Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Forever Tainted

 I read this very transparent and informative article by Cameron McNeish on the Walk Highlands Magazine Site Today and it pretty much sums up the shameful state of affairs regarding camping access in Scotland's first National Park.

People really need to take notice and get motivated with regard to getting this decision reversed as it is merely the tip of the iceberg of the way things are going under the current Government in Scotland and as Mr. McNeish says :-

"If an SNP government can take us in this direction with camping byelaws, what next? Byelaws to control mountain biking, walking, canoeing and swimming, for example?"

The unfortunate thing is it's already happened. Under this Legislation bent Government, despite existing Police powers to combat anti social behaviour by a minority, Scotland must be one of the only countries in the world where it is now a CRIMINAL OFFENCE to have a beer or glass of wine on a public beach with your picnic. And, should you be unfortunate enough to be merely reported or even have it alleged you are guilty of such a HEINOUS CRIME then you can be detained, in a Police Cell, under SECTION 14 of the CRIMINAL PROCEDURE (SCOTLAND) ACT 1995, for a period of up to 12 hours, WITHOUT CHARGE, until the Police ascertain whether you are guilty or in fact innocent of ANY CRIME  in the first place.

I suppose one upside of being caught camping "illegally"  in or on the borders of The Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park EXCLUSION ZONE on a cold, wet, windy Scottish night is that you could find yourself banged up in a nice warm Police cell for the evening while the Cop's carry out their investigations as to whether you were actually within the exclusion zone in the first place.

Here's a link to an article I wrote about the Original East Loch Lomond Camping Ban

And here is a Link to Cameron's article in Walk Highlands

May The Fire Be Always Lit !

By Yon Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond 12 -14th June 2015

Had a couple of days on Lomondside camping and kayaking at the weekend with some good friends and where I met some new one's.

Responsible camping in the National Park by responsible people where no trace was left behind.

The way it should be ....

All of the wood used for the camp fire was deadfall with not a single piece of wood cut from a living tree and all trace of the camp fire was removed before leaving. Would've liked to have posted an as it was before we arrived picture before leaving but the charge on the camera ran out. Unfortunately, there are just some things you can't plan for ;-)

            

MAY THE FIRE BE ALWAYS LIT !

Wild Camping Bans

Read it and weep, will be coming to your neck of the woods soon if you don't let your voice be heard now :-(

Camping ban likely throughout Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park

This is like a virus that started on East Loch Lomond and will spread throughout Scotland if nothing is done to stop it. The police have existing powers and legislation at their disposal to deal with anti social offenders but don't or won't do anything. As a result, it has given our illustrious leaders the opportunity to re-write legislation and allowed local councils to introduce bye-laws which underhandedly circumvent the freedom to roam and anti trespass laws. If this is freedom it is the most warped type of freedom I have ever seen. Once again the many are going to be punished as a result of the mindless actions of the few.

Note what it says on his guitar, I never really knew what a fascist was till a few years ago.....

You'll take the high road

Went for a paddle and a bit of fishing on Loch Lomond this weekend. Nae fish but fantastic weather and also met up with a great bunch of people. Bivvied up at the loch side but my feet were absolutely freezing in the morning, need a pair of furry sleeping bag socks socks meethinks.

 Setting out at Rowardennan

 The Big Loch

 Bivvied Up

Campfire Craik

 A cold night

Cold feet !

Loch Lomond - The East Side Rule

Millarochy Bay Deserted

Seeing as it was father's day today, we decided to take a drive up to Loch Lomond as the weather was fair.

Got a bit of a late start but we headed through Milton of Campsie, Blanefield and Drymen with our intended destination Millarochy Bay on the East side of Loch Lomond after buying a baguette, some cheese and some pâté for an al fresco picnic lunch.

I had heard about the new restrictions on the East Side of Lomond and have blogged about them here before but was shocked to see this sign just as we left Drymen.

