Loch Lomond Helicopter Scenic Tour, Loch Lomond
- An extended 30 minute trip in a luxury helicopter
- Fly through Scotland's first national park from valley floor to mountain top
- See Ben Lomond, the Highland Fault Line and villages on the loch
I am sure that anyone who has visited Loch Lomond knows, this part of Scotland is simply spectacular. Having climbed a number of the Munros in Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park and being wowed by the amazing views from the top, I jumped at the chance to fly over the area on a scenic helicopter tour!
The Loch Lomond scenic tour flies on selected weekends from April – October, the months in which we hopefully get the best of the Scottish weather and when there is ample daylight to fly! My tour was scheduled for a cool and breezy autumn Sunday afternoon and when I arrived at the departure location (conveniently located just a mile north of Glasgow airport) I was met by the friendly ground crew. Myself and my fellow passengers were rounded up and given a safety briefing before departing on our 30-minute flight.
Briefing completed, we boarded the helicopter, a Robinson R66 which seats 4 passengers plus pilot (3 in the back and 1 up front in the co-pilot seat – a similar layout to a car). I was in the middle seat so had a panoramic view out of the front window and was able to see the views from the side windows too. Within no time, we were lifting and picking up speed, climbing quickly to about 2000 feet.
Straight away we could clearly see the Erskine Bridge and the Clyde Estuary as we flew towards Dumbarton Rock; an even more incredible sight from the air. From Dumbarton we headed north towards Balloch, the loch already glistening in the rapidly approaching distance. We flew in an anti-clockwise direction towards Balmaha, travelling directly over Conic Hill where we could see walkers waving to us from the summit.
From here you can see the Highland Boundary Fault line as it stretches across Loch Lomond in a series of islands, even more distinct from above.
The helicopter then tracked towards Ben Lomond whose summit, at over 3000 feet, was shrouded in cloud. Around these taller mountains we were flying just below the cloud line with phenomenal panoramas across the loch. We were travelling at about 130mph so any patches of rain we encountered were quickly dispersed from the windscreen!
Other sights we marvelled at as we travelled around the parameter of Loch Lomond included seeing across to Rest and Be Thankful, neighbouring Loch Long, Inchmurrin Island and as we completed our lap of the loch, and the Carrick Golf Course. From here, we headed back south to the helipad.
There really is so much to see on this scenic tour – you travel a considerable distance in a helicopter in 30 minutes and for those who love the majesty of Scotland’s spectacular landscapes, this is a unique and special way to experience it. I can not recommend this tour enough!
