Loch Lomond, Balloch, West Dunbartonshire, Scotland

We start our journey on the shores of Loch Lomond, Scotland's largest body of fresh water at 21 miles (~33.5 km) in length and six miles (~9.5 km) across at its widest point. Having passed it a few times while travelling between Glasgow and the Western Highlands, I finally took the chance of paying it a visit during the summer of 1999. As has happened to me on a number of occasions since, I got up later than I intended and was wondering what to do when my planned excursion was no longer feasible. Balloch and Loch Lomond seemed a good idea, especially when a two-hour coach ride would get me there; I didn't do trains in those days, possibly due to the limited resources of my student finances. Loch Lomond's relative proximity got me away in time to enjoy the afternoon and allowed me to stay a while longer and savour its summer evening sights.