Now, had I fancied a wee glass of wine or a beer with my bread and cheese on the beach at Millarochy bay, it would appear that the Loch Lomond Park Authorities would seem to have put the Kibosh on it !

I don't know about you, but I can't think of any public beach in the world, except the one's on the East Side of Loch Lomond that you can't take a bottle of wine or beer to, to enjoy with your picnic lunch. Just as well our car was an " alcohol free zone ".

So, we carried on to Millarochy bay and I must say, the quiet roads were a clear indication of what was to greet us on our arrival. Millarochy Bay was all but deserted at 2 p.m. on a summer Sunday afternoon.

Just to put you in the picture, there were a few people here but the bay used to be really busy, with folk picnicking, swimming, windsurfing, kayaking, using their jet ski's and ski boats. So much so that there were days when the Police had to stop people on their way through Drymen with a " one out, one in policy ".

Anyway, as there was hardly anyone here, finding a parking spot and somewhere to sit was no problem.

" Great " you might say, but a place without the right atmosphere and all but devoid of people is almost what I would call an atmosphere vacuum.

So, we had our picnic lunch , in the relative peace and quiet of this formerly bustling beauty spot after which I decided to have a wee chinwag with 3 of the " Park Ranger's " and chew the fat so to speak as to what had happened here. Only to find that even to take your car with a kayak or sailboard onto the beach, past the security bollard's you have to pay a £15 launching fee these days.

The Ranger's reckonned the decline in footfall to Millarochy Bay and the East Side of Loch Lomond these days is down to fuel prices but with only 3 cars on the beach and about ten in the car park 2 of which were Ranger's vans, I have my own views on the matter. Considering the fact that the sanitory signage, coupled with directions on what you can't do on the East Side of Loch Lomond these days, seems to be more prominent than the trees.

I remember the days when Millarochy Bay was unregulated with folk having a great time and going home after a great day on the beach. Then, they built the " Ranger Station ". Then, they said no cars on the beach unless you are launching a boat or other type of watercraft such as a kayak or windsurfer. Now, you can't even get onto the beach without paying £15, coupled with the fact that you can't have a beer or a glass of wine with your picnic - Go figure !

Just as an aside

While up at Millarochy bay today, I had to laugh when I read about Councillor Billy McAllister ( deputy leader of the SNP in Glasgow City Council ), in todays Sunday Mail, complaining about spending 12 hours in Police custody. No doubt under " Section 14 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 " which gives Police detention powers outside of their " Powers to Arrest ". Basically, if you are  merely Suspected of the slightest possible offence, you can and it seems to be policy that you will be given up to 12 hrs jail time even if you have done nothing wrong.

I laughed, not so much at the misfortune and no doubt unpleasant time, in the hands of the Police, of Councillor McAllister. But, more at the irony of the fact that he and his compatriot politicians meddling with our Civil Liberties beyond existing legislation, such as what is going on in Scotland at the moment, probably allowed the Police to handcuff him and put him " In the Clink " in the first place.

Epilogue

As sure as the "  Sun Shines Bright on Loch Lomond ". This should be a warning to all councillors and politicians.


Mess, or allow Local Authorities to Mess with our Civil Liberties and they WILL come back to bite you on the Arse.

Talk about " chickens coming home to roost " !

Highland Ferox

Here's a photo of a nice Highland Ferox I caught on a Rapala Deep Tail Dancer from a couple of years ago caught at you know where ?

The blood on the fish came from unhooking and it went back to the depths relatively unharmed.

Tight Lines.

Paddle magick on Loch Lomond

Well, after a bit of a hectic week, I've finally had a chance to write up this Kayak fishing trip on Loch Lomond Last Monday 25th February I'd arranged with a few mates.

Kayak fishing on Loch Lomond with Ben Lomond in the background.



