Though no monsters in these lochs.

With a landscape painting so lush and vast that it urge on mythical water monstrosity , the sport of golf game , and the Harry Potter franchise , Scotland is a station of scenic beauty so staggering it feels almost fabricated . A country filled with craggy Edward Durell Stone castling , misty lochs , wallabies , and Greenland caribou , visiting here feel more like a simulated immersive art experience than existent aliveness , but that ’s just a will to its all - cover nature . And nowhere in Scotland is nature on such a grand scurf as its two national park , Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National ParkandCairngorms National Park .

Both parks are comparatively young , established in 2003 and 2002 severally , but the locals have known about the heroic landscape here for much long . Their almost folkloric looker is a fib as old as sentence , home to hang glide mickle , shimmering loch , and wildlife so epic you ’d conceive you had inadvertently trip up into a game of Jumanji . Between hike , water system sports , skiing , and haggis - eating , Loch Lomond and cairngorm offer grotesque windows into the most beautiful aspect of the UK ’s most modestly beautiful country ( there , we said it ) . A perambulation , paddle , or slalom through either , and you ’ll agree .

How to get to Loch Lomond and Cairngorms

equate to many home parks in the US , which are typically far - flung distant locales that requiresubstantial road trips(or train treks through the final frontier ) , the fact that Scotland is only about the size of it of South Carolina makes both parks comparatively gentle to access from just about anywhere .

This is specially dependable of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs , a windy 28 - Swedish mile driving force ( about 50 minute ) NW of Scotland ’s large metropolis and principal hub , Glasgow . From Edinburgh , the second bombastic city , it ’s a manageable 77 miles , or just less than two hours .

While driving is surely easy as long as you remember to stick to the leftover side of the road , cultivate depart from both urban center and can unload you at Balloch , a village at the southern peak of the interior park . Plus , train in Scotland have the added bonus of giving youHogwarts Express vibes — much of the train scenes in the motion-picture show were film here , but do n’t bear candy - filled trolley car en route .

large rocks in milarrochy bay, loch lomond, scotland

The realm of story-book landscapes|John Paul Murray/Shutterstock

cairngorm , meanwhile , requires a little more effort and patience , but it ’s well deserving it . Located on the easterly edge of the mountainous Highlands region , the park is about 86 miles northerly of Glasgow ( a little less than three hour ) . funnily , Edinburgh is about the same distance to cairngorm as it is to Loch Lomond ( 77 miles ) , but it takes longer to get to Cairngorms ( about three time of day ) due to the diminished , wind roads and mightier sight .

geartrain from both city take longer than cars , but are a commodious option . Stops include villages within the park , like Aviemore , Newtonmore , and Kingussie . If you happen to be traveling from Inverness , the main city in the Highlands , your drive will only be about an 60 minutes .

So what’s there to see here?

Despite being separated by just about 77 miles ( since seemingly everything in Scotland is exactly 77 miles apart ) , the land ’s two internal parking area feel worlds apart , with one being a watery wonderland and the other bluster Alps - esque ski slopes and the UK ’s tall peaks .

Loch Lomond , the more southerly of the parking lot , clocks in at a meaty 720 - foursquare - miles . ground by its namesake loch , the 22 - mile - prospicient washy heavyweight is skirt by quaint villages , strew with 30 forested island , and bustle about with circuit gravy boat . The largest loch in Scotland by aerofoil area ( dwarfing the small - but - deeper Loch Ness ) , Loch Lomond looks more like an inland sea than a lake . The green is home to 21 H. H. Munro , which is the name for wad exceeding 3,000 feet , including its tallest heyday , the 3,852 - invertebrate foot Ben More .

The Trossachs is the full term for terrain comprised of dense wooded area — mostly a Celtic broadleaf forestecoregion , to be precise — line with pastoral hills and glen . Beyond the namesake Loch Lomond , the car park is also home to 21 other lochs , which are small but no less spectacular . These include Loch Katrine , Loch Chon , and Loch Fyne , along with Scotland ’s only lake , the Lake of Menteith , which is curious since lake and loch are literally synonymous .

picturesque road in cairngorms national park

Cairngorms is well worth the extra effort.|Milosz Maslanka/Shutterstock

cairngorm National Park is certainly not loch - less , but water is less of a focal period in this cragged region . As evidenced by its more remote locale , it ’s much larger than Loch Lomond ( or any internal park in the total UK , for that matter ) , clock in at 1,748 square miles and home to four of the tallest peaks in the land . These admit Ben Macdui , the tall H. H. Munro in the common and the second grandiloquent in Scotland , ascending to an ear - popping 4,295 feet .

Mountain ranges like the Grampian Mountains and the namesake Cairngorms provide some serious icy - style meridian , with peaks so high that they ’re perpetually snowfall - capped , if not completely envelop in fresh powder . in all , there are 55 fate munros in Cairngorms , many of which are so far from sea tier that their summits depend more like the Alps than the UK .

For something a little less daunting and diametrical , the Drumochter Hills are a pastoral , tamer area of the parking lot on the southwest side , with grassy hills and less masochistic hike track .

horizontal panoramic view of cairngorm mountains in autumn

Small country, big lakes|Ivan/Moment/Getty Images

Hike and splash around

In the watery wilderness of Loch Lomond , aquatic activities are the wiz attraction . Kayak , canoe , and JetSki renting are all uncommitted in the park , include guided turn fromLoch Lomond Kayak . For something more leisurely , numerous boat duty tour and cruise embark from various points around Loch Lomond , include companionship likeCruise Loch Lomond Ltd.andLoch Lomond Leisure . Set sail on the famedSteamship Sir Walter Scott , a historic vas providing term of enlistment on the small Loch Katrine in the park .

