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 " !