5 Special Viewpoints

An Ceann Mòr - Inveruglas Pyramid

Does a beautiful natural view need any structure or to enhance it? Well, the answer is both yes and no. No, because there are so many incredible views that are just fine as they are. Yes, when you see these five structures' positive impact on these locations.

These five examples (with a new bonus one at the end) are all very different, each carefully designed to blend seamlessly into their unique landscape and environment.

I’ve enjoyed visiting and photographing these five viewpoints in Loch Lomond & The Trossachs. I hope you find this guide helpful if you plan to visit any or all of them. 

Marketing Services

Websites, Video & Photography

Find Out More

1) Ben Lomond Viewing Shelter - Gartocharn

The Loch Lomond RSPB Reserve at Gartocharn is well worth a visit. I’ve linked below to two of our reviews to help you plan some time on the reserve, firstly Aber Shore on the southern banks of Loch Lomond and secondly the Visitor Centre with trails and pond dipping experience for children.

 

Plan Your Visit 

If you plan to visit Loch Lomond & The Trossachs, consider ordering our book ‘101 things to do in Loch Lomond & The Trossachs’, a photo guidebook of things to do and places to explore. Click here to purchase. 

It is the RSPB Visitor Centre near Gartocharn where we find our first special viewpoint. Follow the signed Viewpoint Trail, which is just 200m long and wheelchair friendly, to find a superb and beautiful framed view towards Ben Lomond courtesy of this shelter.

2) Look Out (Mirror Box) - Loch Voil

The next example is deep into Rob Roy MacGregor territory. To get to this viewpoint, take the A84, heading north out of Callander, leaving it at Kingshouse. From there, follow signs to Balquhidder, and go through the village along the narrow road. This single-track road soon starts to follow the banks of Loch Voil; unless tempted to stop and take photographs, keep going until you see the distinctive pink building that is the stylish Monachyle Mhor Hotel.

You should now be able to see Loch Voil and its close neighbour Loch Doine. Take the footpath towards the strip of land between the two lochs for the lookout mirror box. It successfully blends into the environment, so you may not see it immediately. When you reach it, you may disturb some grazing sheep admiring themselves in the mirrors that make up the box's exterior.

 

This innovative design is the work of architecture students Angus Ritchie and Daniel Tyler. They won funding for it from The Scottish Government as part of their thesis at Strathclyde University.

Carefully positioned mirrors allow you to sit just inside the box and look out across one loch whilst seeing a reflection of the other. The Mirror Box and the following two examples are part of the Scottish Scenic Route Viewpoints series. The Lookout (Mirror Box) is also part of the BLiSS Trail. Read more about that in the link below, do download their informative app where you can listen to an audio tour feature about The Lookout.

Local Photographer

Weddings & Family Photo Shoots

Visit Website

3) An Ceann Mòr - Inveruglas Pyramid

The viewpoint at Inveruglas is the easiest of the five to find. If you’re on a boat cruise close to the northern end of Loch Lomond or travelling on the A82 by Inveruglas, you can’t miss it. (Read our guide to an A82 road trip at the link below!).

I just checked the viewpoints Google reviews, and An Ceann Mòr gets a 4.5 rating, along with many positive comments, so many visitors have enjoyed the experience. 

 

This viewpoint is an 8m high pyramid inspired structure at Inveruglas providing excellent views across Loch Lomond and the nearby Arrochar Alps. Binoculars are installed at the pyramid if you wish to use them.

An Ceann Mòr means large headland in Gaelic. It is built of sustainable timber, which has turned to a silver/grey colour since it opened in 2015. You can see the difference in our photographs above, just after it opened to more recently below.

4. Loch Lubnaig, ‘Sloc nan Sitheanach’ (faeries hollow)

 

Tucked away by the side of a picnic area of the first visitor car park at Loch Lubnaig is ‘Sloc nan Sitheanach’ or faeries hollow. Even if the car park is busy, this can be a quiet spot; take in the excellent views across Loch Lubnaig to Ben Ledi. This is the start of the BLiSS Trail, more about that in the link earlier in this article.

5) Woven Sound - Falls of Falloch

The final example of our five specular viewpoints is the Falls of Falloch, which is close to the A82, about 5 miles south of Crianlarich. Again, you can read more about our Balloch to Tyndrum A82 Road Trip at the link provided previously.

 

All of these special and enhanced viewpoints are unique and thoughtfully designed to work within their landscapes. Woven Sound is no different and is the work of John Kennedy, who has added extracts from English poet Dorothy Wordsworth’s diary entry for her visit to the falls in the early 19th century.

The first picture is the view of the Falls themselves 

Woven Sound - Falls of Falloch

Bonus - Scenic Tower & Viewpoint at Loch Katrine

Since writing this article, a new Scenic Tower has opened at Trossachs Pier at Loch Katrine. Click the button below to read all about this amazing attrraction

Thanks for reading

Words and photography by Paul Saunders. Visit Paul’s Marketing and Photography websites for details of his services in Scotland.

Please let us know about your visits to any of the scenic viewpoints reviewed here in the comments section below.