We write our latest news item in a much appreciated heatwave, with Glasgow and Loch Lomond hotter than Ibiza and Los Angeles! The Kilpatrick Hills are bathed in sunshine and our self-catering guests are really making the most of the Scottish weather. You can see how lovely everything looks in the sunshine in these photos and it shows the new roof and windows on the Auchentoshan, Glengoyne and Glenmorangie cottages:

Our news this month highlights three different activities for our guests. Firstly, Gavinburn Cottages guests can now enjoy the services of guided fishing tours of Loch Lomond with “The Lomond Angler”, John Bell. John supply’s the boats, permits, tackle, lifejackets, tuition and a wealth of local knowledge. You can have a stunning tour of Loch Lomond and catch dinner at the same time. It’s an ideal day out for novices or experienced fishers alike. Fishing can also be arranged at other local fishing spots including our own Loch Humphrey. Don’t forget our self-catering cottages at Gavinburn are only 15 minutes from Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. There is an abundance of trout and salmon in Loch Lomond and its feeding estuaries and whilst you fish you can watch heron and osprey fish alongside you!

Another great day out for an exciting activity in West Dunbartonshire is at Loch Lomond Shooting School. This clay pigeon centre is located only 3 minutes from Loch Lomond and very close to the picturesque village of Luss. Luss is famous for its beauty, ice cream and it’s where they filmed the old Scottish TV series, Take the High Road!

Loch Lomond Shooting School offer full tuition, safety briefing and guns to any guests over 12 years old. All guests will be accompanied by a highly trained tutor who will have you shooting straight in no time! They have various clay traps which mimic the flight of woodcocks, pheasants, partridge, pigeons and grouse and can test all levels of hotshots! They even have one trap which simulates the run of a wild rabbit. A trip to Loch Lomond Shooting School caters for everyone, even if you just want to spend an hour or a whole day and they can take large groups. Don’t worry if you have never shot before as it’s a very easy sport to pick-up and all the various traps can be set at different speeds and angles. Another bonus at Loch Lomond Shooting School is the location. Its stunning and guests are ferried by Land Rover to a stunning woodland setting, high in the hills, where guests can enjoy views over Loch Lomond and surrounding Dunbartonshire. Archery and air rifle target shooting are also on offer.

To cap it all we have various groups available to Gavinburn guests offering guided walks. One of the best is Walk Wild Scotland. They offer various walking tours of the local area and these can be tailored to your needs or ability. The Loch Lomond package is particularly highly rated by guests at Gavinburn. Of course you have the trails in the Kilpatrick Hills which is now part of the John Muir Way. Our country cottages are located high in the Kilpatrick Hills, which explains the stunning views over Glasgow and The River Clyde and the trails are right on your doorstep. Our favourite is the one that takes you even higher into the hills and takes you to Loch Humphrey and Big Duncolm. Alternatively you can take the paths through the native woodlands behind Gavinburn Cottages and see a huge range of wildlife.

Speaking of wildlife, we leave you with a pictures of Rory, our highland calf and his mum, Toffee and of course Merida, who seems to be growing her fringe! As you can see Rory is growing up fast and is currently enjoying sunbathing behind the cottages!

It’s now October and Gavinburn Cottages are today hotter than Barcelona! What a great Indian summer we have had and it’s great to see our guests eating al fresco on the patios at the cottages in autumn. Our overseas visitors have been amazed this month at how sunny it has been and they have had no need for their winter jackets that they had packed. It’s good to dispel some myths about the Scottish climate!

We have had another new Highland Calf born at Gavinburn. He’s called Rory (see photos) and he’s in the field directly in front of the cottages with his mum and aunties, although he will be going his holidays soon to the field at Auchentoshan Whisky Distillery. Don’t worry if you miss him as the distillery is only a mile from us, so you can go and visit him and have a tour and a dram or two! His extended family will still be staying at Gavinburn.
We thought we would make this news post all about our super location and throw in a few pictures to whet your appetite. As many of you will know we are only 10 miles from both Loch Lomond and Glasgow city centre. We are located high in the picturesque Kilpatrick Hills, which provides us with some stunning views of the River Clyde, Glasgow and the Erskine Bridge, which you will see in our photos below. These and more photos can be found on our “Gallery” page.

