Balloch Castle Country Park
ENTRY
Free
SETTING
Outdoors
WHERE
Alexandria
What it’s like
Free loch-side park with two play areas, a fairy trail, a walled garden and orienteering courses to try.
There's no gate to pay at here, which counts for a lot when you've got more than one child wanting a go on everything. The shore play park and the one by the car park give you the usual climbing and sliding, then the grounds do the rest of the work: Fairy Glen, the Castle Garden, the Secret Garden and the wider Pleasure Grounds and Parklands all link up, so a couple of hours of wandering turns into half a day without anyone noticing.
The Fairy Trail with its painted tree stumps is the bit smaller kids will talk about after. Older ones can be pointed at the orienteering courses instead, short, medium or long depending on how much walking you fancy, or set loose on the Tree Trail round the castle. None of it needs booking or timing, you just turn up and pick a direction.
Food is the one gap. There's a small vendor down at the slipway but it isn't open every day, so if you're planning on lunch out rather than a picnic, it's worth having a backup in mind before you set off. Picnic benches are dotted along the shore near the boathouse and slipway if you bring your own, and the walled garden itself is locked overnight and usually only open 10am to 3pm, so don't leave that bit until last thing in the afternoon.
Parking is the other catch. There are two car parks, the main one at Moss O' Balloch in town and a smaller one up by the castle with disabled bays, but the site itself admits it gets tight in summer and the castle car park isn't built for coaches or big vehicles. Turning up early or using the bus from Balloch saves the hunt for a space.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- Good for most ages, toddlers to trail-walking older kids
- Parking
- Two carparks: main one at Moss O' Balloch in town centre, smaller one by Castle with disabled bays
- Food
- Small food vendor at slipway (not open daily)
- Picnics
- Picnic benches and seating areas throughout park, particularly along the shore at boathouse and slipway
- No camping, overnight parking or alcohol allowed anywhere in the park
- The castle car park can't take coaches or large vehicles
- Bring cash or a picnic in case the slipway vendor is shut
- The walled garden shuts by mid-afternoon even though the park stays open
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
Nothing, entry to the park is free.
Do we need to book?
There's no booking mentioned, you just turn up. Guided walks or educational visits go through the council ranger service instead.
Where do we park?
Moss O' Balloch in Balloch town centre is the main car park, with a smaller one up by the castle that has disabled bays. It gets tight in summer, so public transport is worth considering.
Is there anywhere to eat?
There's a small food vendor at the slipway but it's not open every day. Otherwise it's picnic benches along the shore or a trip into Balloch town.
Can we visit in the evening?
The park itself is open 24 hours, but the walled garden is locked overnight and usually only open 10am to 3pm.
Are the toilets open all the time?
The castle toilets run 9am to 2.30pm in winter and longer hours in summer. There are also toilets at the bus station in Balloch town.
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