The Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park which is Scotland's first National Park, became fully operational on 19 July 2002 and was officially opened by Princess Anne on 24 July 2002. The National Park takes in around 720 square miles of some of the finest scenery in Scotland. Contrasting from rolling lowland landscapes in the south to high mountains in the north, the National Park has many lochs and rivers, forests and woodlands. Around 50% of Scotland's population lives within an hour's drive and it is a favourite place to escape to.
The National Park feels worlds apart from the bustle of city life, yet it's less than an hour from Glasgow and not much more from Edinburgh. Roads and railways provide easy access to many places within the park, while cycle tracks and footpaths lead you to its hidden treasures.
Two worlds collide here - the gentle Lowlands end abruptly at the Highland boundary fault and give way to the mountainous landscape with narrow glens and slender lochs which has fired the imagination of writers and poets for centuries.
The wildlife of the area is as varied as its landscape. Arctic plants cling to the fragile moorland of the mountain tops while lichen and moss adorn the branches of the west coast woodlands in the warmth of the Gulf Stream. Steeped in history the National Park straddles the kingdoms of three ancient Celtic peoples - Scots, Picts and Britons and they brought with them their rich tradition of folklore, myth and legend.
The Park Ranger Service provides advice and information relating to the countryside, recreation and wildlife.
Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park is one of two national parks in Scotland. The other national park is Cairngorms National Park in the Highlands which is Britain's largest National Park.
Visit the National Park website: lochlomond-trossachs.org
