Loch Lomond Watersports

The water at Loch Lomond is genuinely cold, and that's the first thing you notice when you're gearing up for anything here. Loch Lomond Watersports sits right on the loch's edge near Alexandria, offering everything from paddleboarding and kayaking to sailing and windsurfing - the kind of place where you can rent kit or bring your own. On a decent day, the water is flat and glassy in the morning. By afternoon, the wind picks up and things get properly interesting.

It's brilliant for anyone who actually wants to do something on the water rather than just look at it. Families with kids old enough to handle a paddle will have a proper afternoon here. Experienced sailors and windsurfers come to push themselves. Even absolute beginners can hire a board and spend an hour mucking about near the shore without embarrassing themselves too badly.

Allow two to three hours minimum - longer if you book instruction or fancy a full day messing about. The facilities are straightforward rather than fancy. You're there for the water, really.

If you're staying at either Milarrochy Bay or Inverbeg - both cracking spots just up the road - this is a natural next step. Neither of those parks is more than a few minutes' drive away, so you can base yourself somewhere comfortable and come here when you fancy getting wet. Check ahead for what's running that day and whether you need to book kit in advance.