Loch Lomond, Sloy & Long Viewpoint

The drive up to this viewpoint near Arrochar is half the appeal - you wind through proper Highland scenery before the landscape opens up and suddenly you're looking down the length of Loch Lomond with Ben Lomond rising dramatically to your left. The vantage point takes in Sloy and Long, two mountains that frame the view perfectly, making this one of those spots where you understand why people get obsessed with Scottish lochs.

It's a short walk from the car park, nothing strenuous, which means you get the payoff without having to spend the afternoon trudging uphill. The loch stretches out below in different shades of grey and green depending on the light, and on a clear day you can see right down to the southern end near Balloch. Photographers will want to arrive before golden hour; families will find it manageable for kids who aren't keen on proper hikes.

The area works brilliantly as part of a wider Loch Lomond park holiday. Loch Lomond Holiday Park sits just 2 miles away, and Forest Holidays Ardgartan is barely half an hour's drive - both give you a base to explore the loch's eastern shore. If you're staying at either, this viewpoint makes a cracking morning stop before heading elsewhere. Weather can change fast up here, so pick a day with decent visibility or you'll just see cloud. Allow thirty minutes to an hour, including the short walk and time to actually stand and look at it properly.