On landed estate , The Trossachs render plenty of scenic observation tower and picture - everlasting picnic opportunities . You ’ll find hiking trails aplenty , from Ben Lomond ( the southernmost munro in Scotland ) to an easy jaunt up Conic Hill .

In all its arctic glory , Cairngorms is sleep together more for its strenuous sight activities and skiing . slew biking and hiking trails abound in the park , including the soft - yet - breathtaking ravine hike to The Falls of Bruar . There ’s also the comparatively arduous Black Wood route to the summit of Black Craig and Dun da - Lamh Fort , traversing pine - filled forests and waterfalls along the agency .

loch lomond lake at sunset

Loch Lomond is Scotland’s largest lake.|SergeBertasiusPhotography/Shutterstock

In the winter month , Cairngorms is fundamentally theAspen of Scotland . Get your fix atCairngorm Mountainski sphere . This sixth tall peak in Scotland is home to 11 surface lift , 18 naut mi of powdered runs , and enough freestyle terrain for the most fervid adrenaline junkie .

Spy a wallaby or reindeer

obstinate to democratic assumption , and the fact that the Scottish Highlands 100 % attend like a landscape painting where dragon would exist , there ’s more to wildlife here than mythical monsters . The realism , though , is no less veneration - inspiring .

Both parks are known for their bird of prey ( as in the shuttle of fair game , not IRLJurassic Park ) , particularly their migratory Pandion haliaetus populations and their top - of - the - food - Ernst Boris Chain golden eagle . Ospreys repay to both parks to breed in the outpouring , after wintering like true snowflake in emphatically balmier country in West Africa . In Loch Lomond , the Pisces - eating seabirds can be seen skimming the lochs and nesting on islands . In cairngorm , the birds are so iconic that they ’re sport on the common ’s oddly badass logotype , with a fish in its talon . After an opening move call Operation Osprey begin in 1954 to protect nests along Loch Garten , the population has spring back immensely . now , Cairngorms ’ well known resident physician ospreys are EJ and Lassie , which vocalise like the makings of a Disney movie .

The top predator in Scotland , golden eagle are also on the ascension in Cairngorms National Park . Not to dread , though , because despite the formidable fact that their wingspan can reach nearly eight feet and their talons look like Freddy Krueger ’s hands , they mostly predate on rabbit and grouse .

forest filled with wildflowers in cairngorm national park

More mountain, less loch|Jack Skinner/Shutterstock

fancifully , both Park have their own unique animal ruck you might not expect to find in Scotland . In Loch Lomond , the most bewildering breed is agroup of wallabies that live on the tiny island of Inchconnachan . plainly , Australian marsupials are not randomly aboriginal to this one particular 103 - Accho island in Scotland — rather , they were brought to this uninhabited island in the ‘ 40s by Lady Colquhoun , who had a fondness for exotic animals . Miraculously , the adorable critters have adapted and thrive , and in the winter months , they ’ve been known to bounce across the frozen loch to scrounge in the James Jerome Hill .

In Cairngorms , the park ’s towering elevation and tundra - alike terrain lends itself to North Pole vibe . It ’s home to the UK ’s only free - ranging reindeer herd , where around 150 of the pronged animals rove the snow - swept wilderness . While the animals can be seen on guided tour of duty , the paddocks at the Cairngorm Reindeer Centre offer a closer look at the majestic creature — rather than keep reindeer at the center retentive - term , the facility safely supervise facts of life and disease transmission by turn out creature in and out to keep them accustomed to the wilds .

Camp, glamp, or sleep in a cute inn

Loch Lomond and Cairngorms each bid plentiful lodging choice , from roughing it in the wilderness to vamping it up in lavishness confines .

Camping in Loch Lomondruns from RV and campervan land site to collapsible shelter sites , both in designated campgrounds around the loch , and in primitive wild preferences . For something a little more chic , The Inn on Loch Lomondis a historic ( since 1884 ) lodging right on the shore of the loch , filled with cozy rooms , cryptic tub , and huge window overlooking the water . The on - site eating house is just as snug , exuding Scottish tradition with stunner like haddock and buffalo chip , gravy - slather steak Proto-Indo European , traditional haggis with neeps and tatties ( aka turnips and potatoes ) , and gummy toffy pudding glaze in warm caramel .

Camping and glamping both abound in Cairngorms , with sight of all - instinctive seclusion to be establish with both . Like Loch Lomond , you ’ll find bothdesignated camping site and agrestic “ wild tenting ” here , along with wigwams , huts , tepee , and cabin forglamping . Even higher death , Rowan Tree Country Hotelis an internal family - run abode on Loch Alvie , where each of the 12 rooms are clearly designed and where dinner party comes with Speyside lamb , duck’s egg terrine , and pan - fried halibut with buttered spinach plant in clam and mussel stock .

panoramic view of the village of luss from loch lomond

Your go-to for aquatic activities and adventure|Emad Aljumah/Moment/Getty Images

Ready to hit the park? Check out our tool kit to get started:

hiker standing on stone in cairngorms national park at sunset

Behold its arctic glory.|Westend61/Getty Images

stag walking amongst pine trees in the cairngorms

Where there may or may not be dragons…|Wayne Marinovich/Shutterstock

wallaby in a forest

Keep a look out for wallaby herds.|Flickr/aechase

camping tent overlooking loch lomond at sunrise

Choose between luxury and wilderness.|Paul McGee/Moment/Getty Images