The park covers some 720 square miles of simply stunning mountain, wetland and forest scenery. As well as the famous Loch Lomond, the park has 21 munros including Ben Lomond, Ben More and Ben Challum. It is a haven for walkers, climbers and cyclists. Loch Lomond is one of Scotland's premier boating and watersports venues, with visitors enjoying activities including kayaking, Canadian canoeing, paddle boarding, wake boarding, water skiing and wake surfing.Over 200 species of birds and over 25% of all the species of plants known to occur in Britain have been recorded in the national park. The park is home to many of the species most associated with the Scottish highlands, including capercaillie, red deer, red squirrel, Scottish wildcat, golden eagle, peregrine falcon, black grouse, buzzard, geese and osprey. Beavers are also now present following their recent introduction to the wild.
Stirling Castle
Stirling Castle is one of the largest and most important castles in Scotland, both historically and architecturally. The castle sits atop Castle Hill, a prominent crag, which forms part of the Stirling Sill geological formation. It is surrounded on three sides by steep cliffs, giving it a strong defensive position. Its strategic location has made it an important fortification in the region from the earliest times. Several Scottish Kings and Queens have been crowned at Stirling, including Mary, Queen of Scots, in 1542. There have been at least eight sieges of Stirling Castle, including several during the Wars of Scottish Independence, with the last being in 1746, when Bonnie Prince Charlie unsuccessfully tried to take the castle.
Doune Castle
The formidable Doune Castle was built for the Regent Albany. The striking keep-gatehouse includes the splendid Lord's Hall with its carved oak screen, musicians' gallery and double fireplace. This was used as a film location for the BBC production of Ivanhoe and Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Doune Castle was also used as Winterfell Castle in the pilot of the award winning TV series Game of Thrones and as Castle Leoch in Outlander. Find out how grand banquets were prepared in the kitchen servery, and enjoy stunning views of the River Teith and Ben Lomond from the battlements. The castle courtyard and cellar are accessible via a steep, cobbled (but partially timbered) tunnel. Assisted access is possible for the determined.
