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Llano Estacado

The Llano Estacado is a region in the Panhandle of Texas. Notoriously flat and largely rural, the Llano Estacado (also colloquially known as the South Plains) is famous for its wide-open prairielands and unmolested expanses that harken back to the days when Texas was largely unexplored frontier. Anchored in its center by the modern metropolis of Lubbock, the Llano Estacado offers a taste of what outsiders might perceive Texas as: rough, tough and unrefined, but a few cosmopolitan surprises lurk just beneath its dusty, forlorn surface.

Cities

 * - Largest city in the Texas Panhandle, home of Texas Tech University and birthplace of rock n' roll pioneer Buddy Holly.
 * - A utopian project community planned by cereal magnate C.W. Post.
 * - A utopian project community planned by cereal magnate C.W. Post.
 * - A utopian project community planned by cereal magnate C.W. Post.
 * - A utopian project community planned by cereal magnate C.W. Post.
 * - A utopian project community planned by cereal magnate C.W. Post.

Other destinations

 * lies where the Llano Estacado drops spectacularly into the North Central Plains.

Understand
Llano Estacado, meaning staked plain in Spanish, is a region bound on the west by the New Mexico state line, to the south by the Edwards Plateau, to the north by the Texas High Plains and to the east by the Caprock Escarpment, which separates it from the North Central Plains region. Aside from the dynamic hub of Lubbock, it is largely a cotton-producing region. The area is extraordinarily flat; travelers often experience miles of monotonous landscape flat as a tabletop and unbroken save for the occasional pumpjack or windmill. There is an abundance of cotton farms and the occasional cattle ranch, otherwise the South Plains remains largely unmolested and undeveloped grasslands. The people of the South Plains are generally laid-back, slow talking, slow to anger and quick to lend a hand. They are, however, also quick to defend their sense of identity and self-reliance. It is not advised to make light of what an outsider might perceive as "quirkiness".

Talk
Outside of Lubbock, the South Plains is one of the places in Texas where the "Texas Accent" is still quite prevalent. An outsider or foreign traveler may have to ask a local to repeat themselves a time or two to understand what they are saying due to local dialect and slang, but generally they do not mind. It is not suggested, however, to kid them about it; to the people of the South Plains (like all Texans) the way they speak is a strong element of their sense of self and is a large part of who they are, and they are proud of it.

Spanish is also spoken by a sizeable minority on the Llano Estacado, and while it would be unusual for an outsider to encounter a situation where nobody around speaks English, at least a rudimentary grasp of Spanish is certainly helpful.

By plane
The largest airport serving the Llano Estacado is the Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport, a medium-sized airport north of downtown that has daily flights to and from most of the major hub airports throughout the United States. Air travel to Lubbock will most likely require a connecting flight in Dallas or Houston, as there are few direct flights, although Southwest has non-stop flights to Las Vegas, Albuquerque, El Paso, and Austin, as well as Dallas.

By car
The Llano Estacado is easily accessed by auto via Interstate 20 on the south and Interstate 40 on the north. U.S. highways 62, 70, 82, 84, 87, 380 and 385 also provide easy access to the area. There are several secondary state routes that serve the area as well.

By bus
Greyhound operates major hubs in Lubbock and Plainview, and satellite stations in most South Plains towns with significant populations. Keep in mind that bus travel, while relatively inexpensive, is also quite time consuming and arduous.

Get around
Commuter rail is nonexistent, therefore an automobile is essentially the only way to get around. Though the Llano Estacado is predominantly rural, it benefits from Texas' exemplary state highway system and remains easily navigable. It is recommended, however, that you keep a close watch on the gas gauge as you travel the area because population centers are generally spread out over a wide distance, and not all of these towns possess gas stations. The ones which do tend to close at dusk or shortly thereafter; when planning an evening drive make sure you fill up before embarking.

See

 * Lubbock - The economic center of the Llano Estacado offers museums, historical sites, first class wineries and a hearty nightlife.
 * Plainview - The downtown area is virtually a time capsule, so much that several period movies have been filmed there.
 * Post - This community, borne of the mind of cereal magnate and visionary C.W Post, failed as an experiment but survives as a center for local ranchers.

Eat
Small, family owned diners and lunch counters can be found in many of the small towns that dot area, and while these hidden treasures may not be glitzy or glamorous, one can count on a filling home cooked meal for a small amount of money. Few of them advertise, so a keen eye is the best way to find them.

Also, if one is looking for traditional Mexican food, avoid the large chain restaurants and find a small one. These restaurants are usually owned and operated by a single family, with much of the food and trimmings prepared from scratch.

Drink

 * Local wine, including Llano Estacado, Caprock and Pheasant Ridge, all produced locally in Lubbock.

Stay safe
Since the South Plains is largely rural, crime is virtually nonexistent outside of the major cities. The weather, however, does require some vigilance, as the region often experiences the widest weather extremes in the state. South Plains winters can be surprisingly brisk, and the areas at the far north end can receive significant snowfall during the winter months. Conversely, summertime high temperatures routinely top 100°F (38°C). Pack and dress accordingly. Also, during the spring months, dust storms are quite frequent and while these are not necessarily "dangerous", they can be frightening to those who have never experienced one.

The Llano Estacado is in Tornado Alley. Check the Tornado safety page for information.

title: Llano Estacado


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Llanrwst

Llanrwst is an ancient market town of 3,300 people (2011) in the county borough of Conwy in North Wales.

It is less than a mile from the edge of Snowdonia Park. its main industry is tourism. Notable buildings include almshouses, two 17th-century chapels, and the Parish Church of St Grwst, which holds a stone coffin of Llywelyn the Great.

Understand
In 1276, Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, Prince of Wales, seized the town, declaring the Free Borough of Llanrwst independent from the diocese of Llanelwy. Although this was contested by the bishop, the borough retained its status through the lifetime of Llywelyn. On and off since the 13th century the town has claimed independence. Some claim that in 1947, Llanrwst town council made an unsuccessful submission to the United Nations for a seat on the security council, stating that Llanrwst was an independent state within Wales. This story is likely to be apocryphal.

By car
Llanrwst is on the A470 road north of Betws y Coed.

By train
It is served by two station on the Conwy Valley Line from Llandudno via Llandudno Junction to Blaenau Ffestiniog.

Buy
There is a wide range of small independent shops in the town.

Go next

 * Betws y Coed
 * Conwy

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Llanrwst


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Llanwrtyd Wells

Llanwrtyd Wells (Welsh: Llanwrtyd) is a small town in Brecknockshire.

Understand
With a population of less than 800, LW claims to be the smallest community in the UK with the status of a town. It was awarded the Calor Village of the Year title for 2009 on account of its strong community spirit.

Get in
On the Heart of Wales railway line and A483 between Llandovery and Builth Wells.

Go next

 * Aberystwyth - University town within a one hour drive.
 * Swansea - Wales' maritime city is within a two hour drive - beaches and excellent leisure facilities and cultural events.
 * Llandrindod Wells - a quaint spa town near LW.

title: Llanwrtyd Wells


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Llastres

Llastres is a village of 1200 people in the Asturias region of Spain. It is known as the beautiful village of Asturias. Visitors who dare to get lost in the 'Calle Real' (Royal Street) and the innumerable stairs of the village can captivating squares with fountains and chapels.

Understand
The nucleus of the original settlement of Lastres was in what today is known by the name of the "Neighborhood of the Whale-boats". The only access to the village was a dangerous path over the cliff  that today occupies the great perron who goes down to the dock.

Lastres is Llastres in the Asturian language,

Like other coastal villages, Lastres) experienced a great growth thanks to the abundance of fishing in his bay and the apprehension of whales that were going next to his coast. " With the fat and the oil of the whales was lit for many years the lamp of the Cathedral of Oviedo, Valdedios's Convent and the big current lamps that preside the Church of Lastres. "

This epoch of brilliance (16th and 17th centuries) explain the construction and greatness of his 'casonas' (typical houses). Between this, you can find the Natal house of the mathematical Agustín de Pedrayes.

However this area is becoming more famous as the centre of finds from the Jurassic period.

Get in
Llastres is in the northeastern zone of the Asturias. Flanked by the sea and the mountain, presents a strong contrast the mountains and the coast, offering a wide natural scene for the enjoyment of visitors.

The communications in Llastres depart from the N-632 road (from Ribadesella to Luarca) that crosses the council from est to west. The best way to approach, is the 'Autopista del Cantábrico A-8' Railcar of the Cantabrian) allows a few excellent communications with the whole center and Asturian east, and places the Capital of the Principality at half an hour.

See
Declared an Historical Village, Llastres has widely recognized beauty. Its steep streets feature interesting palaces, 'casonas', churches, fountains and chapels of popular character.

Buy
The local fish is the most coveted and exquisite of Asturias.

Drink
Asturias is well known for its fine hard cider, which makes a great drink while enjoying the spectacular sight on the Cantabrian sea. In summer, the whole population moves to the neighboring locality, Colunga, for nightlife.

Sleep
Apartments are available for long and short term stays.

title: Llastres


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Llŷn

Llŷn is an area in the county of Gwynedd, North Wales. It is, broadly speaking, the peninsula sticking out westwards beyond Snowdonia. Its beaches and headlands rival those of the better known Pembrokeshire Coast National Park in south-west Wales.