The Kilpatrick Hills of course provide a stunning backdrop to the cottages and are a walkers or cyclists paradise. From your front door you can enjoy various walks which take you higher into the hills and provide you with even more spectacular views of the ships sailing up and down the River Clyde.

The obvious one is following the track, directly behind the cottages, straight up to the tranquil Loch Humphrey. This should take around 45 minutes, once you’ve stopped half way for photographs! Our favourite is following the track until you find a gate on your right which takes you into the woods that span the entire face of the Kilpatrick Hills and are right behind Gavinburn Cottages. Here you will find tracks which were built by Lord Blantyre in the 1800s, so he could enjoy the scenery from his horse and trap and look across to his stately home at Mar Hall. Use these paths to explore the woods and spot the wildlife, and as you walk higher the views will change with each step.

You will see down the River Clyde, past Dumbarton Rock, towards Greenock, Gourock and Helensburgh and up the Clyde towards the shipyards and the skyline of Glasgow. You will be looking down on the Erskine Bridge and directly across the river is Erskine, the Mar Hall, Ingliston Country Club at Bishopton and the rich farmland of Renfrewshire and North Ayrshire.

Or you can just relax at Gavinburn and take in the views from the sun terrace!

We are now well through the summer of 2015 at Gavinburn Cottages and whilst it’s not been as sunny as last year, we have had some sunny days, as the photo proves! Our self catering guests haven’t complained and they have all found plenty of things to do to keep them entertained.

We have been full since May with guests from all over the globe who have been telling us of their recommendations for things to do whilst staying at Gavinburn. Most seem to favour attractions in and around Glasgow and Loch Lomond, but there are plenty of other places to visit and Edinburgh is less than an hour away by rail or car. Trip Advisor seems to be a great resource for planning things to do on your stay.

We have compiled a top ten list of attractions which have received special mention from our guests:

1. Explore outside: Just step out the front door of your cottage and you will find hill walking paths and mountain bike trails galore, with amazing views and wildlife to discover. Make sure you walk to the top of the road and find Loch Humprhey!
2. Loch Lomond: A real jewel in Scotland’s Crown! Stunning scenery and plenty of islands and bays to explore. Details of cruises and trips can be found online.
3. The Transport Museum and Tall Ship: One of Scotland’s newest museums, where you can experience all things to do with transport through the ages.  It’s only a 15 minute drive away at Glasgow’s Clydeside.
4. Shopping: Glasgow has fast become one of Britain’s best destinations for retail therapy. From designer labels to quirky souvenirs, you will find what you’re looking for and its only ten miles away. Take the car or hop on the train at Kilpatrick Station at the bottom of our road.
5. Auchentoshan Distillery: Our local whisky distillery is only five minutes away. It boasts a great gift shop and offers guided tours, where you can indulge in a dram or two!
6. Kelvingrove Museum & Art Gallery: A stunning building in Glasgow where you will find exhibits from all over the world. A great day out, especially if the weather isn’t so good.
7. Braehead: This shopping and entertainment arena can be found on the M8 near Glasgow. Its home to high street stores, restaurants, cinema and Xscape, an activity and snow centre for adults and kids.
8. Lomond Shores: This visitor attraction can be found at Balloch, on the banks of Loch Lomond. There are shops (including Jenners), restaurants and activities to be found and its home to the Loch Lomond Sea Life Aquarium.
9. Science Centre: Located on the banks of the Clyde at Glasgow, near Finnieston Quay and not far from the transport museum. It offers an exciting and educational day out for all the family. You will also get amazing views if you go up the tower or visit the nearby Finnieston Crane.
10. Blair Drummond Safari Park: This Park is home to hundreds of animals from around the globe, including tigers and elephants. It allows visitors to drive through various enclosures, offering them the chance to see up close various animals and learn more about them. It is a 50 minute drive away on the road to Stirling, where the castle and Wallace Monument are also well worth a visit.

