Rowardennan
Rowardennan is reached by way of a 10 mile road - the B837 which starts at Drymen on the A811. The greater part of this road is single track which means it can be a bit of a frustration when you are in a hurry to start your walk / picnic / whatever you have planned. Whatever you plan, take your time on this road.
Rowardennan is the most picturesque of the villages on the East side of Loch Lomond and it is here that the public road ends. This lovely village at the foot of Ben Lomond has some of the most spectacular views northwards. The car park at the end of the Village has toilets and a road leads a little further to the Youth Hostel, which was once a shooting lodge. The hostel also has an activity centre, with windsurfing, canoeing, archery and orienteering courses.
There is no public transport to Rowardennan as bus routes terminate at Balmaha. There is a seasonal ferry during the summer season from April to September between Inverbeg and Rowerdennan but at weekends only until May. There is also a ferry service run by 'Cruise Loch Lomond' which calls at Inverbeg, Inversnaid and Tarbet. The most common means of transport in this area is of course walking as the 'West Highland Way' long distance path passes through Rowardennan on its way to Inversnaid and beyond.
The village has a small safe beach and a pier - once used by the paddle steamers.
Rowardennan is also the start point for the most popular route up Ben Lomond. The 'tourist route' leaves the back of the car park and meanders gently through woodlands before becoming a little more demanding as the path steepens. There is an engineered path most of the way up but the last few hundred feet are over rough terain waiting for the unwary ankle. Most walkers return by the same route but an alternative descent is available via Ptarmigan which lies between Ben Lomond and the loch. If climbing Ben Lomond, be prepared for sudden changes of weather, wear suitable footwear and have waterproofs and a snack with you just in case.
Probably the worst thing about Rowardennan is the return trip - by the same single track road!
Rowardennan is the most picturesque of the villages on the East side of Loch Lomond and it is here that the public road ends. This lovely village at the foot of Ben Lomond has some of the most spectacular views northwards. The car park at the end of the Village has toilets and a road leads a little further to the Youth Hostel, which was once a shooting lodge. The hostel also has an activity centre, with windsurfing, canoeing, archery and orienteering courses.
There is no public transport to Rowardennan as bus routes terminate at Balmaha. There is a seasonal ferry during the summer season from April to September between Inverbeg and Rowerdennan but at weekends only until May. There is also a ferry service run by 'Cruise Loch Lomond' which calls at Inverbeg, Inversnaid and Tarbet. The most common means of transport in this area is of course walking as the 'West Highland Way' long distance path passes through Rowardennan on its way to Inversnaid and beyond.
The village has a small safe beach and a pier - once used by the paddle steamers.
Rowardennan is also the start point for the most popular route up Ben Lomond. The 'tourist route' leaves the back of the car park and meanders gently through woodlands before becoming a little more demanding as the path steepens. There is an engineered path most of the way up but the last few hundred feet are over rough terain waiting for the unwary ankle. Most walkers return by the same route but an alternative descent is available via Ptarmigan which lies between Ben Lomond and the loch. If climbing Ben Lomond, be prepared for sudden changes of weather, wear suitable footwear and have waterproofs and a snack with you just in case.
Probably the worst thing about Rowardennan is the return trip - by the same single track road!