Towns and Villages

 * Cilan
 * Cilan
 * Cilan
 * Cilan
 * Cilan
 * Cilan

Beaches and Headlands
The largest beach is Porth Neigwl between Abersoch and Aberdaron. Other large beaches are Llanbedrog and Nefyn. Smaller but really delightful beaches are those at Porth Oer on the north coast near Aberdaron and Porth Ysgo on the south coast, where there is something for lovers of industrial archaeology as well. The beach at Porth Oer is busy on a nice spring day, has whistling sands that squeak under your feet when you walk, and has a small restaurant down at the beach.

There are impressive headlands west of Aberdaron, giving superb views over Bardsey Island (Ynys Enlli). There are many others but a really fine one is Mynydd Penarfynedd to the east of Porth Ysgo. A new road has been built from Porth Neigwl after a major landslide closed the former road.

Other destinations
Nant Gwrtheyrn on the north coast, where tiny hamlet Porth y Nant, until 2011 only accessible by sea, has been converted into a Welsh language and cultural centre. Some good quarrying remains on the cliffs.

Garn Fadryn is an ancient earthwork on a mound roughly in the centre of the peninsula, with terrific coastal views north, west and south and views west to the mountains of Snowdonia.

Bryncir Woollen Mill  on the A487 is well worth a visit.

Yr Eifl the highest mountain on the peninsula, at 1,841 feet, with spectacular views.

Do

 * Walk the Welsh Coast Path, which goes around the entire peninsula. Along the North Coast of Llyn, you can walk to the Ty Coch Inn, on the beach in the village of Porthdinllaen. The Inn serves food and drink and both the Inn and the beach are busy in the spring.

Eat
A popular food is a bap, a split roll filled with sandwich fillings, such as meat or cheese.

title: Llŷn


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Lleida

 Lleida (Spanish: Lérida) is a city of 138,000 people (2018) in Catalonia. Lleida is one of the oldest towns in Catalonia, with recorded settlements dating back to the Bronze Age period, and is a stage in the Catalan Way of St. James

Understand
Until the Roman conquest of the Iberian Peninsula, the area served as a settlement for an Iberian people, the Ilergetes. The town became a municipality, named Ilerda, under the reign of Augustus. It was ruled by the Moors from the 8th century, and reconquered in 1149. In 1297, the University of Lleida was founded, becoming the third oldest in the whole of Spain. During the following centuries, the town was damaged by several wars such as the Reapers' War in the 17th century and the Spanish Civil War in the 20th century. Since then, the city has been in constant urban, commercial and demographic growth.

Climate
Lleida has a temperate semi-arid climate. Winters are mild and foggy though cooler than places on the coast while summers are hot and dry. Frosts are common during winter although snowfall can occasionally fall, averaging 1 or 2 days. Precipitation is low, with an annual average of 369 millimetres (15 in) with a peak in April and May and another peak in September and October.

By bus
Lleida is a good place to change from a train to a bus towards Andorra (Andorra has no rail connection) and buses can be a cheaper but slower alternative to buses in general. The bus station of Lleida is situated 1.3 km from the train station into south-west on street Carrer Saracíbar 2. (Buses from Andorra or Barcelona may stop also in train station.)
 * Alsa Direct bus from Madrid (€27), Barcelona (€20) and Andorra la Vella (€19).
 * Montmantell Direct bus from Andorra la Vella (€18).

By plane
Given the excellent connections towards Madrid and Barcelona, it might seem a bit pointless that this town have its own airport, but it indeed has one, but connections are rather limited.

Get around
Lleida is quite small and you will easily be able to get to all parts of it on foot. There is a very efficient city bus system as well. Multiple lines of bus service are available from the train station.

Long-range

 * Catalan Way of St. James from El Port de la Selva to Montserrat (Spain) to Pina de Ebro passes the city.

title: Lleida


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Lleida (province)

Lleida is a province in Catalonia, Spain.

Cities

 * — door to the west Pyrenees mountains, has a cathedral, the Seu Vella.
 * — a particularly attractive place at the end of the bus route through the Boi Valley.

Other destinations

 * National Park with lakes, valleys and rocky summits.
 * , the only region of Catalonia on the north face of the Pyrenees
 * , little valley between Lleida and Tarragona with a couple of medieval villages.
 * , ski resort.

Get in

 * Lleida–Alguaire Airport.

See

 * Catalan Romanesque Churches of the Vall de Boí — nine world heritage listed churches in the Boí Valley.

Do
Go to Les Alexandrias, a rugged western hamlet near the Aragonese mountain range. Famous for its bull-fighting festivals in which the bull holds a red cape and bullfighters run after it.

title: Lleida (province)


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Llevant de Mallorca

Llevant de Mallorca is in Mallorca. Hills and mountains, fertile fields, cliffs with embedded bays and sandy beaches make the landscape a kind of Mallorca concentrate. Nowhere else on the island are all the elements combined in such a small space.

Cities

 * — the largest tourist development on the east coast of the island
 * — known for its extravagant celebrations in summer, and in winter as a gathering place for pensioners

Understand
Wind, weather and rain have formed gentle hills of limestone rocks, overgrown by a macchia of mastic and gorse bushes, tree heather, wild or overgrown olive trees, pines and Aleppo pines, in the undergrowth lavender bushes, rosemary and rock roses. The garriga runs like a red thread through the east. High up from Cap Ferrutx you can see over the Sierra de Artàna, with the highest elevation (509 m from Son Salvador, down to the Coves del Drac dragon caves, which reach 25 m below sea level.

Towards the northeast, the Llevant has numerous bays, including the touristically developed Cala Rajada as well as a little further south the well-known beaches of Cala Millor, Sa Coma and S'Illot, which have now become the destination of mass tourism.

To the west of the Llevant are the vast agricultural fields in the area of Sant Llorenç and Manacor.

History
The history of the Llevant goes back over 3000 years. The original inhabitants of the island from huge slabs of stone houses, defensive towers and defensive walls built. Those towers are called talàia (Catalan) or talayot (Castilian), which goes back to the Arabic word atalaji (guard). In addition to the most important site, the Ses Païsses, there is another well-known settlement Capocorb Vell from the same period further south of the Llevant.

Most of the other buildings of the "Masters of Stone" have been used as quarries by invaders and rulers of the island over the years. Megaliths, large stones from prehistoric times, were used to build the Cathedral of Mallorca. There is still some uncertainty about the inhabitants of the talayots and their way of life.

Climate
The Mediterranean climate of the Llevant region is determined by short, mild and humid winters and long, dry and sometimes very hot summers.

In summer it is very hot and dry and the herbaceous vegetation withers. During this time, the temperature can rise to over 40 ° C during the day. Rain is extremely rare in the summer months. In July and especially in August it is high season on the beaches.

Autumn begins in September, initially muggy and thunderstorm. The autumn climate is already a bit cooler, but the sun still shines quite often and is occasionally interrupted by brief rain showers. Instead, the vegetation that has withered over the summer begins to green again.

The winter is quite mild. The temperatures are mostly around 10 degrees Celsius, and it can occasionally snow in deep areas.

By car
Car rental companies can be found in almost every holiday resort. There are around 55 rental companies with around 35,000 rental cars. The prerequisite for the rental is: you are 23 years of age and/or have had a valid driving licence for 2 years.

All roads lead to Palma de Mallorca. The streetscape of the island resembles the spread of the left hand with the thumb pointing downwards: The main traffic arteries correspond to the five fingers:
 * Following the thumb, the southern connection (MA-19) Palma - Santanyí, which opens up large parts of the south coast.
 * The index finger points from Palma via Manacor (MA-15) to the east coast in the Llevant landscape.

Other main roads branch off from Manacor: or from Manacor towards Sant Llorenç and then: The middle finger, the Palma-Inca-Alcúdia road, connects the agricultural area of Sa Pobla and the northeast region with the capital (MA-13).
 * Manacor-Portocristo (MA-4020) southeast part of Llevant
 * Sant Llorenç-Artà-Capdepera (MA-15) northeast part of Llevant
 * Sant Llorenç-Son Servera-Cala Millor (MA-4030 and MA-4026) Eastern part with the largest beaches and hotel complexes in the Llevant.

If you follow the ring finger as a signpost, you come to Sóller (MA-11). The little finger points to Valldemossa (MA-1110), where it directs to the MA-10, which follows the northwest coast from Andratx to Pollença. In addition to these approximately 1200 km of very well-developed asphalted main roads, the sometimes narrow cross-connections are also provided with an asphalt surface and are generally easy to drive on. There are only a few so-called white streets. No place on the island is more than 40 km from the sea.

By bike
Ciclismo is a Mallorcan passion. The streets and paths of the Llevant in the vicinity of Cala Millor, in the municipality of Son Servera, are particularly suitable for cyclists.

By bus
Mallorca has a dense bus network. Around 65 bus routes operated by various companies connect Palma with almost all places on the island. The main hub is the Plaça d'Espanya in the centre of Palma. The Oficina de Informatión turistica is also located there.

By train
The main railway line Palma-Inca-Manacor runs every hour.

By boat
There is a ferry connection between Cala Rajada and Ciutadella (Menorca). It is operated by Cape Balear. The crossing takes about 55 minutes.