These are obviously just a small selection of things to do whilst you stay at our holiday cottages. We should also recommend a trip on the Waverley, the world’s oldest ocean going paddle steamer. It takes regular day trips down the Clyde, leaving from Glasgow and stopping at various islands.

Ingliston Country Club is also worthy of note. It’s an equestrian centre with an excellent restaurant where you can watch horses show jump whilst you tuck into your dinner. There’s also a spa and you can book horse riding lessons for the whole family.

For the more adventurous you can even book a 160ft bungee jump from the famous Titan Crane at Clydebank! An amazing adrenaline rush and simply breath-taking. I should know as we have a policy of trying all attractions before we recommend them. Not the best policy we have, as it was the most nerve wracking thing I have ever done!

The Titan Crane is all that remains of the famous John Brown Shipyard on the Clyde which built ocean going liners and warships including HMS Hood, RMS Lusitania, Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth and the QE2. It is only 15 minutes from the cottages and is now open as a visitor’s centre, where you can get a lift right to the top. The bungee jump is not compulsory!

Don’t forget that Clydebank also has a 10 screen cinema and indoor go-karting and laser quest.

I hope that this has whetted your appetite for a stay at Gavinburn Self-Catering Cottages!

2015 sees the Kilpatrick Hills becoming part of the John Muir Way.

The John Muir Way is a 215-kilometre (130 mi) continuous long distance route which runs between Helensburgh and Dunbar. It is named in honour of the Scottish 19th-century conservationist John Muir, who was born at Dunbar, East Lothian, in 1838 and became a founder of America’s national park system. It’s great to have a new trail nearby which rivals the West Highland Way.

There are of course the trails on your doorstep which take you all over the Kilpatrick Hills. Our favourite is the one up to Loch Humphrey, where the views halfway there will blow you away.

Whilst on this walk, look out for the gate into the woods, where you can follow track which snakes through the wood up to the plateau and marvel at the wildlife. We will also see more mountain bike trails being opened up in the hills and we have secure bike storage and washing areas for your muddy bikes, boots and children!

We’re enjoying a fantastic start to Spring here at Gavinburn Cottages. The sun’s been shining and it’s been unseasonably mild. This comes after a snowy winter where the log store has been stocked up regularly and the younger guests (and the older ones!) have managed to enjoy some sledging. Our self-catering guests this week were also able to witness the solar eclipse and there was a couple of nights where they were able to see the stunning Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis).

We were also delighted to hear that the Kilpatrick Hills have now been included in the John Muir Way, thanks to a new stretch of walking path which is to be created. We must also congratulate our friends at La Barca, Helensburgh who have once again been shortlisted as finalists in Scotland’s Favourite Mediterranean Restaurant of the Year Awards. They won it last year and you can find more details about them on our local links page.

Speaking of our Local Links page, we can announce that Little’s Chauffeur Drive company are now offering guided tours of any part of Scotland for Gavinburn Cottages guests at a reduced rate. This is ideal if you do not know the area and want to be driven around in luxury and shown the sights, be it castles and lochs or museums and shops. Your driver will explain in interesting detail all the heritage and history, wherever you go.

Lambing will soon be in full swing and its great to see the grass growing to feed all the expectant mothers! As always you can wander around the cottages and explore the Kilpatrick Hills at your leisure and try and spot some newborn lambs. The Daffodils behind the cottages are also starting to bloom now and the frogs have been back to spawn in the pond. Shouldn’t be long before the tadpoles are swimming around!

We have a few empty weeks in April and May still available, so please get in touch if you require a cottage. Remember, we have five, from the one bedroom Glenmorangie to the four bedroom Auchentoshan and we can sleep up to 22 guests.

The winter’s been very busy here at Gavinburn Cottages. We’ve had full houses for the Christmas week and the New Year week. We’ve had many guests staying to take advantage of the January sales in Glasgow City Centre and some who’ve fancied a spot of hill walking in the brisk winter air at the Kilpatrick Hills. Continue reading →

Well that’s the trees changing colour and autumn is upon us. What a great summer it’s been and the driest September for decades at Gavinburn Cottages. All our self-catering guests have been marvelling at how dry and sunny it’s been. We try to tell our overseas visitors that its like this every year in Scotland!

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