By yon Bonnie Banks

A fabulous day to go for an hour's cruise on Loch Lomond from Balloch and then to head along to Ross Priory for a bar lunch. Soon my young colleague Alessandra from Italy is heading back home after 3 months in Glasgow. Good to be able to supply a beautiful memory of the 'Bonnie Banks' with Ben Lomond in the background. Listen to this gorgeous rendition of Robert Burns famous love song about Loch Lomond sung in the traditional way. Or you may prefer the Runrig version with Donnie Munro performing at a live outdoor concert beside the loch ( you can see the words too on this YouTube site.)

Incidentally, what a great performance of this tune of lost love by Scottish violinist Nicola Benedetti on her Stradivarius last night, at the opening of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. So moving!