See

 * The prehistoric settlement of Hospitalet Vell on the Manacor-Cales de Mallorca road (1800–1500 BC) is a talayotic settlement. Particularly noteworthy is the talayot, a kind of tower with a square floor plan, of which the Mediterranean column and the roof made of large stone slabs as well as a rectangular enclosure have been preserved.
 * The early Christian church of Son Peretó on the Palma-Artà road, built towards the end of the 5th century. It consists of a baptistery with two baptismal fonts and the chapel.
 * The Torre dels Enagistes tower on the Ctra. Manacor-Cales de Mallorca, shelter and mansion from the 14th century (after the Catalan conquest in 1229). Today the building is the seat of the Manacor Museum with an exhibition of Manacor's archeology and ethnology. The most notable exhibits are the tomb mosaic of Balèria, one of the mosaics of the early Christian church of Son Peretó and the miniature furniture. Graffiti from the 15th to 18th centuries can be seen on the first floor.
 * Molí en Polit windmill on Modest Codina road in Manacor. It is a 19th-century windmill.
 * Pearl factory Majòrica
 * Coves del Drac (stalactite caves) Porto Cristo. The Martelsee, one of the largest underground lakes in the world, where concerts of classical music are performed daily.
 * Church Nostra Senyora dels Dolors place Rector Rubi in Manacor. The parish church was built towards the end of the 19th century in the Gothic historicism style. It stands in the same place where other churches used to be. The oldest was documented as early as 1232 and was probably built over an Arab mosque (an Arab grave inscription found that is now in the Museu Diocesà in Palma). Both structural elements and works of art by local artists have been preserved in the new building. The bell tower is known as Torre Rubí in memory of the builder of the church. He is at the apsebuilt on where the previous church had the main portal. It is the tallest building in the city, a neo-Gothic work by the architect G. Bennassar Moner.
 * Torre de Canyamel on the road from Capdepera to Son Servera. (In the building next to the Torre there is a restaurant that only serves lechona (suckling pig) on a spit.)
 * Sanctuary of Sant Salvador (1832), surrounded by the dominant fortress walls, on the top of the city of Artà in the centre.
 * Sanctuary of Sant Salvador (1832), surrounded by the dominant fortress walls, on the top of the city of Artà in the centre.

Do

 * The Natural Park of the Península de Llevant covers 21,507 hectares, of which 16,232 hectares are land and 5,275 hectares are ocean. It is in the northeast of the area. Here you can find untouched bays and mountains, where the dwarf palm is the aspect determining factor. Among the birds there are the coral gulls, the peregrine falcons and the booted eagles. Most of Mallorca's tortoises live in this natural park.
 * The Natural Park of the Península de Llevant covers 21,507 hectares, of which 16,232 hectares are land and 5,275 hectares are ocean. It is in the northeast of the area. Here you can find untouched bays and mountains, where the dwarf palm is the aspect determining factor. Among the birds there are the coral gulls, the peregrine falcons and the booted eagles. Most of Mallorca's tortoises live in this natural park.

Eat
Around 600 recipes represent a great variety of Mallorcan cuisine. They are all based on the various raw materials that are harvested in the fields or fished in the sea.

With the virgin olive oil, the Aceite de oliva virgen, the protected designation of origin Oli de Mallorca guarantees the quality. Another essential ingredient is pork, especially the production of the famous sobrassada.

Bakery products: Ensaïmades, the yeast snail with a label, is a product with a protected geographical indication, which is known as "the lightest, airiest and most delicious pastries on the Balearic island of Mallorca". Due to its unique snail shape, the ensaimada already differs optically from all other types of pastry. Only raw materials that have been grown on Mallorca may be used. There are nine of the certified manufacturers in the Llevant area. The quality certificates are checked and reassigned every year.

Meat and sausages: The sobrassada is a sausage specialty, also with a protected geographical indication, a product of the Balearic island of Mallorca, made from raw, carefully selected and air-dried minced pork, which must come from the island. The same quality standards apply here as for the baked goods. Eight of the manufacturers are located in the Llevant landscape.

The sea fennel. What looks like inconspicuous grass at first glance and is called Fonoll mari in Mallorqui is still an aromatic side dish to Mallorcan cuisine. The sea fennel grows on the coast of the Llevant, in the area of the splash zone. Crithmum maritimumk, a yellow flowering shrub from the umbelliferae family, resembles wild fennel, hence the name sea fennel. The herb has leathery, one to two-pinnate, blue-green, fleshy leaves that can be up to seven centimeters long. Women walk along the rocky beaches with baskets and pluck this herb. The leaves are then preserved for many months by being inserted so that they can be carried on the ships in the seafarers' provisions. Due to the high vitamin C content and the preventive effect against scurvy, it was and is still a component of every duffel bag and travels the vastness of the oceans.

Drink
The island of Mallorca is an area with a long winemaking tradition, dating back to when the Romans cultivated wine.

There are red, rosé, white and sparkling wines as well as sparkling wines and fortified wines with designations of origin of recognized quality. The red wines are made from the following red grape varieties: Callet, Fogoneu, Tempranillo, Manto Negro, Monastrell, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah. White wines are made from the Chardonnay, Moll, Macabeo, Parellada and Moscatel varieties.

The ground consists of calcareous rock ( marl and dolomite ), as a result of which a calcareous and clayey soil with a slightly alkaline pH value has formed and the earth has tints that range from the red scale to almost white. These properties of the soil lead to good drainage, which also leads to rapid root penetration of the soil due to the little organic matter present, which means that viticulture can be carried out under very good conditions.

Traditional cultivation practices are used for viticulture, which overall results in grapes of greater quality being obtained. The planting density was limited to 2500 to 5000 vines per hectare. The training and management of the vines takes place according to the so-called "vasosystem" or on the trellis.

The white wines of the Chardonnay grape variety deserve a special mention here, with their very distinctive aromas of tropical fruits, which can also take on a milky, vanilla-like taste when fermented in wooden barrels. The dry Muscat wines provide a range of floral aromas, while the fresh, young wines from the Prensal Blanco, Macabeo and Parellada varieties are more reminiscent of tart fruits. If the wines are blended with one another, complex, aromatic compounds result that pleasantly refresh the palate.

With the red wines, very interesting taste variations are achieved due to the different grape varieties that are used here, which are characterized by their intense color and multi-layered fruit aromas. The tannin contained is gentle on the palate and has a balanced acidity and gives an overall impression of freshness.

One of the largest liqueur producers on the island of Mallorca, the Moya company in Artà, is in Llevant on the road to Can Picafort.

title: Llevant de Mallorca


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Lloret de Mar

Lloret del Mar is a resort city on the Costa Brava, Spain, northeast of Barcelona. Lloret is famed for its "young crowd", late nightlife, and the beach.

By plane
From Girona Costa Brava airport : there are buses to Lloret from the airport (4 times a day from 10:00 till 14:00, travel time 35 min, €10). You'll find the schedule on the Girona airport Web site.

From Barcelona El Prat airport : by direct bus (travel time 1 hr 35 min, 9 times a day from 08:10 till 20:40, ticket €13.15) or by train (with the connection at Barcelona Sants main train station, from 05:42 till 22:08, train travel time at least 2 hr, single-ride ticket €6.30) to Blanes, then by city bus to Lloret (another €1.85), the bus schedule is synchronized with regional trains.

Because of the narrow streets, coaches will often drop people little walk from their hotels. A little more expensive at just over €10 is the (shared) ShuttleDirect or Hoppa.com, which is direct and will drop you off and pick you up at your accommodation. There are also a number of official pick up points round town for bus (shuttle coaches) which you will probably leave from rather than your hotel. You must confirm pickup with the shuttle service up to 72 hours before going home.

Get around
The central part of town is very easy to walk around with a long shopping precinct and other shopping areas. Many streets in the central area are one-way and with pavements just a yard wide on either side with traffic going by at speed. Be careful crossing roads, even on crossings where cars do not always stop. Not many toilets about but there is one in the bus station, in McDonald's and bars. Taxi stand on D'Oliva, opposite McDonald's Express on Av Just Marles.

By car
Don't. Lloret has many small one way streets and some pedestrian precincts. Where cars are allowed to park in the main part, as soon as a car moves out of a space, another moves in in less than a minute. You are not allowed to park with a wheel on a pavement (even though it differs from the road in colour only). Often there are no signs to tell you where not to park. The police patrol the area, photograph an offending car and hand out tickets, then the tow truck comes and takes the car away. Some hotels however do have underground car parks for their patrons. There are several (underground) paid parking lots, under the bus station, at the new casino, under the market square, even at the end of the main beach (can be full though). You pay around €2 per hour, but it's relatively safe and pretty close to town center and main beach.

By bus
There are 5 urban bus lines in Lloret de Mar. All of them connect the bus station with town's districts: Fenals, Lloret de Dalt, El Molí - El Rieral, Lloret Residencial, Cala Canyelles. The single ride costs €1.35, the ticket for 10 rides that allows connections between several main lines within the 30-min period, costs €10.60. Monthly ticket €23.85.

See
Many good beaches. The bigger ones are Lloret main beach and just south of that, Fenals beach. But many other beaches offer you a great day out as well: Canyelles beach, Sta Christina beach and many more small ones. Most of them can be reached by car only, since they're not on walking distance of downtown Lloret. Half of Sta Boadella beach is an official naturist beach.

The Verdaguer Cultural Centre has excavated relics from the Puig de Castellet Iberian settlement dating back to 250 BC (open Sa Su, 11:00- 18:00 only). Also naval models, paintings and photographs. Museum of the Sea. €4 but has very little in it other than a collection of model boats.

