Strathcashell Point

The walk down to Strathcashell Point takes you through proper woodland before opening out onto a rocky shoreline where Loch Lomond spreads out in front of you like someone's finally turned the volume up. It's a nature reserve, so you're here for the birds and the landscape rather than facilities - and there aren't many of either, which is rather the point.

What you get is solitude and the sort of view that makes the drive from Glasgow worthwhile. The loch from this angle feels wilder than the honeypot spots further south, and if you're into birdwatching, the reed beds and water attract proper populations worth documenting. The rocky shore is also good for a poke about if you've got younger kids in tow, though the walk itself isn't long enough to tire them out completely.

Allow an hour for the whole thing - half that if you're just after a quick stretch of the legs. There's no information board that I could find, and parking is roadside, so arrive early if the weather's decent. Best visited between spring and early autumn when you might actually see the birds you've come for rather than just hoping they're about.

If you're camping at Milarrochy Bay - literally a mile away - this is a sensible add-on to your itinerary. It's the sort of place that justifies having a car, because public transport won't get you here easily from Glasgow, but it rewards the effort with genuine peace and decent views.