Alexandria

The morning mist rolls off Ben Lomond's slopes like clockwork here. Alexandria sits on the southern shores of Loch Lomond, where Scotland's most famous loch narrows before spilling into the River Leven. It's properly Scottish despite the postcode confusion - this is Argyll and Bute through and through.

Walkers come for Ben Lomond, and rightly so. The mountain dominates the eastern skyline, its 974-metre summit offering cracking views across the loch system. Serious hikers also eye up the cluster of peaks around Tom Fithich and Ptarmigan, though these are a different proposition entirely from the tourist trail up Ben Lomond.

Down at water level, things move at a gentler pace. Firkin Point Picnic Area makes a lovely spot for watching the boats, while the archaeological remains at Shemore tell older stories. The dun site and nearby crannog remind you that people have been drawn to these shores for millennia.

Getting here couldn't be easier - the A82 runs right past, and Glasgow is barely an hour south. That accessibility is both blessing and curse; weekends can get busy, especially when the weather's decent.

Basing yourself at one of the holiday parks scattered around the loch makes perfect sense. You're minutes from the water, with Loch Lomond Holiday Park and Stoneymollan among the options. The highly-rated Loch Lomond Retreat offers something more upmarket if you fancy it. From any of these, you can explore the quieter eastern shores, tackle the hills, or simply enjoy having one of Scotland's great landscapes as your back garden for a few days.