At the far end of the Lloret beach is a castle structure. It's a nice walk, but thousands walk quite some distance to it every day only to find it is private property and does not allow visitors.

There are extensive cycle lanes in parts of Lloret on the pavement. Not many use them and tourists wander through them. These can be very dangerous as a collision between a speeding cyclist and a walker is an accident waiting to happen and will result in an injury or worse.

In 2010 a new big casino was built, as a part of one of Lloret's 5-star hotels: Guitart Monterrey. It's one of the biggest casinos of the Costa Brava. There are a number of slot arcades ready to relieve you of any excess money.

Do
Kart racing west of town just past Water World, tennis, horse riding and bowling. Mini and professional golf. Europe's biggest water park nearby with a free bus from the bus station. Gnomoland for infants and young children at the Blanes end of town. South of Blanes is Marineland. Free transport from the centre of Lloret to both places. There is also scuba diving with equipment hire and dives from a shop at the far end of the Lloret beach. As well as cars, cycles and motorbikes can be hired (Fenals area). There are internet cafes (from about one euro an hour) and some areas and hotels have wifi. In weak areas, sitting outside on a balcony can mean the difference between a good signal and no signal inside your room.

Water parks & amusement parks

 * Water world
 * Arbre aventura in Lloret de Mar
 * Sould park in Lloret de Mar

Hiking
Try the “cami de ronda” which follows the coast.

The GR 92 long-distance walking route crosses the city.

Buy
In the main shopping street St Pere, you'll find many famous fashion stores, like Mango, Cello etc. Also different stores selling brand clothes (Pepe, Replay, Desigual). Also many high-end jewellers can be found in the shopping area, selling Rolex, Cartier etc.

Just outside the main streets you can find many small, often Chinese or Pakistani-owned "bazars", selling many different items under €5. There are no big stores like El Corte Ingles to be found. Also many cheap and expensive supermarkets, so shop around. All the usual souvenirs at reasonable prices.

There is a medium-sized market (Av. de Rieral) several minutes walk west from the centre of town on Tuesdays. Like always in crowded areas, be careful as there are pick pockets in the market. There is a small municipal market open M-Sa but it sells just fruits, veg and meat.

Eat
The inevitable McDonald's and Burger King but for the same money as a meal there, you can get far better food at any one of the endless number of small cafes and eating establishments. It is often chips with everything but some good food just the same.

Three (large) Caprabo supermarkets for food and goods. One at Tossa end of town, one at Blanes end. Also at Blanes end are Consum and Dia supermarkets. Open all day Monday-Saturday and Sunday morning. Other options include Carrefour Express, Mercadona, the ubiquitous Lidl as well as Bonpreu-Esclat with broader choice of food in the commercial centre Porta Lloret, which opened in 2019. Ice creams and lollies around town are about €2 each. Buy them in a main supermarket and a box of 3, 4, even 6 can be a lot less than €2.

Ethnic food availability is rather limited, with several halal butchers, a couple of British and Russian shops scattered around town, and another one dedicated to products from Bulgaria and Romania.

Try to avoid all those tourist trap-type restaurants in the city centre and get some decent local meals like suggested below.

Drink
Spoilt for choice with bars and discos, some of which will stay open to the early hours of the morning. A fair number of bars have large screen TV's for British and other foreign football matches. The locals are very passionate about the Barcelona football team and would not like them being insulted in any way (would you?) Because of the many bars and some all-inclusive hotels some of the youngsters drink too much, but local police is watching carefully.

Sleep
A number of hotels are in the centre of town near the bars so check reviews on them as they can be very noisy well into the night in the summer months. Some hotels are by busy roads and not for those who want to sleep past 08:00. Many hotels have satellite TV, some with BBC 1, BBC 2, ITV, C4. Air-conditioning is good June to September as it can get very hot but some hotels only have A-C on at set hours. There is a camp site (caravans also) at the Blanes end of town as well as outside town on the road to Girona.

Between the second and third week of August, a lot of young people go home and a lot of older people arrive. Also some hotels start shutting for the year from about the third week of September (Maeva, Santa Ana, Florida Park). One day can mean the difference between staying at these hotels and not staying there.

Besides the hotels and hostels, you can rent a holiday villa in the surroundings of Lloret de Mar. These are usually located in one of the adjacent urbanisations, and are quiet, with stunning views over the town and Mediterranean Sea.

Connect
As of Jan 2024, Lloret de Mar and its approach highways have 5G from all Spanish carriers. Wifi is widely available in public places.

Go next

 * Buses to Girona, Tossa de Mar, Blanes, Olot, Calella, Cadaqués, Palafrugell and Barcelona. Buses do tend to fill up, with people standing. If at a bus station, buy a return ticket if intending to come back as it saves queuing again.
 * By car you can visit other beautiful areas in the Costa Brava, such as Begur and Cadaqués.
 * From the beach in Lloret you can also hop on a boat that takes you to the nearby towns of Blanes and Tossa de Mar.
 * Lloret also has a train station nearby in Blanes, the adjacent town at the distance of 10- to 15-min drive - from which you can go to anywhere in Spain.

title: Lloret de Mar


text:
Lloydminster

Lloydminster is a city straddling the border between East Central Alberta region of Alberta and the West Central Saskatchewan region of Saskatchewan. A geographic anomaly, it is one of only two settlements in Canada to operate a single municipal entity across two provinces. (The other, Flin Flon, is a small Manitoba mining village with one tiny portion in Saskatchewan.)

Understand
The city was founded in 1903, at a time when modern-day Alberta and Saskatchewan were still part of the Northwest Territories. The provinces were created later with a boundary at 110° west longitude, right down 50th Avenue (Meridian Ave.). By 2021 the city had 31,600 people; principal local industries include agriculture and oil refining. Due to differing sales tax structures (Alberta has no provincial sales tax) and time zones (Alberta observes Mountain Daylight Savings Time seasonally, Saskatchewan keeps Central Standard Time year-round), Lloydminster and its immediate trading area are part of Alberta's time zone and its businesses follow Alberta's sales tax rules. A 163-bed hospital in Saskatchewan serves both provinces; the city's Lakeland College campus is in Alberta and the local airport moved from Saskatchewan to Alberta in 1981.

Saskatchewan addresses may be identified by their postal codes (which have a leading 'S') and telephone area codes (usually +1 306, sometimes +1 639).

By car
Lloydminster is on Highway 16 (Yellowhead Highway) at roughly the halfway point between Saskatoon and Edmonton. The highway is divided for most of this route (except for the portion within Lloydminster itself). A second highway, Highway 17, runs north-south through the city, but is primarily only a local route.

Airport
Flights available from Calgary (1.25 hours),

Other airports

 * Edmonton and Saskatoon offer the closest international airports to Lloydminster.

Get around
Lloydminster has no public transit.

 * Viper Taxi +1 306-825-5558
 * Lloyd Taxi +1 306-825-3333
 * Courtesy Cabs +1 306-825-8885

Go next

 * Edmonton and Saskatoon are 2½-3 hours' distant on the Yellowhead Highway.

title: Lloydminster


text:
Lluc

As a place of pilgrimage, Santuari de Lluc is one of the main attractions in the Serra de Tramuntana on Mallorca.

Understand
The heart of the old place of pilgrimage is the church, surrounded by a big hotel complex. Beside that, there are some restaurants, bars and souvenir shops. The residential school for choirboys is not accessible for the public.

Located at about 700 m above sea level, Lluc is a very central starting point for many hikes in the Serra de Tramuntana.

The sanctuary was founded in the 13th century after a Moorish shepherd found a statue of the Virgin Mary on the site where the monastery was later erected.

By car
18 km from Pollença, ca. 15 km from Inca and 20 km from Sóller. Winding and narrow roads from all directions.

By bus
There is a summer bus service 352/354 (from April 1) along the mountain route from Sóller to Pollença which stops here. There is also a 330 bus service from Palma or Inca (train to Palma).

See

 * The Museum
 * The Museum

Buy
Souvenirs are available.

Eat
There are several restaurants with moderate prices.

Sleep

 * The free campground at the beginning of the dead end road that leads to the place of pilgrimage is probably the biggest one in the whole Serra. It is well maintained and offers toilets, cold showers and barbecue facilities. The rangers bring fire wood regularly.
 * The Campside of Lluc is the main camping facility in the Serra. It offers basics like toilets and cold showers and has a lot of fireplaces usable for barbecue. If you are lucky, you will find some wood prepared for burning. An axe is helpful. Like all Mallorcian campsites, it's for free.
 * Between km 16 and 18 on the road from Pollença to Lluc, there are some more recreation areas where camping is allowed.
 * The Hotel has nice old rooms in a noble atmosphere for about €30 for a double room. Single rooms have almost the same price.

Go next
You can do many walks from Lluc. Here are some of them:
 * Around the Puig Roig and Puig Caragoler (7 hr)
 * Puig Tomir (1103 m, 3 hr)
 * Puig Massanella (1367 m, 4 hr)
 * Torente de Pareis, a steep canyon that you can descend down to the sea.
 * Hike to Pollença.

title: Lluc


text:
Loango National Park

Loango National Park is in the Coastal Plain region of Gabon.

Understand
Loango National Park is a coastline park that encompasses some 1,550 km² of land and is famous for its variety of unspoiled landscapes. Africa’s Last Eden – that is how the ecologist and conservationist Mike Fay referred to Loango National Park in 1997 when he walked 3000 km along the forest corridor between Congo and Gabon to shine a global spotlight on Africa’s most pristine rainforests and the need to protect them.

