Think of a Scottish loch and there’s a fair chance Loch Ness (and Nessie) will come to mind. But there are around 30,000 other freshwater pools of water in Scotland.
And one of the most entrancing, you’ll find, is Loch Tay, which spreads on the border of Perthshire and Stirlingshire close to where the Scottish lowlands blend into the highlands. While it’s possible to visit this loch on a day trip from Edinburgh or Glasgow — each a two-hour drive away — you’re better off sticking around for a few nights.
Here are five highlights to keep you entertained. A SAFARI CRUISE Shaped a little like an elongated S, 24km long and 2.4km wide at its widest point, Loch Tay is Scotland’s sixth largest loch by area and a good way to get your bearings is on a 50 or 90-minute cruise with Highland Safaris. Boasting a heated cabin with comfy seats, plus outside space for photo opportunities, Iolaire is a modern rigid inflatable boat (RIB) that’s named after the Scottish Gaelic word for eagle. The golden variety of that bird of prey is among the species you may encounter on this Tay “safari”, while buzzards, cormorants, grey herons, ospreys, beavers and salmon can also be spotted. Unlike Loch Ness, Loch Tay doesn’t have a resident monster, although it’s said to be home to Kelpies, shape-shifting creatures that can apparently drag you under if you’re not careful.
ROUSING HIKES Loch Tay is flanked by hillsides carpeted in forests and pastures, with taller, often snow-dusted peaks, such as Ben Lawers (1214m), soaring above. Thanks to scenery like this, it’s no wonder hikers are drawn to the area. There are marked trails to follow, some more thigh-straining than others. You could do a leg of the Rob Roy Way, a long-distance footpath that threads 128km from Drymen, a village near Stirling, to the Perthshire town of Pitlochry. Named after the 18th-century Scottish folk hero and outlaw, Rob Roy MacGregor, the trail passes through Killin at the western end of Loch Tay. Stop here for a drink and a bite to eat at the eponymous pub overlooking the gushing white waters of the Falls of Dochart.
