WATER FUN AT LOCHEND CHALETS
Stretching out in front of our chalets, cabins and lodges, the lake dominates life at Lochend. Here are some of the ways you can enjoy water activities on the lake while you are here:
Getting out on the lake on holiday at Lochend
PADDLING
The lake shelves incredibly gently away from the shore, so it’s brilliant for paddling. Youngsters at Lochend spend hours splashing about with fishing nets in the shallows in front of the waterfront cabins and lodges. There is a lovely sandy patch just in front of the chalets, but even so, water shoes can offer handy protection against stones.
SWIMMING
Wonderfully clean, the lake is a wild-swimmer’s holiday dream. For most, the 150m or so out to the crannog (the remains of a circular house built on raised stone bases as a refuge from invaders) is far enough, but for really keen swimmers, Inchmahome – a magical five-acre island carpeted in bluebells towards the end of May and site of haunting 13th century priory ruins – is almost exactly one mile away.
ROWING
We have a rowing boat which can be hired by the hour (April to October; £10/hour), and guests can pootle about the various islands and beaches dotted around the lake. There is also a heronry you can row to just across the bay, and in summer ospreys will sometimes dive right near the boat for trout. It's the perfect water activity while on holiday at Lochend.
FISHING
The Lake of Menteith is one of Scotland’s premier trout fishing waters. We have two boats (and tackle) at Lochend that can be booked in advance through Chris (07712 596604), or you can rent boats and tackle just a mile up the road at the Lake of Menteith Fisheries.
SAILING, KAYAKING, CANOEING, STAND UP PADDLEBOARDING.
Guests are welcome to bring their own kayak, SUP, etc by arrangement, but please call to discuss disinfecting before launching so we can ensure the lake stays healthy.
SKATING
Yes, skating! From time to time, the lake completely freezes over, thick enough for the brave to skate on. The most recent was a few days in February 2021. And in 2009/2010 it froze for several weeks, and locals and guests had amazing fun walking and skating on the lake - even walking all the way over to Inchmahome Priory then back to their chalet via a pint at the Lake of Menteith Hotel.
SKIMMING STONES
Always a family favourite: mind the swimmers and ducks though! Then if you get really good (and you’re here in September) the World Stone Skimming championships is two-and-a-half hours away on the beautiful Inner Hebridean island of Easdale.
MORE ACTIVITIES AT LOCHEND CHALETS
HOLIDAYS AT LOCHEND CHALETS - MORE THINGS TO DO