History
Loango National Park is one of the 13 national parks created in 2001 by Gabon’s President Omar Bongo Ondimba.

Landscape
The habitat types in Loango National Park vary from marine, seashore, coastal lagoons, mangroves, salt marsh, coastal forest, swamp forest, rain forest, savannah, rivers until papyrus swamp

Flora and fauna
Gabon is home to western lowland gorillas and nearly 200 other mammal species and 600 species of birds. In Loango National Park, you have a chance to see amongst others: the smaller forest elephant, red forest buffalo, red river hogs with furry ears, the slender snouted crocodiles, sitatunga, duikers, a variety of monkeys, a huge array of birds, whales (in season), hippos, western lowland gorillas and chimpanzees.

Climate
Temperatures vary from 28 to 31 °C. The rains fall between October and April, with a short dry season in December and January.

Get in
You can arrive from Omboué Evengué Island by boat up the Mpivié River or fly directly to Iguela, close to Loango National Park.

Africa’s Connection (sister company of Africa’s Eden) provides scheduled and charter flights between Iguela and the major cities in the region such as Libreville and Port Gentil (Gabon).

Fees and permits
You have to pay a daily park fee when visiting the national park.

Get around
In Loango National Park, the operator has created a circuit that allows you to see and experience all the park’s highlights and ecosystems. The starting point for most visitors is Evengué Island, just outside the park. From there, you can travel to Loango Lodge and their eco-camps in the jungle, the savannah, and on the beach.

See

 * forest elephants and buffalos on the beach
 * gorilla sanctuary
 * church built by Gustav Eiffel
 * pristine nature
 * jungle, savanna, wild beaches, lagoons, mangroves

Do

 * Safaris in Loango National Park
 * Cultural excursions
 * Walking safaris
 * Whale-watching
 * Birding expeditions
 * Fishing
 * Kayaking

Expeditions to:
 * Akaka Bush Camp
 * Evengué Lodge & Fernan-Vaz Gorilla Project
 * Tassi Savannah Camp
 * Pte. Ste. Cathérine Beach Camp

Buy
Loango Lodge sells souvenirs produced by locals.

Eat
Loango Lodge serves international cuisine, and supplies Evengué Lodge and the eco-camps with the same high-standard cuisine.

Camping
Camping is not allowed inside the national park, unless you are visiting the park with an official operator in the park.

title: Loango National Park


text:
Locarno

Locarno is a city at the northern end of Lake Maggiore in Switzerland. The city, along with Venice and Cannes, hosts an international film festival, the third oldest important cinema festival in the world.

Understand
Locarno was a spot for the rich and famous to meet and cure (real or supposed) ailments due to its climate and clean air. It was here that foreign minister Stresemann of The German Weimar Republic managed to negotiate a rapprochement with Britain and France that earned Germany re-admittance into the League of Nations and him the Nobel Peace Prize. However, as Stresemann died in 1929, the peace he helped build ultimately did not last.

More relevant to travellers today, Locarno has an extremely scenic location, with extraordinary views from the top of Monte Cardada and from Lago Maggiore, and both are easily accessible for most travellers.

By car
From the east, take highway A2 Basel to Chiasso, exit at Bellinzona South, direction Locarno. After the Magadino airport, take the A13 highway, direction Locarno. After the tunnel, the first exit will take you to the center of Locarno. Parking available in the new Piazza Castello parking.

From the west, take the road along the coast of Lake Maggiore from Verbania through Cannobio and the Brissago customs. Then take the A13 highway, direction Locarno. An alternative, from Simplon and Domodossola, is the Valle Vigezzo and Centovalli road, direction Locarno.

By plane
Fly to Lugano Airport, then take the bus to Lugano and the train to Locarno.

By bike
Bike rental can be found at the train station (Piazza Stazione, Tel. +41 91 7436564). Rental fee: Fr. 30/day (08:00–19:00).

On foot
Most of the city can be explored on foot. The Main Square Piazza Grande is walking distance from Main Railway station. Old Town of Locarno is behind Piazza Grande.

Ticino Discovery Card
With this card you get access to all major tourist attractions in Ticino canton including unlimited travel on public transport, cable cars, furniculars and museums. Price of the card is Fr. 87. People holding Swiss GA Travel card or Half fare card get Fr. 10 discount. Card is valid for 3 days. A real good deal to discover Ticino and is available at major hotels, hostels, train station and Tourist Offices.

See
In addition to the places mentioned before, real highlights are to see the view from the top of Monte Cardada or from Lago Maggiore. These are covered in the "Do" section below, because they involve transport.

Do

 * Walk the Lago Maggiore promenade

Buy
Most of shopping areas are in the arcades of Piazza Grande or in the Old Town. You can find out very interesting boutiques, sport shop, handmade jewels and many kinds of particular store offering specialities in old town of Locarno.

Go next

 * Ascona
 * Verzasca Valley
 * Bellinzona
 * Lugano

title: Locarno


text:
Lochinver

Lochinver is a small fishing village in Sutherland in the Scottish Highlands, with a population of 651 in 2011. It's about 30 miles north of Ullapool. Lochinver starkly illustrates the plight of Scotland's fishing industry: many foreign trawlers land their catch here, but hardly any Scottish boats still operate. The Scots had looked to Brexit to improve their situation, but it didn't.

Lochinver is the largest settlement on a coastal loop of road, also described on this page.

Get in
From the south, travel via Ullapool along A837, which is a good highway ending at Lochinver. It's also possible to wind through the side lanes from Achiltibuie.

From the north follow A894 via Kylesku to join A837 near Ardvreck Castle, or follow the coast via B869 - this is mostly single track with passing places. Large vehicles can get along it (farmers' trucks have no choice) but in summer it becomes congested, as the passing places can just about fit one car towing a caravan but not two or three together.

George Rapson Bus 809 runs twice M-Sa between Ullapool and Lochinver, taking an hour.

Durness Bus 804 runs May-Oct Tu Th from Kinlochbervie via Laxford Bridge and Kylesku, connecting with the 809.

Bikes may be carried between Durness, Lochinver and Lairg, but must be booked at least 24 hours in advance on +44 1971 511223.

Get around
You need your own wheels to explore this scattered area.

See

 * (Allt nan Uamh) are reached by a 40 min hike from the car park on A837. They're four karstic caverns in the mountainside where many animal bones were found, mostly 47,000 year-old reindeer but there was also lynx and bear. The caves have been used for human burial but weren't regularly occupied, so that's not the explanation for the bones; they probably washed in. The area is free to access 24 hours. The trail is a loop suitable for older children and dogs but you'll get filthy after rainfall. You can delve into the caves for a few yards only. Deeper within the mountain is the Uamh an Claonaite cave system, 2.868 km (1.782 miles) long, for experienced cavers only.
 * Inchnadamph is the little settlement at the head of Loch Assynt. The Old Kirk, built in 1741, is disused. The Macleod burial vault is all that remains of its predecessor church of 1440.
 * Calda House is a ruined mansion next to A837 half a mile south of Ardvreck castle, just a teetering shell. It didn't last long: built in 1726, it burned down in 1737. Its owners the Mackenzies were never able to restore it, as they backed Bonnie Prince Charlie in the 1745 rebellion, and the Government made sure they were ruined as thoroughly as the mansion.
 * A waterfall cascades down the hillside just north of the castle. There are good viewpoints further north approaching the junction of A837 and A894.
 * A waterfall cascades down the hillside just north of the castle. There are good viewpoints further north approaching the junction of A837 and A894.
 * is the long freshwater lake flanking A837. It's six miles long, dog-legging at its west end into the River Assynt down to Lochinver.
 * village straggles along A837. North of Culag Bridge has most accommodation and amenities, while south of the bridge is the grubby industrial harbour. Baddidarroch is a dead-end side road branching off at the north edge of the village: this shore gets more sunlight and has a cluster of self-catering cottages.
 * is a peculiar structure on the headland west of Achmelvich Bay. It's a Brutalist concrete building, something between a World War II shore gunnery point and a 1960s civic centre. It was built in the 1950s by an English architect then left unused for vandals to trash. Perhaps, inspired by its innovative style, he was kept busy replicating it in all the New Towns then springing up across Britain.
 * is an Iron Age tower. It was built around 400 BC but burnt out in 50 AD - as were several other brochs in Scotland, so there was obviously some great strife then.
 * is a Stevenson lighthouse of 1870, automated in 1978. It's a stubby tower of only 45 ft (14 m), but its clifftop site means it can be seen for 24 miles. No tours; the lighthouse keepers' cottages have been converted to self-catering accommodation. You can drive here on a narrow but tarmacked lane, and use the car park for the hike to the Old Man.
 * is a 60 m sea-stack, a popular climbing challenge. Reach it by a two-mile hike (about an hour each way) along the clifftops from the lighthouse. Walk Highlands has a route description.
 * is an attractive little settlement straggling along B869.
 * North West Highlands Geopark is a covering Lochinver, Durness, Kinlochbervie and Kylesku. Some of the local rocks are over 3 billion years old, but the attraction is their contrast with the younger Torridonian sandstone.

