Balloch Country Park facts for kids
Balloch Country Park is a super cool park that covers about 200 acres (which is like 150 football fields!) at the very bottom of Loch Lomond in West Dunbartonshire, Scotland. It became a special "country park" in 1980. It's also the only country park inside the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, which was Scotland's very first national park!
At Balloch Country Park, you can find awesome nature trails to explore, go on guided walks to learn new things, visit a beautiful walled garden, and enjoy picnic areas with amazing views of the Loch. The park was first started in the early 1800s by a man named John Buchanan, who was a partner in a bank. Later, the Dennistoun-Brown family bought the estate in 1851 and made the gardens even more beautiful. John Buchanan also built Balloch Castle, which used to be the park's visitor center.
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Balloch Castle: A Historic Home
Balloch Castle was built in 1808. It looks like a grand old Scottish castle, designed by an architect named Robert Lugar for John Buchanan.
The Older Castle
The new castle used stones from an even older castle! This first castle was built way back in 1238 by the Earls of Lennox and was used by their family until about 1390. This older castle was closer to the water than the one you see today. The only thing left of it is a small hill that used to be part of its moat. This old site is protected by law because it's so important to history.
What You'll Find at the Castle Grounds
The current Balloch Castle used to be a visitor center and the main office for the park's rangers. Now, it's not used for those things anymore. However, the castle grounds are still a great place to visit! You'll find a car park and a lovely walled garden filled with different trees and bushes. In late May and early June, the rhododendrons and azaleas burst into full, colorful bloom, which is a fantastic sight!
Exciting Events at the Park
Balloch Country Park is a popular spot for many fun events throughout the year.
Loch Lomond Highland Games
Every summer, the park hosts the annual Loch Lomond Highland games. This is a super Scottish event where you can see cool competitions like caber tossing (where strong people throw a huge log!). There's also lots of yummy Scottish food to try, and many visitors come to enjoy the day.
Big Music Concerts
The park has also been home to some really big music concerts!
- In June 1991, the Scottish folk-rock band Runrig played to a huge crowd of 40,000 people.
- Oasis played two nights in the summer of 1996, with an amazing 80,000 fans coming to see them!
- R.E.M. also played a big concert there in 2005.
BBC Radio 1 Roadshow
In the 1990s, the BBC Radio 1 roadshow often came to the park for their yearly live shows. Famous artists like Travis, Skunk Anansie, Billie Piper, and Jason Donovan performed there.
Live at Loch Lomond Festival
In August 2007, the very first Live at Loch Lomond music festival happened in the park. It was a big success, and the second festival was also very popular with the crowds.