Monday 25th February - Kayak fishing on Loch Lomond
Luckily when I awoke last Monday the weather looked promising and by the time I hooked up with Nic in Glasgow around 7.45 a.m. a burn off was on the go and the sun was shining through the early morning haze. After just over half an hour in the car we arrived at Lomond for around 8.30 where we met up with Barry, Declan and David who'd travelled from various locations from around central Scotland for a spot of fishing in what looked like what was going to be almost too perfect conditions.

I knew it was going to be cold so as well as the chesties, I actually put my floatation suit trousers on underneath them and after we got the kayaks in the water we set off.

There wasn't really any plan for the day other than to visit a few bays on the loch that Nic had been succesful in before and we paddled up from the launching spot into a likely looking weedy bay. I could tell already that maybe the floataion suit was going to be a bit restrictive on my movements for the day but at least I knew I'd be warm as we made our first casts of the day into the icy chill of a crystal clear February day on loch Lomond. I'd brought my own gear but as this was my first day kayaking I was more than happy to take direction from Nic who is a bit of an expert when it comes to kayak fishing and he plunked a massive rubber shad which a jig head lead head on the end of my line which was probably about the size of a herring and must have weighed an easy 3 oz's.

Nic gives a thumbs up

I need a shorter rod

Anyway, we had a good few casts in the bay before making for a new location out towards some of the islands that sit a few hundred metres off shore where we pitched our lines again before beaching for a bit of a stretch and a spot of breakfast. One thing which is for sure, a wee stretch every hour and a half or so when paddling on these sit on tops is more than welcome as far as I'm concerned.

David in his Yak.

So, after a few pieces we re-launched and headed to some more bays where Barry saved our blank by bringing a wee out of season Brownie to his boat that he caught on a wee green perchy looking rapala type  replica.

5mph past this tree



Barry goes trout hunting



An hour or so more and it was time for a longer paddle down towards golf course bay and a spot of lunch.

By this time I was pretty bushed and made the most of my time ashore before we headed back out for a final hour or so casting before me and David made an early, leisurely padlle home to the launch site, leaving the other three guys to meet up with us in their own time.

It was a great day out in fantastic company and I look forward to doing this again some time soon.

I think future paddle outings for me however will be made using more suitable clothing such as kayak dry trousers and a pair of neoprene booties because chesties, floatation trousers and studded wading boots are more than a bit cumbersome for a hard days fishing and paddling the likes of which we undertook.

Loch Lomond - Camping Ban !

It came to my attention the other day that the National Park Authority that run Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park are seeking to ban wild and free camping among other things on the following Islands on Loch Lomond :- Inchtavannach, inchconnachan, inchcruin and inchmoan, with the ban possibly extending to parts of the East bank of Loch Lomond as well .

As far as I understand Park Authorites are seeking to restrict leisure activities in these areas as a result of Anti Social Behaviour by a minority of park users but are seeking to do so by placing restrictions on everyone rather than using ample and existing laws to deal with individual offenders . As usual , the British way of banning the majority to deal with the minority comes to the fore when existing legislation is adequate to deal with the problem.

Apparently they are seeking to pass these restrictions by way of changes to the Park bye laws and the current bye laws are being reviewed by way of a Bye law Review which is subject to a public consultation period of 3 months having started on 26th March and ending on the 18th of June.

Full details of the review and reports concerning same can be found on THIS SITE .

I feel the site in itself isn't too clear on what the consultation is about and the consultation report is extremely long but you will find an online response form at the above link and you can read the consultation report HERE . This is a very extensive report but the gist of it without reading the whole document is that the park Authorities are seeking to restrict recreational activities including boating, fishing, walking, pic-nicking, barbecues and  camping on the islands at the east End of Loch Lomond with a possible extension to cover the east bank of the Loch at the Endrick bank as far as I'm aware.

It's really important that if you want existing access to Loch Lomond and it's islands to remain as it is that you submit your views to the park authorities before 18th June 2012 and speak for the people who visit Loch Lomond responsibly every year.

Here's an article from the BBC News which probably exlpains things in a more concise way than the Loch Lomond Park Authorities site does