Do

 * is a distinctive 731-m (2398-ft) mountain, a sharp ridge that ranks as a "Marilyn". It's formed of Torridon sandstone: the highest peak Caisteal Liath ("Grey Castle") is at the northwest end. Meall Meadhonach 723 m is in the middle and Meall Beag is at the southeast end. It's six miles to the summit from Lochinver, the trail is described by Walk Highlands.
 * Fishing: the area is best known for its fly-fishing (mid-Apr to mid-Oct) on the River Assynt. There's also innumerable freshwater lochans, and sea fishing from shore.
 * Assynt Highland Games are held in August in Culag Park, with the next on F 9 Aug 2024.

Drink

 * Wayfarer's Bar is a drouthy trad pub by the harbour, open F Sa 5-10:30PM, Su 12:30-6PM.

Connect
As of July 2022, Lochinver has a patchy mobile signal from EE and Three, but nothing from O2 or Vodafone. 5G has not reached this area.

Go next

 * South the main road leads to Ullapool, for ferries to Stornoway on Lewis.
 * Light vehicles can also go south on the lane to Achiltibuie and Polbain, for boat trips to the Summer Isles.
 * North is Kylesku, Kinlochbervie and Durness on the far north coast.
 * North Coast 500 is an itinerary that swings through Lochinver.

title: Lochinver


text:
Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park

Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park straddles between Argyll and Bute to the west and Stirlingshire to the east. It's highland in nature and very scenic, though being on the doorstep of Glasgow it can feel busy and touristy.

Understand

 * "But me and my true love shall never meet again, by the bonnie bonnie banks of Loch Lomond"
 * - lament of a Jacobite awaiting execution after the failed rebellion of 1745

Until the 19th century the Highlands were perceived as dark boggy wastelands, the abode of murderous bandits and rebels. Then they were re-defined as romantic vistas where stags roamed and eagles soared, and Highlanders untainted by southern decadence struck heroic poses while wearing the correct tartan. Better transport and more leisure time enabled tourists to flock here to admire, and to complain how tourism was wrecking the place. The great Highland geological fault line nowadays only experiences minor tremors, but for 200 years this landscape has been roiled by tensions between development and modernisation, housing and other facilities for its residents, and preservation - and preservation of what, exactly? The bonnie banks of Loch Lomond are all in a sense man-made, from its lowland cattle farms to its commercial forestry slopes and high sub-arctic moors.

From 1945 there were calls to protect this and similar areas in Scotland, but there was no political will in the London parliament, and control was fragmented between several local authorities. But in 1999 a devolved Scottish parliament was established, which in 2002 designated Loch Lomond and the Trossachs as the country's first national park, with a unified planning body. This was followed in 2003 by Cairngorms National Park, and some fifty smaller areas have broadly similar arrangements. The park has four areas:

 * Loch Lomond is a fjord, carved out by a glacier in the later stages of the last Ice Age 10-20,000 years ago. In the upper north part this carved through hard schist to create a deep lake in a narrow valley hemmed in by mountains. Near the south end, the glacier crossed the Highland fault line to encounter softer lowland sandstone, so it became broad and shallow. These southern reaches are dotted with islands, notably along the fault line. The fjord was connected to the sea but became blocked by glacial debris, so it backed up as a freshwater lake 22½ miles long. The west shore of the loch has long been a transport route, the east bank is steep and has no through road. The river valley south of the loch is residential and industrial so it's not within the park.

 * The Trossachs are the glens and bens around Loch Katrine and Loch Achray. These have classic Highland scenery yet are easily reached from lowland cities, so from the 19th century they were acclaimed by poets, graced by Queen Victoria and mobbed by tourists. In 1859 Loch Katrine became the water reservoir for Glasgow, so development in its catchment was prohibited.

 * Argyll Forest and the Arrochar Alps are a series of forested mountains (including five Munros) west of Loch Lomond and Loch Long, extending into Cowal peninsula. The Gare Loch shores and Rosneath peninsula are residential and industrial, with the towns of Helensburgh, Rhu and Garelochhead, and the navy base of Faslane, so these are excluded from the park.

 * Breadalbane is the northern area around Crianlarich, Killin and Lochearnhead. It has the headwaters of the Tay valley, several Munros, and the Braes of Balquidder associated with Rob Roy.

The park thus has a range of climate and terrain from woods and fields much like those on the outskirts of Glasgow, to alpine tundra. The upper reaches are above the tree line but have no permanent snow or permafrost layer. Beavers, which were already thriving in the Tay valley, were re-introduced to Loch Lomond in 2023. A surprising beast inhabits the lake island of Inchconnachan: red-necked wallabies (Macropus rufogriseus) have bounced around its thickets since 1940. In 2020 the island was sold to the owner of an upmarket restaurant chain, who must surely be tempted to put the little blighters to culinary use.

There are no gates, permits or fees to enter the park. Permits are required for fishing, and for power-boats and jet skis on Loch Lomond. And of course you pay for various activities and parking.

Visitor information

 * Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park website

Towns

 * is at the foot of Loch Lomond: loch ferries and cruises sail from here.
 * is the first village up the west bank of Loch Lomond, very tourist-trappy.
 * (note the spelling) and Arrochar are midway along the west bank.
 * at the head of the loch has water sports.
 * is the turn-off to reach the east shore of Loch Lomond.
 * is on the east loch shore.
 * is the end of the road up the east shore, and the start of the climb up Ben Lomond.
 * is a market town, a good base for exploring the Trossachs.
 * is near the Park's east glens such as Balquidder.
 * is a small village at the head of Loch Tay, itself beyond the park but equally scenic.
 * is where routes divide for Oban, Glencoe and Ben Nevis.
 * is south of the park, but the obvious base for that area and the Cowal peninsula.

By train
Trains run from Glasgow Queen Street (low level) via Dumbarton to Balloch. They're every 30 min and take 50 min.

Trains on the West Highland Line run four times a day from Glasgow Queen Street (upper level) via Dumbarton and Helensburgh to Tarbet & Arrochar, Ardlui and Crainlarich. Here they divide, with one portion for Oban and the other for Fort William and Mallaig.

The Caledonian Highland Sleeper from London Euston joins the West Highland Line approaching Dumbarton (bypassing Glasgow) and follows it to Crainlarich and Fort William.

Trains run every 30 min from Glasgow Central to Gourock, which has a foot-passenger ferry and a car ferry to Dunoon. You need your own wheels to travel further, a bicycle would do.

By bus
Citylink buses from Glasgow Buchanan Station follow A82 up the west bank of Loch Lomond via Luss to Tarbet. Some continue north to Ardlui, Crianlarich, Tyndrum, Glencoe, Fort William, Kyle of Lochalsh, Portree and Uig on the Isle of Skye. The rest head west to Arrochar and Inveraray, where some branch for Oban while others continue to Lochgilphead, Tarbert on Loch Fyne and Campbeltown. Buses from Edinburgh run via Stirling to Callander, Crianlarich and Oban. These destinations are ferry ports, serving all the Hebridean islands, so buses get booked out.

Buses run frequently from Glasgow to Balloch but take twice as long as the train.

Local buses run from Balloch to Drymen and Balmaha, and from Stirling to Callander.

By road
From Glasgow follow M8 west then cross the Clyde by Erskine Bridge to avoid dragging through the suburbs. Head north for Balloch then take the east or west shore as preferred. However for Argyll Forest you could stay on M8 to Gourock then take the ferry to Dunoon.

From Edinburgh likewise follow M8 west to reach Gourock and Dunoon. But for the main body of the park, head for Stirling to avoid Glasgow, then branch for Callander and Crianlarich, or Drymen / Balmaha or through Balloch to reach the west bank.

Get around

 * "We were desirous to have crossed the mountains above Glengyle to Glenfalloch, at the head of Loch Lomond,
 * but it rained so heavily that it was impossible . . . "
 * - Dorothy Wordsworth described a trip in 1803 with William Wordsworth and Samuel Coleridge.

You need your own wheels, distances are considerable and buses are sparse. A bike will do if you're fit.

Ferries on Loch Lomond serve Balloch, Luss, Balmaha, Tarbet, Rowardennan and Inversnaid, with one across the top of the loch between Ardlui and Ardleish. They're summer only and infrequent, see individual towns for timings.

The ferry on Loch Katrine plies between Trossachs pier and Rowardennan.

See

 * “Had Loch Lomond been in a happier climate, it would have been the boast of wealth and vanity, but there is only uncultivated ruggedness.”
 * - Samuel Johnson and James Boswell passed by the loch on their tour of 1773.

 * Inchcailloch is the only island in Loch Lomond that you can visit, by boat from Balmaha. It's wooded with a ruined church, and you can camp here.
 * is a scenic area at the foot of Loch Katrine, which a steamer traverses to Stronachlachar amidst Alpine views. Take a cycle across or hike the ten mile lane around the head of the loch and north bank back to Trossachs pier (the lane is paved but closed to visitor traffic) or follow the public road west to Inversnaid.
 * Falls of Dochart are rapids, not too difficult for kayakers, at Killin village. Here River Dochart combines with River Lochy and enters Loch Tay. The imposing mountain on its north bank is Ben Lawers.
 * is a ruined monastery on an island in Lake of Menteith, where the future Mary Queen of Scots was hidden from powerful enemies.
 * are a 30 ft / 9 m drop on A82 towards Crianlarich. The West Highland Way passes here.
 * near Dunoon display Chinese and Himalayan species, including rhododendrons (a riot of colour May-June) without which no Highland estate is complete.
 * Kilmun Arboretum a few miles south specialises in non-native woodland such as sequoia, redwoods, Oregon maple and eucalyptus.
 * Autumn colours come early to the park with the first cold nights of Sept / Oct. They're glorious in the sunshine but by mid-afternoon the sun drops behind mountains and the show's over.

