CLICK HERE TO GO TO Argyll, The Isles, Loch Lomond, Stirling and The Trossachs East of Stirling Stirling Map Falkirk The Trossachs Argyll Map Oban The Isles The Kintyre Peninsula Additional Information Landmark Visitor's Guide Home Loch Lomond Following the A811 west, Balloch is just beyond the larger, dormitory town of Alexandria at Loch Lomond's southern tip. Being the largest stretch of fresh water in Britain at 23 miles (37km) long and 5 miles (8km) wide at its widest point and so close to Glasgow, Loch Lomond draws the throngs from the Glasgow area to enjoy its water-sports and scenery. In all, some two million visitors now put considerable pressure on the area. Balloch is the starting point for many cruises that are one of the best ways of seeing the loch with its spectacular views such as Ben Lomond on the east side. Apart from this there are several restaurants to serve its swollen summer population. Progressing up the west side of the loch, Duck Bay is popular with a hotel and marina while Cameron House, next door, is a more upmarket establishment. It has excellent leisure facilities complete with two swimming pools with flumes, a gymnasium, squash courts and its own 9 hole golf course appropriately called the 'Wee Demon'. The food in the hotel's Georgian Room is Epicurean but expensive. For more frugal tastes there is a very good youth hostel situated in an old house, built in 1866, that resembles a castle though technically it is not. The hotel is located in the areas referred to as Arden on the opposite side of the road from Cameron House. Striking due west on the B832, the holiday town of Helensburgh developed to serve the needs of Glasgow's better-off holiday-makers and became a port of call for those going 'doon the watter'. In fact the trend was actively promoted by the towns bathing master, Henry Bell, who invented one of the first steam boats to help transport visitors to his town. John Logie Baird, the inventor of television, was born here, as was the architect and designer, Charles Rennie MacKintosh. He was commissioned to design Hill House which can still be visited on Upper Colquhoun Street. Returning to the banks of Loch Lomond, the exclusive Loch Lomond Golf Course is a few miles further up the A82 and has one of the best settings for the game in this part of the country. However entry is to members only. Slightly further north is the village of Luss famous as the stage for the Scottish soap-opera, Take the High Road. Luss's narrow streets can be over-run with tourists at the height of the season. Nevertheless it is worth a visit and there is ample designated car parking areas. The A82 carries on north from here along the bonnie banks of Loch Lomond towards Crianlarich.