For 8 days in August I headed to the Scottish Highlands and Islands with my parents. Covering several lochs and a few of the islands, we went as far north as the Isle of Skye, taking in some of the beautiful scenery that Scotland is famous for. Featuring hikes, plenty of sightseeing and some fabulous cream teas, the trip definitely gave me a taste for rural Scotland and I can’t wait to go back some day and travel even further north.
Over the course of the 8 days we covered many destinations, which I’m looking forward to sharing with you over the coming weeks. The first place that really stood out for me was Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. About 45 minutes drive from Glasgow, the national park is at the gateway to the highlands and home to one of the most visited lochs in Scotland. We spent an afternoon at Loch Lomond on our first day.
Luss village
We were fortunate enough to visit Loch Lomond on a warm summer’s day and when we arrived at Luss (the village on the shores of the loch) the flowers were glowing in the sunshine. The village itself is absolutely wonderful with its quaint stone properties, tea rooms and gift shops, all a very brief walk from the beach. Down by the water there were lots of activities going on with it being a sunny day and Scotland’s summer bank holiday. People were swimming, taking part in water sports and enjoying strolls along the front. The water practically sparkled in the sunshine and it looked very warm.
Shopping beside the loch
My Mum and I spent some time at the side of the loch, walking along the beach and taking in the scenery. We popped into a couple of the gift shops and found a really unique one in the Luss General Store. It sold artwork, gifts, edible treats and more, feeling much more like a gallery store than a traditional souvenir shop. I picked up a few items including a potential Christmas decoration and some vanilla tablet for my in-laws who’ve never been to Scotland.
Coach House Coffee Shop
Our last point of call in Luss was the tartan-themed tearoom ‘Coach House Coffee Shop’. Full of traditional Scottish upholstery, heather-infused flower arrangements and local sweet treats, it was a tourist’s heaven. The teapots, cups and saucers were all tartan patterned too and you could even purchase them in the attached gift shop. Unfortunately they were out of my price range, but the set would have been lovely to have in our house.
The chocolate brownie I ordered at Coach House Coffee was delicious and quite possibly the best brownie I’ve ever tasted! My parents really enjoyed their cakes too and between the three of us, we had nothing but praise for the tearoom. Set in the heart of Luss, Coach House Coffee Shop is perfect for admirers of Scottish traditions and culture. It’s also located only minutes from the tourist car park and the edge of the loch, meaning it’s an ideal refreshment spot when visiting Loch Lomond.
I thoroughly enjoyed our afternoon at Loch Lomond. We were able to take in the beautiful scenery, pop into some lovely gift shops and visit an authentically Scottish tearoom. Luss is such a fabulous little village in a serene setting.
Thanks for reading my blog today.
Love Kat xxxx
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