Yesterday I had a great day with a friend called Gavin. Not got to see him since October, when I was last up in Scotland. It was great to catch up with him again.

When we met up last time, it turned out he said he not never been to Loch Lomond. So of course I had to change that one. It was not the best weather in the world to go for a driving trip around the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park. But the good thing about it, is we just about had the place to ourselves.

Looking at the map below you can see all the places we went to. We covered a good number of miles. Need to try and out just how many at some point. Think it will be at least 100 to 150 miles.

I will now tell you a bit more about the route we went. I picked Gavin up from Milngavie train station at 11:25am.  Then we had a quick stop at some supermarket that I will not name. Since I am not a fan of it. But I needed something to eat and drink.

We then left Milngavie on the A81, which we stayed on till Blanefield, then we turned left onto then B821. Which I have cycled over many miles, but think it may be the first time I have driven over it. Then once we got to the A809, we turned right. Then followed that road, till we get to the junction with the A811, where we turned left. Then stayed on that road till Balloch.

Once at Balloch, we stopped at had a quick look around Loch Lomond Shores (number 1 on the map). Which is a small shopping centre on the banks of the loch. Did not stay for 2 long, since it was so windy and wet.

We jumped back into the car, then took the A82 up the west side of the loch. We had a quick stop at Duck Bay Marina. Did not even get out the car this time. Was way, way to wet :(.

After the wee stop we joined the A82 and stayed on the road, till Tarbet (number 3 on the map). Where we joined the A83 Rest and be Thankful road. Which is one of my favourite roads in the Scotland. You can some really great views from it. Well when the weather is good, which it was anything but today!

Below is a view from near the top of the Rest and be Thankful. Thanks to Google Street View.

[streetview width=”100%” height=”250px” lat=”56.225745″ lng=”-4.852346000000011″ heading=”-231.5322580645161″ pitch=”-0.14516129032257385″ zoom=”1″][/streetview]

We stopped at a car park at the start of the B828 (number 2 on the map). We stayed there for a good while, just chatting about stuff. But again never got out the car, it was still just to wet :(.

Then we set off on the A83 back the way we came till we got back to A82 (number 3 on the map), then we turned left and even higher up the west side of Loch Lomond. We kept on that road till we got to Inveruglas (number 4 on the map) and stopped in a car park for a while. Before getting back on the A82 and the long ish drive back to Killearn (number 5 on the map).

Once in Killearn, Gavin got to meet up Mum and Dad for the very first time. My Mum even cooked dinner for him. I love my Mum.

Then we just chilled out for a while. Before he had to get the train back home.

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So that was our day, hope are all had fun reading about it! Oh and sorry we got no photos at all, it was just to wet and windy. But next time I am up, going to make sure we do much the same trip again. But in better weather and get lots of photos :).