Ballat Smithy Cottage

17/09/2026

Where would we be without our dedicated farmers and growers? Here at Ballat Smithy Cottage we're proud to be able to share some of Scotland's best produce with our guests. I wonder if the First Minister would enjoy our bread made with flour from Mungoswells Malt & Milling as much as our guests do?

The First Minister, a farmer, and some flour... 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

We were recently invited to Bute House to talk to First Minister John Swinney about what we do here at Mungoswells. As part of the evening, Angus gave a short presentation about the farm and flour, while guests had the opportunity to taste various canapés made using our flour, prepared by the incredible BaxterStorey team.

Seeing the work Angus and our team put in being recognised at this level is a massive accomplishment, and something we’re hugely grateful for. Thank you to Stuart for the invitation and for giving us the opportunity to showcase a little of the work that goes into getting our grain from field to flour.

It was great to be joined by Bryce from Mossgiel Organic Farm and Gordon from Quality Meat Scotland. We greatly appreciate any opportunity that puts Scottish produce and the farming community centre stage. We think food is better when you know where it comes from and who produced it. Provenance matters.

Thanks again to everyone involved.

12/09/2026

Enjoy an autumn break near Loch Lomond. Following a cancellation we have availability from 15th - 25th September. From £480 for 3 nights - £750 for 7 nights.
The cottage sleeps 4. No pets please.
Visit www.ballatsmithycottage.com to book direct.

03/07/2026

Take advantage of our last remaining availability and and enjoy the height of summer at Loch Lomond. 10% off direct bookings for 2 - 5 nights between 12th and 17th July. From £400 before discount.
Ballat Smithy Cottage sleeps 4, no pets please.
www.ballatsmithycottage.com

13/06/2026

Enjoy a June break near Loch Lomond at Ballat Smithy Cottage. Take advantage of our Summer Special Offer, 10% off remaining dates in June (18th - 27th) with the Discount Code JUNE10.
Visit www.ballatsmithycottage.com for details and direct booking.

30/05/2026

Our postal address is 'Balfron Station', which some find confusing because there's no longer a station or a railway line near here. But there used to be! And this week the residents and Balfron Heritage Group celebrated the Station's 170th anniversary. A celebratory exhibition is being held in Balfron Library until the 27th June: https://balfronheritage.org.uk/200-years-of-scottish-railways/, and there's also an information board in the bus shelter.

STIRLING OBSERVER Balfron Station Anniversary coverage!

12/05/2026

Ballat Smithy Cottage is two minutes drive from Tir na nOg Holistic Centre. We have good availability in June, come and make us your home for this wonderful event!

10/04/2026

We have availability for the Beltane weekend, take advantage of our 10% May discount to come and take part in this amazing event just 2 minutes from the cottage!
Visit our website ballatsmithycottage.com to book.

10/03/2026

Isn’t this interesting?

On this day, in 560AD, a prince was assassinated on the shores of Loch Lomond.

Almost nobody knows his name.
But for hundreds of years, he was the true patron saint of Scotland.

Long before anyone in the Highlands had ever heard of St. Andrew, the nation revered a man named Kessog.

Heir to the royal family of Munster, one of the most powerful kingdoms in Ireland. He had a crown waiting for him. Wealth. Power. An entire kingdom to rule. But he walked away from it all and crossed the sea to the wild untamed hills of ancient Scotland.

He was an early Christian missionary from Ireland, a holy man moving through a Scotland that was still wild, divided and only half-converted.
He settled on a tiny, wooded island in Loch Lomond, called Inchtavannach, the Island of the Monk's House.

But Kessog was not a quiet, peaceful monk. He was a warrior.

Ancient texts and carvings depict him not in flowing robes, but in full military dress, holding a drawn bow and arrow.
He was a battle-hardened missionary who understood that in the violent, blood-soaked glens of ancient Alba, a holy man needed to be tough.

The Scottish people absolutely loved him.
For centuries, Scottish soldiers would charge into battle screaming his name. Their official, terrifying war cry was: "Here is the plea for Kessog!"

Even Robert the Bruce was a fiercely devoted follower.
While fighting for Scotland’s survival, Bruce sought refuge in Kessog's territory and later granted his church at Luss a massive, three-mile sanctuary zone to protect it forever.

But there were others who did not love him.
The Druids.
On 10 March, his holy campaign came to a brutal end. While traveling near Bandry, looking out over the dark waters of Loch Lomond, Kessog was ambushed and murdered.

To mark the exact spot where the great warrior-saint fell, his devastated followers piled a massive mound of stones.
They called it Carn-na-Chessaig, Kessog’s Cairn.

Healing herbs began growing up from the earth around his grave.
So many herbs that the place became known simply as Luss.
The Gaelic word for herb.

Over centuries, as the Scottish Crown abandoned the Celtic Church and aligned with Rome, saints like Kessog were quietly set aside in favour of saints Rome recognised.
St. Andrew was elevated to the top job. The blue and white saltire became the national flag.

The warrior prince was forgotten.

Today, the peaceful village of Luss still sits right on the edge of the loch as a popular tourist destination, most visitors none the wiser they’re standing on the grave of a legendary warrior saint 🏹🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

20/02/2026

A small film with many links to the cottage. With the exception of the farriers' pickups, this would have been the everyday scene at Ballat Smithy for well over 100 years. Today, as then, every shoe is hand made to fit each foot. Jim (wearing black gloves) shod our horses here for 26 years until his recent retirement. And a visit to The Kelpies is a must for our guests!

07/02/2026

Take advantage of our February Special Offer: 10% off any dates booked direct during February. Visit www.ballatsmithycottage.com and use Coupon Code FEB10 when you book.

We have good availability just now, and 2 night breaks in February for £300.

Come and stay!