Do

 * The West Highland Way is a long-distance hiking trail from Milngavie northeast of Glasgow to Fort William. It reaches Drymen and enters the park after 12 miles through lowland woods and fields. The route then crosses Conic Hill to Balmaha (with a bad weather alternate route near the road) then along the east shore of Loch Lomond to Rowardennan, Inversnaid and Ardleish, and onward to Crianlarich and Tyndrum where it leaves the park. The Inversnaid-Ardleish section is the hardest, scrambling over a jumble of boulders on the steep loch banks.
 * at 974 m / 3196 ft is a "Munro", usually climbed by the obvious trail from Rowardennan. Reckon 3 hours up and two hours down, compatible with a day trip on the water bus from Tarbet, but most visitors drive to the foot of the trail.
 * at 879 m (2884 feet) is a "Corbett". The steep but obvious trail starts from A84 north of Callander.
 * at 1174 m / 3842 ft is the tallest and usual target of seven Munros near Crianlarich. Common approaches are from Benmore Farm off A85 and straight up the steep ridge; or follow the burn of Allt Coire Chaorach then head for the ridge of Sròn nam Fòirsairean once clear of the forest. The other six are Stob Binnein (1165 m), Cruach Ardrain (1046 m), Beinn Tulaichean (946 m), An Casteal (996 m), Beinn a' Chroin (941 m) and Beinn Chabhair (932 m).
 * West Loch Lomond Cycle Path is a 17 mile trail from Balloch via Luss to Tarbet. It's on the track bed of a disused railway so you stay clear of the busy A82.
 * National Cycle Route 7 runs the length of Great Britain. The local section is from Glasgow via Dumbarton, Balloch, Drymen, Aberfoyle, Trossachs, Callander, Lochearnhead, Killin, Aberfeldy and Pitlochry, where it joins the A9 north. It's mostly on the main road.
 * Water sports: the main centres are Balloch and Ardlui.
 * Fishing is by permit for salmon, trout and coarse fish. Your accommodation may be able to arrange permits.
 * Highland Gatherings and Games are held at various villages during summer weekends. Pipe bands, caber-tossing, field & track events and so on; sometimes combined with Agricultural Shows.

Buy
All the villages have a convenience store for basics, but only Balloch has a shopping centre, Lomond Shores on the lochside open daily 10:00-17:30.

Eat

 * All the villages serve fish & chips, pizza and the like to weary hikers returning from the hills.
 * Inishmurrin island off Balloch has an upscale restaurant - you need to book or they won't send the boat for you.

Drink

 * There are pubs in all the villages, which may be your best bet for a meal.
 * Whisky distilleries just outside the park are Glengoyne south of Drymen and Deanston at Doune. The big one south of Balloch sells all its product into blends.

Sleep

Wild camping is generally a legal right in Scotland, but it's prohibited along both banks of Loch Lomond and in the Trossachs because of unacceptable trash and noise by inconsiderate campers.

See individual towns for B&Bs.

Stay safe
Most risks are the same as in the lowlands. Beware traffic – drowsy homebound hill-walkers, winding roads with few overtaking opportunities, and shunts into standing traffic, are recurrent causes of accidents. Take usual care of valuables.

The mountains are of no great altitude but are on the same latitude as Labrador. Loss of direction in mist, and falls on ice or slippery scree, in cold wet winds can escalate into tragedy.

The mountain weather forecast is relevant to all outdoor activities in the park, including on the lochs, which can get rough.

In an emergency, dial 999 or 112 and ask for police. But can you get a mobile signal?

Go next

 * Doune southeast of Callander has a sturdy 14th-century castle. Stay on that road for Blair Drummond Safari Park and Stirling.
 * Dumbarton south of Balloch has a castle perched on a crag to guard the road out of the Highlands.
 * Inveraray west of Tarbet is an 18th century planned town. Its castle is for luxury not defence.


text:
Loch Ness

Loch Ness is a lake or loch which runs for 23 miles (37 km) along the fault line of the Great Glen in the Scottish Highlands. It's a mile wide, very deep (740 ft / 226 m), and dark with peat. It contains more fresh water than all the lakes, reservoirs and rivers of England and Wales combined, and is the supposed home of the Loch Ness Monster.

Understand
The Great Glen is the deep diagonal fault line that traverses Scotland from Fort William in the southwest to Inverness in the northeast. The fault continues out to sea on both sides, as far as Shetland to the north and Clew Bay in Ireland to the west. It formed some 430 million years ago as the Caledonian mountains were thrust up, and remains active to this day. The fault movement shattered the granite, so that glaciers in later ice ages carved out a deep valley, which filled with rivers and lakes when the ice melted. Loch Ness is the longest and deepest of these, with Loch Oich and Loch Lochy further south. At its north end, Loch Ness is pinched into a narrow channel then widens again: this last section is called Loch Dochfour but it's the same body of water.

The Glen has long been a transport route through the Highlands. The first paved road was built by General Wade in the 1720s as a military route to keep the rebellious Highlanders in check, but in 1745 these roads made the Jacobite rebel advance easier. Nowadays this is the B862 and B852 running along the unpopulated east bank of Loch Ness. The modern main road is the A82, which runs along the west bank. The two roads combined make a 70 mile (110 km) circuit of the loch.

The Caledonian Canal is a coast-to-coast channel, built by Thomas Telford in the early 19th century, that makes use of the string of lochs and rivers along the glen. Commercially and strategically it was obsolete as soon as it was completed in 1822, as shipping had outgrown it, and round-the-coast navigation was much safer since the end of the Napoleonic wars. It fell into disrepair but was rehabilitated for pleasure craft. Loch Ness, its centrepiece, is the magnificent natural channel that doesn't need maintenance, but there are ladders of lock-gates at each end that very much do. At the south end the canal and River Oich feed in from Loch Oich, the highest part of the system; at the north end, canal and River Ness flow down from Dochgarroch Weir towards the sea at Inverness.

Towns
See the town pages below for details of transport, accommodation, eating and drinking, and sights and activities. This page is just about the loch itself.

 * is six miles north of the loch. It's by far the largest town in the region, with the most visitor amenities, so it's the obvious base for touring the loch and Great Glen. It's also close to other sights such as Culloden, the Black Isle, Aviemore, Spey Valley and Cairngorms National Park.
 * East bank is reached via B852 & B862 the old military road. Dores is close enough to Inverness to be commuterland, and has a couple of B&Bs and a pub. There's basically nothing but scenery along the rest of the route, south through Inverfarigaig, Foyers and Whitebridge.
 * is a village on the A82 with hotels and facilities out of proportion to its size, thanks to "monster" tourism. The ruins of Urquhart Castle are two miles south at Strone point. The A831 branches west here into wild lonely hills towards Glen Affric and Cannich village, eventually looping north back towards Inverness.
 * is a smaller west-bank village where the River Moriston flows out into Loch Ness over a series of rapids. There's a couple of B&Bs and a camping & caravan site just south, and Alltsigh youth hostel two miles north. The A887 branches west up scenic Glenmoriston, eventually joining A87 to Kyle of Lochalsh and Skye.
 * is the village at the south end of the loch, where the canal begins its final climb up to Loch Oich. The fort, built in the 1730s, has variously been an abbey, a school and a heritage centre, but is now an upmarket hotel.
 * is 23 miles south of the loch, where the Spean valley leads over to Speyside.
 * is 32 miles south of the loch, where the Great Glen enters the sea. So it's not the standard base for visitors but it has good transport and amenities, and is close to Ben Nevis, Glencoe, and routes to the Hebrides. With a car you can easily day-trip around Loch Ness from there.

By plane
Inverness Airport is 9 miles east of Inverness, off the A96 towards Nairn and Aberdeen. It has flights from Amsterdam, London (Heathrow, Gatwick and Luton), Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester, Kirkwall (Orkney), Sumburgh (Shetland), Benbecula (for North and South Uist) and Stornoway (Lewis).

Glasgow and Edinburgh  have a better choice of flights across Europe, then it's a three-hour drive north to reach the loch.

By train
Inverness has trains from Edinburgh and Glasgow via Perth and Aviemore, from Aberdeen, from Kyle of Lochalsh for Skye, and from Thurso for Orkney. From England you usually change in Edinburgh, but one daytime train is direct from London King's Cross, and the Caledonian Sleeper runs from London Euston.

Fort William has daytime trains along the West Highland Line from Glasgow Queen Street and another portion of the Caledonian Sleeper from London Euston. These trains also stop at Spean Bridge in the Great Glen and various middle-of-nowhere places up the Spean valley and across desolate Rannoch Moor. (You half-expect to see a Victorian ghillie in horse and trap awaiting, and the station sign for Brigadoon.) Fort William also has trains from Glenfinnan and Mallaig, for Skye and the Small Isles.

There is no railway along Loch Ness. A passenger train ran from 1903 to 1934 but the rival railway companies were more determined to thwart each other than to grow the network.

By bus
Inverness has buses every couple of hours from Edinburgh and Glasgow via Perth and Aviemore. The main operators are Citylink, Parks of Hamilton and Megabus. There's an occasional through-bus from London Victoria.

