Following a Random Brown Tourist Sign in Scotland to visit the 'Maid of the Loch'

While at Loch Lomond in Scotland on Sunday 20th November I made a point of following a random Brown Tourist Sign (as recommended by Amanda of the excellent Follow The Brown Signs website) to the intriguingly named 'Maid of the Loch'.

Photo: I noticed that Brown Tourist Signs in Scotland feature a Thistle in a blue oval, rather than being plain brown with white text and/or images 

I found out by having a look in the visitors leaflet for Loch Lomond that the Maid of the Loch was the last Paddle Steamer to be built in Great Britain.

Launched on the Loch in 1953 the ship is officially now an historic ship and was placed on the "Designated Vessels List" (which recognises ships of "substantial heritage merit with regional and local significance") in 2004.

Unfortunately on my visit the ship was not open for viewing as it is closed during the winter and will reopen at Easter 2012.

Loch Lomond also has a shopping centre, Sea Life centre, a couple of Minigolf courses (which I didn't get to play on this visit), restaurants, play area and on my visit there was a farmer's market too.

Links:
- Maid of the Loch Official Website
- Follow The Brown Signs Website
- The Brown Sign Way - A Website and Blog Dedicated to Tourist Attraction Signs

Crazy Golf & Mini Golf courses at Loch Lomond

On my trip to Scotland last weekend we made a visit to Loch Lomond in Balloch, Dunbartonshire. While we were having a wander around my Minigolf-alert alarm went off again as I spotted a sign for a Crazy Golf course!

I was very pleased with my find, as I hadn't known a course was there before we visited.

Unfortunately when I enquired about playing the course at the newsagents that hires out the Putters and Balls I was told that the course had been taken up for the time being to make way for a Twister fairground ride!?

So, in a way it was good to have found another new Minigolf course, but it was unfortunate (but not entirely surprising considering my track record) of finding it to be unplayable on the day I visit!

Looking at the leaflet for the Loch Lomond Shopping Centre and the one for the nearby 'Muddy Good Fun' activity centre I saw that there is another Minigolf course there. I spotted this once I got home to Luton. Muddy Good Fun also has a Segway Safari (new for 2011). On a revisit to a Crazy Golf course in Great Yarmouth I once found the Safari Golf had been turned into a Segway Grand Prix!

I've added the two courses to our 'to visit' list for 2012.

While at the Loch Lomond shopping centre I had a look around the Antiques Centre and noticed on two old postcards that there was a Municipal Putting Course on the seafront at nearby Helensburgh in what looked to be the 1930's. After a web search I found that there is another Putting Green at Hermitage Park in Helensburgh.

Blog link:
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Like the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour on Facebook, check out our YouTube channel and follow me and Emily on Twitter.