Lochside Cottage, waterside, pet friendly, heart of Loch Lomond National Park, Near To: Aberfoyle

Loch Lomond and the Trossachs. Sleeps up to 8

Lochside Cottage
Lochside Cottage is a charming and spacious 4 bedroom self-catering holiday cottage situated in a stunning location with panoramic views across Loch Katrine. You can see right down the loch from inside the house and can watch the sun rise over the loch in the morning. It is a beautiful rural location, surrounded by forests and mountains, but also has a wide range of shops, services, and visitor attractions available within a short drive. Lochside Cottage is situated right in the heart of the outstanding natural beauty of the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park, near to many different lochs and woodland walks. It is very quiet and peaceful, and is an ideal waterside retreat.

What's included at Lochside Cottage?
Electric and full gas central heating is all included.
Bed linen and towels are all included
1 bag of logs and kindling is included.
Free parking for 2 cars, with additional free parking round the corner at the cafe.
Children's toys, books, DVDs, games, a high chair and a travel cot
Washing machine, basic supplies of laundry detergent and a drying rack.
Dishwasher and dishwasher tablets
Simple supplies of tea, coffee, cooking oil, salt, pepper etc.
Up to 3 well behaved dogs can stay with no additional charge

Lochside Cottage is a solid, stone-built, 4 bedroom self-catering holiday cottage, attached to Stronachlachar Lodge. Inside the cottage there is a log burning stove and an additional sun-lounge that has panoramic loch views. The kitchen includes a dishwasher and washing machine. The kitchen door opens on to the outside garden area (currently unfenced, open to the lochside). Downstairs, there is a twin-bedded room and a double/twin room, and a downstairs accessible bathroom. On the first floor, there is a double bedroom with double bed and views across the loch, and a further large twin-bedded room. There is also an upstairs bathroom/W.C. with over-bath shower. There is full central heating throughout the house.

Lochside Cottage is situated within a 13 mile long private road (gated), winding round the loch, which is a lovely route to cycle or hike. In addition to being quiet and secluded, the cottage is also within a short walking distance of a lovely waterfront café, the Pier Café (licenced), open for breakfast onwards, and which also serves lunch, afternoon tea and, in peak season, serves evening meals and becomes the small local pub 4 nights a week. A range of supermarkets deliver directly to the cottage, including Waitrose and Asda, and some guests find it useful to pre-arrange a delivery for the first day you arrive.
There is a reasonable Wi-Fi signal at the Cottage, which is normally suitable for using the internet, and reading/sending emails etc. Some people find the signal better downstairs, depending on your provider. There is a payphone inside the house, as the mobile phone signal can be unreliable/absent. You will need change (coins) to use this phone, but it does accept external calls so other people can also call you. It is generally not possible to send texts, due to the lack of mobile phone reception.

What's nearby?
Lochside Cottage is less than 500 metres from the pier where you can take the steam ship, SS Sir Walter Scott steamer daily down to the other end of the loch and back. This steamer runs throughout the year, though there is a reduced service in the winter. Cycles can be hired at that end of the loch, and many people like to take the steamship one way, and cycle back the other way. The adventurous may like to cycle the whole 13 mile route around the loch.
The cottage is within a short drive of wonderful waterfalls and 3 course meals at the hotel at Inversnaid, (4 miles away) where you can park for free, and can pick up the start of some major hiking trails such as the RSPB nature trail which follows the West Highland Way. Inversnaid is a great place for a long or short walks, with a lovely meal afterwards in the hotel with wonderful views. You can also take a different boat here, on a different loch for more sightseeing.

Nearby to Aberfoyle, (13 miles away) there is a large visitor centre in the Queen Elizabeth Forest Park with a café with far-reaching views. This is a great place to start a wide range of walks, from very short accessible trails, to long, challenging walks. There is also a very pleasant scenic drive off the Dukes Pass just outside of Aberfoyle. There is a Co-op food shop in Aberfoyle which is open to 10 pm, with a cashpoint. There is also a lovely delicatessen in Aberfoyle.

