess I am lucky in that I live in the Trossachs and without doubt, it is a photographer's paradise. There is no need for me to travel far to see the beauty of Scotland, its all around me. Over the next day or so, I hope to show you why I say the Trossachs is such a beautiful part of the country

One of my favourite places to visit either by foot or bicycle is Loch Katrine and there is nothing better than to see it early in the morning, before the wind wakes up and ripples the water surface.

These photos were all taken at the harbour where the Sir Walter Scott and the Maid of the Loch tie up to take tourists a trip down the water.