The Bonnie Banks......

A beautiful winter's day today, sunny although cold, a bit windy.   

Both the HG and I were busy with house chores today, but in the afternoon we took a drive over to Gartocharn, at the south end of Loch Lomond.  We had tea and scones in a lovely wee place there, and then we went to Lomond Shores, where I took my picture.

The large boat in the picture is the 'Maid of the Loch'.

PS Maid of the Loch is the last of a long line of Loch Lomond steamers that began about 1816, within four years of Henry Bell's pioneering passenger steamboat service on the River Clyde. 


Maid of the Loch was painted white with a buff funnel. She was operated by the Caledonian Steam Packet Company.

She provided a service from Balloch pier, initially to Ardlui at the north end of the loch, but later her last call was a few miles short of this at Inversnaid and she would cruise to the head of the loch. She was laid up for a number of years and fell into disrepair

In 1995 Dumbarton District Council supported a group of local enthusiasts in setting up a charitable organisation, the Loch Lomond Steamship Company, to take over ownership and carry out restoration. She became ready for static operation with a cafe/bar and function suite in autumn 2000.


The Maid of the Loch is open to the public every day Easter to October, and weekends only through the Winter. 

Looking northwards in my picture you can see Ben Lomond, the most southerly 'Munro' in Scotland.


Thanks for all your stars and hearts which have put this picture in the Popular pages.