Richard looked at the weather forecast in Scotland for the next week and it looks like rain with a couple of days of clear skies, feels like we are back in Ireland cold damp and miserable. Here’s hoping the weather clears so we can cycle along Loch Lomond. Looking out the window I can just see the sky above the mountaintop through the trees and on the other side of the lake there is mist of clouds covering the tops of the mountains.

Thought the day was going to turn out terrible as it rained for an hour or so and we so much wanted to cycle along Loch Lomond. There was a break in the weather and we took our chance to enjoy a cycle along the lake admiring the views of the lake its rocky shoreline with little pebble coves (saw a couple of tents hidden in a cove), the mountains with mist covering the tops. The air was fresh and crisp you could see vapour coming from your mouth as you spoke cycling along the road through the trees by a couple of beautiful homes on the shoreline with their own moorings and boats.

It is amazing how many Aussies we met in the carpark some had camped there for the night like us and I think we were the only really warm ones, would have been very cold in a tent or car like the two girls by us. It rained nearly all night plus it was very cool.

The A82 by Loch Lomond is a very busy bumpy winding road through the National Park but the views are magnificent through the forest trees you see the lake and mountains, homes dotted on the distant shoreline, pass little towns, lots of holiday homes, B&B’s, camping and caravanning sites. Pity there is a power station that blocks the lake and now you see a rocky stream, which is still lovely through the valley and forest mountains.

The railway line runs parallel the river, which we see from time to time including the very tall stone arched railway bridge as we drive by many streams, over bridges and see streams, waterfalls coming down the mountains. Stopped at an old Inn near Inverarnan to look at a waterfall on a distant mountain behind this strange old Inn, inside the walls are lined with stuffed fish, deer, ducks and any other animal that has been caught. The stuffed black bear at the door gave me a fright.

Passing through Glen Falloch we stopped to see the Falls of Falloch a popular spot with lots of tourists looking at the waterfall and rapped flowing stream, which was very picturesque from different viewing points but a bit of a nightmare with people taking photos.

The Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park ended at Tyndrum where we entered the A85 driving through Glen Lochy by the railway line and River Lochy with views of the rugged mountains and pines forest. The logging of the pines in sections has spoilt the panoramic views, the scenery is slightly different with sheep grazing in the marshlands round the town of Dalmally.

There are quite a few motorhomes coming in the other direction on this winding road, so many rivers, bridges, mountains and pine forest as scenery as we drive through the Pass of Brander round Loch Awe where we have lunch on the outskirts of Lochawe a lovely town of granite stone building and homes pity it is raining would have been nice to scroll down the main street.

Lots of sun showers as we have travelled along seeing quaint old white and cream homes, chalets and B&B’s in Brochroy weaving our way by Loch Etive sheep grazing in the marshlands. Stopped for a rest at Connel to seeing the Firth of Lorne meet the Loch Etive causing the waterfall Love of Lora, which can be seen at certain time due to the tides under the bridge. In other words the sea meets the fresh water of the river causing whirlpools and fast flowing water.

Continued our drive to Oban to wild camp for the night, which proved to be a bit difficult as this is a very busy picturesque seaside resort town sitting on the dark blue waters of the Firth of Lorn overlooking the Islands of Mull, Kerrera and Lismore. The harbour is a perfectly sheltered horseshoe inlet and the port is the key mainland ferry terminal for crossings to Mull and several of the Outer Hebrides as well as the Inner Hebrides and is often called the ‘Gateway to the Hebrides’.

Unable to find a place to wild camp without being fined £60.00 we ended up at the Free Parking Carpark next to the shopping centre of Tesco, so here we are with many other motorhomes and touring coaches. Not a very romantic sight to wild camp and to top it off nine photos of Loch Lomond disappeared while downloading into folders.