Tours of Scotland, Loch Lomond

The vast expanse of Loch Lomond's waters and the sharp peaks and forest-covered slopes of Trossachs country fulfil a popular ideal of Scotland based on the poems and novels of Sir Walter Scott. To the south lie the remains of the Antonine Wall, built across the narrowest part of Scotland and marking what was the northern extremity of Roman territory in Britain.

Aberfoyle
North of village is Queen Elizabeth Forest Park Visitor Centre, with informative displays. Facilities for forest walks, pony treks, boating and fishing. Old slate quarries and site of Aberfoyle Quarries village on hills above Aberfoyle.

Achray Forest
Part of Queen Elizabeth Forest Park. Achray Forest Drive is a 7 mile route with fine view of Tross-achs, and good opportunities for observing wildlife. Picnic sites, parking places and marked paths.

Airdrie
Weavers' Cottages Museum comprises two cottages built 1780. Gives insight into lives of weavers and displays local artefacts. Wide views from Airdtiehill.

Antonine Wall
Roman wall built a AD 142 stretching 37 miles from sea to sea at narrowest part of Scotland. Ran from Bowling on the Clyde to Bo'ness on the Forth, and was built of turf and clay on stone base some 14ft wide. May have reached height of 12ft. Huge ditch 12ft deep on north side of wall is still visible in places. Wall had been finally abandoned by AD 214.

Art Lover's House, Glasgow
Charles Mackintosh's largest and greatest domestic design, brought to life in 1990. Contains four of his finest interiors.

Balloch Castle Country Park
Public park on southern shore of Loch Lomond covering 200 acres. Nature trails, guided walks, wailed garden and picnic lawns with views of loch. Castle, built 1808, contains visitor centre.

Bearsden
Roman bathhouse, used by soldiers stationed on Antonine Wall during 2nd century AD.

Blair Drummond Safari and Leisure Park
Animals can be seen at dose quarters from car or bus. Features include monkey jungle, boat nip to Chimp Island and cable car across lake. Other attractions include adventure playground and cinema showing 3-D films.

Bothwell Castle
Remains of one of Scotland's finest medieval buildings, built 13th century, stand on crag above River Clyde. Dismantled in 14th century following siege, and later restored by powerful Douglas family after 3rd Earl, Archibald the Grim, acquired it by marriage and made it his seat in 1362.

Callander
Holiday resort and base for walks and drives around Trossachs and Loch Katrine, with 18th-century homes around Ancaster Square.

Coatbridge
Summerlee Heritage Trust in West Canal Street is museum of industrial and social history. Working machinery and tram-way, excavations of 1835 ironworks and restored canal.

Colzium House
Mansion, 19th century, set in landscaped gardens, contains local history museum. Banqueting hall and two rooms displaying paintings by local artists can be seen. Woodland walks, children's zoo, ruins of castle demolished by Cromwell and picnic areas.

Doune Castle
Moat surrounds well-preserved 14th-century castle of four floors. Gatehouse tower 95ft high. Walk along walls affords good views of surrounding country. Doune Motor Museum contains veteran, vintage and post-vintage cars.

Dumbarton
Castle built above River Clyde in 5th century -- only Wallace Tower and some 17th and 18th-century fortifications remain, as well as sundial given to town by Mary, Queen of Scots. Denny Ship Model Experiment Tank is world's oldest -- visitors can see wax hull forms being made.

Finlaystone House and Garden
Ten-acre estate has formal garden, woodland walks, picnic sites, play areas and visitor centre. Tours of house can be arranged.

Fintry
Four hamlets in Endrick Valley. Views across Clyde Valley from Lennoktown road. Loup of Fintry, 90ft waterfall, 3 miles east.

Gartocharn
Footpath up nearby Duncryne Hill allows views of Loch Lomond and its islands.

Glasgow Victoria Park and Fossil Grove
Park contains formal flower garden, arboretum and Fossil Grove, with fossilised stumps of 330-million-year-old trees.

Glasgow Zoo
Zoo specialises in big cats and reptiles. Children's showground, long walks, picnic areas.

Haggs Castle, Glasgow
Children's museum in 1585 castle, showing daily life over last 400 years. Landscaped gardens include knot garden.

Inversnaid
Views from above Snaid Burn ravine take in 'Arrochar Alps' and narrows of Loch Lomond. From
waterfall above tiny harbour, foot-bridge leads south along West Highland Way, beside loch.

Kirkintilloch
Church of St Mary, built 1644, now restored as centre for exhibitions. Next door is museum of domestic life.

Loch Ard Forest
Wildlife includes roe deer, red deer, foxes, wildcats and swans. Large choice of forest trails.

Loch Katrine
Reservoir in Trossachs, surrounded by woodlands. Visitor centre at Trossachs Pier is starting point for walk through woods and departure point for rides in turn-of-the-century steamer.

Loch Lomond
Largest loch in Scotland -- 23 miles long, up to Smiles wide, and 630ft at deepest point -- with 38 islands. Regular pleasure cruises start from Luss, Balloch and Tarbet.

Luss
Village of stone cottages with rose gardens, next to Loch Lomond. 1875 church has ancient stone font and medieval effigy of St Kessog.

Mugdock Country Park
Ancient woods, open moorland, lochside marshes and remains of 14th-century Mugdock Castle in this 500 acre park.

Old Kilpatrick
Reputed to be birthplace of St Patrick -- hence name. Church built 1812 on site of older one.

Paisley
Paisley Museum and Art Gallery houses world famous collection of Paisley shawls and traces devel-opment of Paisley pattern. Also collections of local history, natural history, ceramics and Scottish painting. Sins' Shot Cottages restored as typical Victorian mill-workers' houses and Weaver's Cottage. Paisley Abbey founded in 1163 -- much 14th and 15th-century architecture remains, as well as stained-glass windows and one of finest church organs in Europe. Coats Observatory, built 1882, is now one of Scotland's best-equipped observatories.

Pollok Country Park
Impressive 8000-piece Burrelli collection is main attraction of this 360 acre parkland. Items include ceramics, bronzes, Oriental jade, tapestries, silver and glassware, furniture, needlework, prints and paintings. Pollok House, Georgian mansion, has one of finest Spanish painting collections in Britain, with works by Goya and El Greco. Country park centred on Old Stables Courtyard beside a weir on White Cart Water. Interpretation centre illustrates history and wildlife of park.

Queen's View
Viewpoint 12 miles north-west of Glasgow from which Queen Victoria, in 1879, gained her first view of Loch Lomond. Spot reached by short, stiff climb up path from west side of A809. Good 1'/2 mile walk westwards to The Whangie, with rocky outcrops.

Rowardennan Forest
Forestry Commission car park starting point for walks through woodland offering views of sur-rounding mountains. Part of Queen Elizabeth Forest Park.

Strathyre Forest
Visitor centre, situated in extensive picnic area, has display that illustrates working forest. Variety of walks. Part of Queen Elizabeth Forest Park.