Date spot in Loch Lomond and the Vale
Sugar Boat
Book a table at the relaxed bistro on Colquhoun Square for seasonal plates of local produce, or drop in during the day for coffee and a scone.
Colquhoun Square, Helensburgh
Address: 30 Colquhoun Square, Helensburgh G84 8AQ- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- Mid-price
- Foodie
- Cosy
Why it's a good date: Easy-going but properly good, so it suits a lazy lunch or a dinner that feels like an occasion. It's named after the sugar ship that ran aground in the Clyde in the 1970s, which gives you something to look out for on the way.
More from our Loch Lomond and the Vale guide
Helensburgh seafront
West Clyde Street and the Esplanade, Helensburgh
Address: West Clyde Street, Helensburgh G84 8SQ- Outdoors
- Free
- Dog friendly
- Romantic
Walk the long promenade along the Clyde from the pier, looking over the water to Greenock and the hills of the Rosneath peninsula.
Why it's a good date: Flat, free and right by the station, and the sunsets over the firth are something else. Pick up a coffee in town and make it the walk after lunch at the Sugar Boat.
Cameron House
On the A82, just north of Balloch
Address: Cameron House, Loch Lomond, Alexandria G83 8QZ- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- A treat
- Romantic
- Big night
Dress up for dinner at the Cameron Grill or afternoon tea at the big baronial hotel on the shore, with the loch through the windows.
Why it's a good date: The special-occasion choice, for an anniversary or a big question. Book well ahead, and in summer arrive while it's still light so you can walk down to the water first.
Balloch Castle Country Park
Balloch Road, Balloch, five minutes from the station
Address: Balloch Castle Country Park, Balloch Road, Balloch G83 8SY- Outdoors
- Free
- Dog friendly
Wander the old estate above the foot of the loch, through the walled garden and the wooded Fairy Glen to the lawn in front of the castle.
Why it's a good date: The lawn by the castle has one of the loveliest views down the loch, and it costs nothing. The house itself isn't open, but the grounds are there all year, so bring a flask and find a bench.
Photo: Lairich Rig, CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped and resized)
