Visitors to Glasgow travelling thirty minutes from the city centre will find themselves in Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. Imagine standing on the bonnie banks of Loch Lomond, watching trout break the surface and hawks wheeling overhead.
Scotland's first great travel writer, Sir Walter Scott, was captivated by the beauty of this fascinating area, which provided him with the inspiration for his best-selling poem, 'The Lady of the Lake'.
Another hour will take you through green pine forests, along The Trossachs, through Argyll and down to the sparkling waters of the west coast, to Tarbet or Oban. From there it's only a short ferry ride to feel the golden sands of Mull, Islay or Campbeltown between your toes. . .
Stirling, home to Bannockburn, Stirling Castle and the Wallace Monument, has played a major role in Scotland's history. Because of its easily defensible hilltop location, the city has had strategic military significance since Roman times and for three centuries Scotland's Kings ruled from its imposing castle. Many battles in Scotland's wars of independence were fought here, not least at Bannockburn.
Visit Scotland: Plan your trip to central Scotland west and beyond