Historical & Heritage Sites

If you’re looking for historical places to visit during your stay at Loch Lomond Waterfront, check out these local heritage sites and attractions.

Scottish Castles

Wherever you are in Scotland, you are never far away from one of our magnificent Scottish castles or ruins. The Scots began …

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St Maha’s Well

St Maha’s Well is an ancient holy well on the moors above Balmaha, known for its healing qualities. The small spring is …

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Rob Roy Sites & Locations

Rob Roy MacGregor was a cattle drover and outlaw, leader of the MacGregor clan and folk hero, who lived near Loch Lomond …

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Loch Katrine

There are many reasons why you may have heard of this beautiful loch in the Scottish Highlands. The legendary Rob Roy ..

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PS Waverley

The PS Waverley is the last seagoing paddle steamer in the world. First launched in 1947, she was named after Sir Walter …

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The Falkirk Wheel

The Falkirk Wheel is a rotating boat lift, which connects the Forth and Clyde Canals with the Union Canal. It’s a great day out for all the …

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History of Loch Lomond

The history of Loch Lomond stretches back tens of thousands of years to the last ice age. Huge glaciers carved out a large gouge in the rocks below it, which filled with water and created the beautiful loch that we know today. There are around thirty islands on the loch, each of which adds to its overall beauty. 

As a freshwater loch, it was a perfect place for settlers, who arrived around 5,000 years ago. Over the centuries, many cultures such as Romans, Picts, Britons and Scots have been part of its history. The Vikings were known to raid in the area, bringing terror to the many islands along the loch.

There are a couple of theories where the name Loch Lomond may have originated. Either from the Gaelic leamhan, meaning “Lake of Elms”, or from laom, meaning “Beacon”. Find out more in our Loch Lomond History blog post.

Since the 18th century, Loch Lomond has been an attractive travel destination, as exploring places of natural beauty and outdoor activities became popular pastimes. Samuel Johnson and his biographer James Boswell visited the islands of Loch Lomond in 1773, noting already how popular it was with visitors. Tourists still flock here every year to take in the rich history, great attractions and magnificent scenery. It’s easy to imagine how little the scenery has changed even after all these years.

Historical places to visit around Loch Lomond

We have several fascinating villages, towns and cities around Loch Lomond, some dating back to the very first settlers in the area. For example, Balmaha, the closest village to our resort, where evidence of early civilisations has been found from the Neolithic era.

Many historical figures lived here or visited the area and there are lots of local stories and legends. They include the likes of famous Rob Roy MacGregor, the outlaw who later became a folk hero. There’s also Robert the Bruce and William Wallace, who fought to reclaim Scotland’s independence from England. And also Mary Queen of Scots, a beloved queen about which many books have been written.

If you’d like to know more about our local history, just ask us during your stay. We love to chat about this wonderful area and can help you to plan your adventures.

Testimonials

  • Outstanding location

    'The location is outstanding - right on the edge of Loch Lomond with private water frontage and beaches. As a location for exploring, again this rates very highly. We easily accessed central Glasgow by train from nearby Balloch and also explored Stirling (particularly the castle and Wallace memorial), the Falkirk Wheel and even Perth and Pitlochry by car. It is a very peaceful place, which can only be disturbed on occasion by your neighbours but with the Slumber Charter in place, we had absolutely no problems overnight.'