Balloch Castle & Country Park Reviews Summary

Castle and Grounds

Pros:

• "The castle is nice from the outside and perched upon a hill overlooking Loch Lomond with lovely views."
• "The view from castle to Loch Lomond is very nice."
• "The Castle sits on a hill which you can conquer directly, but it is steep."
• "The castle itself is 19th century - nothing special, looks impressive from the distance."
• "The location of the castle and park just above Loch Lomond is unique."
• "The castle itself was closed due to maintenance unfortunately but the outside was quite pretty."
• "The view from the castle onto Loch Lomond is stunning."

Cons:

• "Castle is closed permanently."
• "The castle itself needs some love. Gutters blocked and needs a good Clean."
• "Unfortunately the castle building is undergoing repairs and renovations."
• "The castle however is completely neglected by the council and is completely derelict."
• "Castle is closed at present being renovated."
• "The castle itself was locked up when I visited the park."
• "It's a shame the castle itself is fenced off."

Park and Recreation

Pros:

• "Such a beautiful place to spend a day out with kids or dogs or just to have a walk around."
• "The park itself is very pleasant to walk and the walled garden near the castle is a nice feature to visit on the way past."
• "There is a children's play area and lots of picnic tables dotted about and plenty of bins for your litter."
• "Great space to walk and enjoy the fresh air."
• "An absolutely stunning and accessible park to visit. It is well tended but not over cultivated."
• "Great for walking dogs and there are 2 play areas for children."
• "Absolutely love this place. Dogs can burn off energy running, swimming, exploring while we destress in peaceful surroundings."

Cons:

• "Unfortunately, I couldn't take my mother down to the loch side as she uses an electric scooter and the existing path is not suitable."
• "May be a bit hilly for those with mobility issues but lots of places to explore and enjoy the views."
• "No facilities on site, so don't visit if you have a weak bladder or expect to get a coffee or ice cream for the kids."
• "There are signs for a cafe but this was closed in November when I visited."
• "We were disappointed that the signs pointing towards a loch-side cafe/kiosk led to something that had clearly not been open for some time."
• "The only tiny downfall are the very tiny number of toilets."
• "There doesn't seem to be any toilets open after 5pm- when the cafe is closed."

Accessibility and Facilities

Pros:

• "There are clean toilet facilities at the Castle."
• "Toilets are spacious which could be found at the entrance to the path besides the castle. A well kept and clean toilets."
• "Nice easy park to get around for me with flat paths."
• "There is ample space for car parking and you need to make sure your map is fixed on the parking inside the park itself."
• "Plenty of parking space available."
• "It's located near the station and across from the bus terminal, easily accessible."
• "Easy to walk into Balloch to go on the boat tour of the Loch, or eat at one of the restaurants."

Cons:

• "It is a shame the castle is closed and looks in a state of neglect."
• "The castle is closed and some windows are boarded up."
• "Bit upset that the old Balloch castle is now derelict as its an amazing design lends itself to surely a refurbishment by the Scottish Government."
• "The castle is close to other attractions such as Sea Life."
• "Unfortunately the Castle itself is no longer utilised as a visitor centre."
• "The signage to the castle is very poor and you get the impression that visitors are not welcome!"
• "The castle itself is currently fenced off and unfortunately cannot be visited."