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Balloch Castle Country Park
Parking
The car park is at the top the hill as you drive up to the country park from Balloch. It’s fairly large car park, so plenty of room for larger vehicles. The car park was free when we visited, however this may have changed since then, please check if you need to pay when you enter.
Balloch Country Park
Balloch Castle Country Park lies on the shores of Loch Lomond, 20 miles North of Glasgow. Unfortunately when we visited it was an extremely windy day, so we didn’t stay to explore for as long as we would have liked. However, we did manage to visit the park and have a quick wander round. There is over 200 acres to explore, from semi-natural woodland to formal gardens, shoreline and play parks.
Balloch Castle used to be a visitor centre, but it is no longer open, which is a shame. It would be great to have some more information about the country park.
Beside the castle are the Chinese gardens, which were pretty and contained a couple of impressive Monkey Puzzle trees. Further southward there are walled kitchen gardens and a secret garden area to explore.
To the north of the castle along a small burn is Fairy Glen, which I really wanted to visit. Unfortunately the weather was too awful to get that far. I can imagine it would be the perfect place to walk along and imagine pixies, fairies and elves hiding under the leaves of the plants and trees.
Balloch Castle Play Park
We did manage to walk down to the shore where the playpark is located. There are two areas fenced off, one for younger children, which my two (aged 4 and 2) enjoyed and the other section for older kids, which they enjoyed too although most of the equipment was a bit too big for their little legs! I’m sure both parks are very busy on warmer days!
The kids had a great play at the park, making use of the trampolines, roundabout and slide areas. Only hiding from the wind a little in the different play structures!
Loch Lomond Shores
After a play in the park we went down to the shore of Loch Lomond and threw stones out into the water. They love playing by water and can spend hours throwing stones in, playing games with the rocks and racing around. Sometimes I don’t think we need to visit the park at all!
The park has some good paths that are suitable for buggies and the toilets were down beside the kids park (very useful!). We will definitely be back on a less windy day to explore more!
Click here for a great little map of the park produced by Trossachs National Park.
For more Scottish country parks check out this post.
Plutonium Sox says
Oh this looks lovely! What a shame the weather wasn’t kind to you, sounds like a great excuse to go back though.
Nat.x
Sarah says
Scotland is so beautiful. I have visited Loch Ness when I was 10 but never Loch Lomond. We are hoping to visit my uncle in Aberdeen at some point as my husband and children have never been. It’s a shame it was so windy, the fairy glen sounded like it would have been magical. Sarah #WhateverTheWeather
Katy - Hot Pink Wellingtons says
A true ‘whatever the weather’ post! Looks beautiful – I’m sure on a nicer day you’d be able to spend hours there. Love the sound of the walled gardens and I love a secret garden! #WhatevertheWeather
Georgina Whitehead says
this looks like a proper windy day, i love your enthusiasm for just getting out and exploring 🙂 great photos and i hope you enjoy another visit with less wind. thanks for sharing #WhatevertheWeather
sarah ella says
Lovely photos! IT looks like such a great place to go! The playpark looks fun, it certainly looks your little ones enjoyed it 🙂 xx
Michelle says
What great pictures!!! I love seeing the different places people visit. I am from the USA, but would love to visit Scotland one day. The weather here has been so cold and dreary for the spring. I can’t wait for some nice sunny days!
Emma says
looks beautiful! and love the names “fairy” Glen! I’ve never visited no 🙁 #Whatevertheweather
Sarah | Digital Motherhood says
Looks like a fab place to visit, shame the weather wasn’t great. At least you know it’s worth visiting again in the summer! 🙂
Helena says
I’ve never visited Loch Lomond but am tempted now I’ve read your post. #whatevertheweather
Caroline (Becoming a SAHM) says
Ooh I love a good Castle! What gorgeous scenery too and looks like a fun playpark xx
Hannah G, The 'Ordinary' Mum says
Wow! That play park looked amazing, I’d probably have just as much (if not more) fun as the kids 🙂 I love the sound of the Fairy Glen, I hope you get to visit it next time. Thanks for hosting #Whatevertheweather xx
Becky @lakessinglemum says
Not been there since I had kids! Lovely on a sunny day 😉
Maria Belfort (@onetinyleap) says
Looks lovely, what a beautiful castle!! The park looks fab too, well done for making it through the cold weather 🙂 Thanks for hosting #whatevertheweather
Su {Ethan & Evelyn} says
That castle looks amazing from the outside! The kids looks like they have enjoyed themselves. Never mind the wind hey – there will be another sunny day. 🙂 Thank you for sharing and hosting too! 🙂
Chloe says
The area you live in is so beautiful. I love all of your castles and it must be so nice to live around Lochs too. This play park looks fab! So much better than any of ours down here. I hope you manage to go back and explore the rest when the weather is better. x
Wave to Mummy says
I’ve never been to Loch Lomond but it looks really lovely – albeit a bit cold! Funky playground equipment too, I bet your little ones had so much fun 🙂 Thanks for hosting #whatevertheweather!