Within 15 miles, the Kinlochard and Aberfoyle area offer excellent leisure facilities, including a sailing club and nearby MacDonald Forest Hills Hotel & Spa. There are opportunities to visit golf courses, enjoy watersports, hire kayaks and canoes, go pony trekking and enjoy a wide range of walks, hikes and cycle routes. There are many mountains and large hills nearby. Lochside Cottage is within easy driving distance of Loch Lomond, which offers further lochside cruises, an extensive tourist shopping park, a spa hotel, an aquarium, championship golf courses, and further sightseeing opportunities.
We recommend the bakers called "Mhor Bread" in Callander, (22 miles away, lovely route passing 5 different lochs) who offer an outstanding range of pastries and pies. A flat, highly accessible riverside walk is available at Callander, which also has a wide range of interesting little shops and an art gallery.

Slightly further away, the main city of Stirling offers a wide range of city shops and eateries. The famous cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow are also accessible by car and offer a very wide range of shops and city experiences.

Children and Parents
We welcome children. Please be aware that whilst there is a low wall separating the loch from the land, this is not continuous, and children could access the water. The water is deep in places. Children will need to be supervised at all times whilst outside. We supply a small range of children's toys and books. There is a high chair, and a travel cot at the property. It is your choice whether you choose to light the woodburner if you have small children. There is a fireguard at the property, but please be aware, the stove will get very hot on the outside when it is lit. Children must not touch the woodburning stove.

Pet friendly
We are pet friendly and allow 3 dogs - with responsible owners!
Please be aware that all owners are expected to clean up after their dogs, and must not allow them to run into neighbour's gardens. Please dry very wet or muddy dogs before bringing them in, as the house is very large and spacious downstairs and it will take a long time to clean up if a wet dog shakes mud everywhere. Please take care to keep dogs away from the woodburning stove if you choose to light it. There is a fireguard to keep animals away from the hot stove, but please be aware that the outside of the stove will get very hot. Dogs are not allowed upstairs, or on the furniture.

Accessibility
There are 3 steps into the property, but once inside the ground floor rooms are all on one level. There is a handrail up the stairs. There are 2 downstairs bedrooms and a bathroom, and 2 upstairs bedrooms and a bathroom. The downstairs bathroom has a full length walk in shower which is very accessible.

Lochside Cottage is available for full weeks Saturday to Saturday in peak season May-September), and we can offer short stays and different arrival and departure dates during most of the Autumn, Winter and Spring time.

Safety
We take your safety seriously, and we have new, networked fire alarms throughout the house and carbon monoxide detectors, and all electrical and gas items are tested every year. We have a wall mounted fire extinguisher in the kitchen.

Travel Directions
Post code for SAT NAV is FK8 3TY. Directions: From the south, take either the M80 or M9 for Stirling and, whilst on the M9, exit at junction 10 at Stirling onto the A84. After some eight miles, fork left onto the A873 Thornhill, Port of Menteith and Aberfoyle Road. Four miles after Thornhill merge left onto the A81 to Aberfoyle. Proceed through the village of Aberfoyle and continue straight ahead as signposted for the B829 for Kinlochard and Inversnaid. Just over four miles thereafter, with Loch Ard on your left, you will come into Kinlochard. Continue straight ahead from the Wee Blether Tearoom, driving to the end of the road with the T junction, with signpost left to Inversnaid and right to Stronachlachar. Take the right and follow the road down to Loch Katrine and, on your approach to The Pier Café car park, look left to the electronic barrier, indicating the private road. On passing through this barrier, (code supplied after booking) follow the road round to the right and up towards Lochside House. Park on the gravel area directly next to Lochside Cottage. Please be aware that road from Aberfoyle is at times a single track tarmac road, which requires care and attention in places, and it is recommended that guests who have had a long drive take a short rest break before continuing the last part of the journey from Aberfoyle.


Located in Stirling, this cottage is in a rural area and on a lake. Great Trossachs Path - West and Aberfoyle Golf Club are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Ben Lomond and Doon Hill and Fairy Knowe. Discover the area's water adventures with kayaking and motor boating nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with cycling and hiking.

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