Appletree Cottage, Loch Lomond, Scotland

06/05/2026

The bees are starting to get busy with the blossom in the orchard.

04/05/2026

We have, at last, had full fibre broadband installed at Appletree. Today's speed test showed 146.3mbps which is a huge improvement on the 5mbps we were getting in 2016! It has been getting steadily better over the years, but this is easily the fastest speed now. And the upload speed today showed as 28mbps. Hooray!

02/05/2026

Cycle back in time along the old Ballachulish Railway Line 🚴‍♂️🌊 — a mostly off-road 30-mile stretch from Connel Ferry to Ballachulish with calm loch views and the iconic Connel Bridge. Read the full ride report, tips and photos on the blog. https://wix.to/50vLDdp

01/05/2026

April is a great time of year for cherry blossoms in Scotland, and this year is no exception. We travelled over to Dollar, just east of Stirling, which is famed for its blossom displays. We were not disappointed. The trees overhanging the River Devon in the town were all in full bloom. Earlier in the week we had espied Colquhoun road in Helensburgh which also had a great display.

21/04/2026

Spring has arrived at Appletree Cottage 🌼 Read about our golden daffodils — the deer-proof blooms brightening our beds despite hungry roe deer! A short, cheerful read for gardeners and nature lovers. Read more: https://wix.to/XSmxIHM

Here, around Appletree Cottage on Shandon Farm, we try hard to cultivate attractive flower and herb beds. Over the years, we have planted many bulbs and shrubs. However, we do have one persistent problem – hungry roe deer!Roe deer love to experiment. They will have a chew at almost any living plan...

25/03/2026

We visited The Hill House in Helensburgh to see the current refurbishment works on Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s masterpiece. A short drive from Appletree Cottage, this iconic home reveals fascinating restoration details and history — perfect for architecture lovers and day-trippers. Read more: https://wix.to/Onz40jD

We visit the famous Hill House in Helensburgh, having learned that there were some major refurbishment works in progress at this venue. Hill House in Helensburgh is less than a thirty-minute drive from Appletree Cottage.

26/02/2026

We took a sunny round-trip walk from Appletree Cottage to Drymen Village — quiet single-track backroads, gorgeous views and fresh air the whole way. Perfect for a peaceful stroll or an invigorating ramble. Read the full walk guide and route tips: https://wix.to/IBXMx89

The sun was shining, the sky was clear, so we put on our walking boots and took a stroll up to the nearby village of Drymen. Appletree Cottage is situated on a quiet back road, single track for most of it and very little traffic.

02/01/2026

Join us for a lovely winter walk up the famous Whangie, nestled between Milngavie and Drymen. Discover the beauty and tranquility of nature! Read more: https://wix.to/YvLAGBD

A lovely moderate winter walk up the famous Whangie, between Milngavie and Drymen

27/11/2025

Appletree Cottage is surrounded by many great film locations - from Doune Castle (as Winterfell) in Game of Thrones, also used Castle Leoch in Outlander and featured much in Monty Python and the Holy Grail (there is a voice guided tour for the latter)
Finnich Glen (Devil's Pulpit) for The Eagle and Outlander to Geilston House, Cardross and Luss (also Take the High Road) for the most recent Whisky Galore, Overtoun House for Clout Atlas. For the older members of the group Brig-o-Turk and Aberfoyle surroundings will be recognised for the 1959 film 39 Steps.
Along with Stirling Castle, Culross and Blair Drummond Safari Park for The Angles Share and What we did on our Holiday there is a huge amount to see all within half an hour's drive.
Stirling recently produced this leaflet showing a few of the the many film locations in the area. It can also be found athttps://www.yourstirling.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Stirling-Film-Location-Map.pdf

24/10/2025

Experience the breathtaking colors of autumn in the Trossachs! 🍂 With the stunning golds, oranges, and browns all around, it’s the perfect time for a scenic adventure. Discover more about this lovely autumn day:

Some areas of Scotland are renowned for magnificent autumnal colours, and nowhere more so than in the Trossachs. The weather this year has produced some spectacular golds, oranges, and browns in the foliage of this well-wooded area.

01/10/2025

A couple of weeks ago, we visited the Loch Lomond Food and Drink Festival in beautiful Balloch! 🌍🥘 It’s a mere 15-minute drive from Appletree Cottage, making it an ideal day out. Want to learn more about our experience? Click here: https://wix.to/GZp5fEX

A couple of weeks ago, we travelled to Balloch to visit the Loch Lomond Food and Drink Festival. Balloch is only about a fifteen-minute drive from Appletree Cottage (or around thirty minutes by push bike, depending on fitness) and is a popular base for many activities.

27/08/2025

Discover the breathtaking beauty of Bracklinn Falls! This stunning location near Callander is a must-visit destination, with its impressive boulders and history of many bridges. Don’t miss out on the water's incredible force shaped over thousands of years. Find out more about our adventure here: https://wix.to/udqH6QR

Earlier in the year, we took a trip to explore the Bracklinn Falls near Callander, about a 35-minute drive from Appletree Cottage. We had heard that the falls could be quite spectacular when the river was in spate. And we were not disappointed. Impressive boulders and rocks surround the site, bearin...