If you plan on visiting the\u00a0Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park<\/a>, this is what you need to know:<\/p>\n Be wild and go camping<\/strong><\/p>\n While it is legal to \u201cwild camp\u201d in Scotland throughout the year, the park is regulated by bylaws that prohibits wild camping between March and September to protect lochshores and some more vulnerable parts of the park popular with campers. However, with\u00a0over 20 campsites with different levels of facilities from electricity hook-ups to nothing but a flattened pitch, there is more than enough camping options to choose from.<\/p>\n To keep the experience as wild a possible, we opted for more informal camping at the park\u2019s newest campsite on the gorgeous shores of\u00a0Loch Chon<\/a>. Framed by woodland, the campsite is small, with 26 tent-only pitches. From personal experience I can highly recommend booking far enough in advance to secure site 24. Situated in a small clearing right on the lochshore, the site has a small private beach that offers the best views over the loch and surrounding hills.\u00a0With only basic facilities, the campsite has composting toilets and fresh water, but no electricity, warm water or ablution facilities. Taking a refreshing dip in the cold loch at bath time was arguably the highlight of my trip.<\/p>\n Costing only \u00a37 per person per night and allowing a maximum of 3 nights per stay, the campsite is very affordable and offers the true wild camping experience with an added bit of comfort.<\/p>\n Wear your walking shoes<\/strong><\/p>\n With short- to moderate- or long-distance walking routes, hill walking or guided group walks, making your walking shoes work is an absolute must. From exploring woodlands to offering some of the most breath-taking views in Scotland, the park has\u00a024 officially-marked routes<\/a>\u00a0with the most famous the West Highland Way. Rated by National Geographic as one of the top 10 trails in the world, the West Highland Way treks over 96 miles from Glasgow to Fort William, cutting through the park on its way.<\/p>\n Pack your raincoat<\/strong><\/p>\n Yes, it rains a lot. Expect and plan for the worst as Scotland is notorious for its bad weather. Even during the summer months, you can expect rain on every second day. That said, the green forests and hills covered in mist are some of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. Adding to the dramatic landscape, the \u201cbad\u201d weather brings another element of mysteriousness to already gorgeous surroundings. On rainy days, take a drive along the scenic roads and make sure to take the\u00a0Three Lochs Forest Drive<\/a>\u00a0along the Duke\u2019s Pass.\u00a0Just over 7 miles long, the one-way route passes along\u00a0Lochan Re\u00f2idhte, Loch Drunkie and Loch Achray \u2013 and costs only \u00a32 per car. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled, because the drive is perfect for spotting deer, woodland birds and the ever-elusive\u00a0red squirrel.<\/p>\n Find some local fairies<\/strong><\/p>\n According to local legend, Loch Chon and the surrounding sheltered waters between Kinlochard and Inversnaid are home to a resident water spirit. The kelpie is a shape-shifting water spirit which presents itself as a horse. It can also adopt to human form, and lures its victims to the water\u2019s edge, carries them as riders into the pool, river or loch\u2019s depths, devours them and finally throws their remains back onto the shoreline. Scary, I know! Loch Chon is also known as the home of\u00a0the world\u2019s largest population of fairies. Whether it is true or simply a myth inspired by the enchanting atmosphere and breath-taking natural beauty that surrounds the loch, I cannot tell.<\/p>\n I can confirm, however, that if fairies in modern days present themselves as midges, I saw them in their millions. If you visit the park during the summer months, go prepared with more than enough bug spray, long-sleeved shirts, trousers or leggings, and a\u00a0mesh head-and-face net<\/a>. There is nothing glamorous about wearing a grey veil over your head, but once you have donated half your blood to those pesky little things, being fashionable becomes the least of your worries.<\/p>\n Sit still and be quiet<\/strong><\/p>\n How often do you get to hear absolutely nothing? Not a car, not a phone, not the neighbour\u2019s tumble dryer humming from across the hall. Absolutely nothing. Although the national park gets busy, there is always a quiet corner away from the tourists. I found the silence especially deafening at night, lying in our little tent on the shores of the loch. With no wind, the water and trees were completely silent and after the last woodland bird went to bed, it was like I had gone deaf.\u00a0And that is the beauty of the\u00a0Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park<\/a>. Calm, incredibly beautiful and silence are exactly what you expect when walking along the pebbly lochshores or between the mysterious dark trees.<\/p>\n Check out my\u00a0Instagram profile<\/a>\u00a0for more pictures of my trip the\u00a0Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park<\/a>\u00a0and, as always, feel free to leave a comment.<\/p>\n Note:<\/strong> All the information in this article is correct at the date and time of publication. Before visiting the\u00a0Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park<\/a>, please visit their website for more information by clicking\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/wereldwyd.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/1-1-24.jpg\")
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