Fort William has buses from Glasgow, Oban, Mallaig and Skye.

Fort William and Inverness are linked by Citylink Bus 919, four times M-Sa and twice on Sunday. This runs along A82 via Spean Bridge, Laggan, Fort Augustus, Invermoriston and Drumnadrochit. It used to be a shared service with Stagecoach, but their cooperation was similar to that of the former railway companies and Stagecoach pulled out. This is no barrier to corporate guff about community transport partnerships.

Citylink Bus 917 runs twice a day from Inverness to Drumnadrochit and Invermoriston than branches west on A87 to Kyle of Lochalsh and Portree on Skye.

Stagecoach Bus 37 runs four times M-Sa from Inverness to Drumnadrochit then heads up A831 to Cannich in the hills.

Get around

You need a vehicle. A bike might serve, but it's a long loch, the winds funnel along it, and A82 is busy with traffic.

See above for Citylink Buses 919 and 917, which link Inverness with Drumnadrochit, Castle Urquhart and Invermoriston.

Bus 16 runs along the east bank of Loch Ness from Inverness to Dores, Inverfarigaig and Foyers, four times M-F and twice on Saturday.

There was an attempt in 2005 to re-introduce the Loch Ness ferry, which plied between Fort Augustus and Inverness in Victorian times. It proved short-lived.

The Great Glen Way is a 79 mile footpath between Fort William and Inverness, west side of the loch. There's a high- and a low-level route.

Nessie the Loch Ness Monster
Tales of water-monsters are as old as humanity. This particular beastie was first documented in the 6th C, when St Columba a century earlier was said to have encountered a man-eating monster in the River Ness. Having sent one of his followers into the river as bait while he himself craftily remained ashore, he made the sign of the cross, which scared it off for the next 1400 years.

It re-surfaced in 1933 / 34 with a rash of sightings, best-known being the "surgeon's photograph" published in the Daily Mail of 21 April 1934. The surgeon Mr Wilson was sufficiently embarrassed to try to keep his name out of the affair, and it was later exposed as a hoax: it was a toy submarine from Woolworths fitted with wood putty head, neck and fins, towed by a bit of string, and the photos were doctored.

From then on, Nessie was seldom out of fashion, generally depicted as a flippered plesiosaurus or three-humped serpent. There were photos, wide-eyed witnesses, spoofs, and mysterious sonar readings. There were scientific searches, blank or inconclusive: yet the creature's poop alone should have been visible from space. There were ding-bat theories and a dedicated investigation bureau. There were TV programmes and films, from the credulous to the sceptical: an example being the 2004 mockumentary Incident at Loch Ness by Werner Herzog and Zak Penn. But above all there was tourism. Nessie appeared on postcards, shortbread tins, calendars, cartoons, tea towels. . . and tourists flocked (and still flock) to the area, far more than would ever have been drawn by the area's natural beauties. Many people along the loch depend economically upon Nessie; it's surely done more to boost the area that any conventional regeneration / development project.

None of that could have happened if Nessie didn't somehow feed a basic human desire for mysteries and folk tales. So the answer to the long-standing question "Where's Nessie?" is that somehow he / she / it is within every one of us; and we need Nessie more than it needs us.

See

 * Urquhart Castle is an impressive ruin from the 13th-16th century on a headland two miles south of Drumnadrochit.
 * Loch Ness Centre in Drumnadrochit covers the natural science of the loch, while Nessieland is the theme-park version.
 * The Caledonian Canal stretches 60 miles from Corpach on Loch Linnhe west of Fort William to the Moray Firth at Inverness. Several ladders of locks carry the canal up the gradient to Loch Oich: the four Muirtown locks at Inverness Marina at the north terminus of the canal, the five Fort Augustus locks at the south end of Loch Ness, and the eight Banavie locks ("Neptune's Staircase") above Corpach at the southern terminus. The maximum boat length that can be accommodated is 150 ft (45.72 m) and the maximum beam is 35 ft (10.7 m).

Do

 * Boat trips venture out onto the loch from Fort Augustus, Drumnadrochit and Inverness - the latter may include a town centre pick-up, or you may need to make your own way to the jetty.
 * Hike: Loch Ness is a popular area for walkers (see walkhighlands.co.uk for detailed suggestions). The Great Glen Way parallels the loch's west bank, passing through all the main villages.

Stay safe
Usual advice applies about Scottish weather - it doesn't have to be winter to be rough - and never underestimate Loch Ness. It's a long, deep, cold lake aligned with the prevailing south-westerly winds, so there can be an hefty "fetch" on the water with big waves. Swimmers, it's cold out there and it's fresh water, so you're not as buoyant as in the sea.

Go next

 * Inverness is a pleasant Victorian town, with onward routes towards Aberdeenshire, Black Isle and Ross & Cromarty. It's the start and finish of North Coast 500 motoring route.
 * Aviemore is the main town in the Spey Valley, a good base for exploring the Cairngorms. Reach it via Inverness or via the Spean Valley to Kingussie.
 * Fort William is a drab town but the start of the Road to the Isles traditional route to Skye. But go direct west on A87 for the modern route over the bridge.

title: Loch Ness


text:
Lochristi

Lochristi is a residential town of 22,000 inhabitants in East Flanders, known for its horticulture.

By car
The main road is N70 Ghent-Antwerp. The E17 motorway Ghent-Antwerp has an exit in Beervelde.

Go next
Lochristi is close to Ghent.

title: Lochristi


text:
Lockerbie

Lockerbie is a town in Dumfries and Galloway in southwest Scotland, with a population of 4190 in 2020. It's on the road and railway between Carlisle and Glasgow, and grew up as a "planned town" from the 18th century. But its name is forever linked to the terrorist bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 above the town on 21 December 1988.

Understand
Pan Am Flight 103 was a regular service from Frankfurt via London Heathrow and New York JFK to Detroit. It involved a change of plane at Heathrow for the transatlantic sector, and on 21 Dec 1988 this aircraft was Clipper Maid of the Seas, a "Jumbo" Boeing 747-121. The winter night had fallen when it left on time, taking off at 6:25PM. At 7:02PM over Lockerbie it was decapitated by an explosion: the nose with the flight crew fell into a field east of town at Tundergarth, where it became the defining image of the tragedy. The rest plunged into the houses both sides of the railway track in the south part of town, and the fuel caused a huge explosion. All 243 passengers and 16 crew were killed, and 11 residents of Lockerbie.

An immense forensic investigation combed the area for evidence. This pointed to a bomb placed in an unaccompanied suitcase flown to Frankfurt from Luqa airport Malta, wrapped up in clothing purchased in Sliema. The shopkeeper identified Abdelbaset al-Megrahi, a Libyan. This man had entered Malta on a false passport and left Luqa for Tripoli at the same time as the departure to Frankfurt, so he had an opportunity to switch tags on the fatal bag. In 1991 he was indicted for 270 murders, along with Lamin Khalifah Fhimah the Libyan airlines manager at Luqa.

There was then a great game of diplomatic and legal chess, with UN sanctions against Libya, a pariah state under its leader Muammar Gaddafi. In 1999 Gaddafi handed over the two men at a neutral venue, Camp Zeist near Utrecht in the Netherlands. Scotland claimed jurisdiction under its separate legal system, and a panel of three Scots judges convened at Camp Zeist in their Calvinist robes and cravats. Both the accused declined to testify. In 2001 al-Mehgrahi was found guilty but Fhimah was acquitted.

Appeals came and went and al-Mehgrabi spent 10 years in Scottish jails protesting his innocence. He was released in 2009 terminally ill with prostate cancer, but the Libyan climate revived him, and he survived until 2012. There have been plenty of alternative theories but it's difficult to avoid the conclusion that he did what the judges decided he did, but was acting on behalf of others who were never brought to justice.

By road
Lockerbie is along the main Carlisle - Glasgow road A74(M). Bikes and non-motorway traffic should take B7076 the old road parallel.

North, the motorway and old road run level to Beattock village (turnoff for Moffat) then climb over Beattock summit at 1033 ft (315 m) before descending the Clyde valley to Abington (turn-off for Edinburgh), Hamilton and Glasgow. The summit can be wintry but it's very rare for the motorway to close. It's sometimes Scotland's lifeline when all other roads are blocked.

The town is on the main London - Glasgow railway line, but most trains thunder through non-stop. From London or the Midlands change onto the hourly Transpennine trains, which run from Liverpool or from Manchester Airport and Piccadilly via Preston, Lancaster, Oxenholme (for Lake District), Penrith and Carlisle. They continue from Lockerbie either to Motherwell and Glasgow Central, or to Edinburgh.

By train
Change at Carlisle for the train from Newcastle via Hexham, and the slow train from Glasgow Central via Kilmarnock, Sanquhar, Dumfries, Annan and Gretna Green.

is in town centre. There's a staffed ticket office but no machines. There are toilets and a waiting room, and step-free access to both platforms.

By bus
Stagecoach West Scotland Bus 81 runs from Dumfries M-Sa every 30 min, every two hours on Sunday, taking 20 min via Torthorwald to Lockerbie High St and continuing to Broomhouses industrial estate.

Houston's Bus 382 trundles 3 or 4 times a day from Carlisle, taking 80 min via Gretna, Kirtlebridge and Ecclefechan; the train takes less than 20 min.

Houston's Bus 380 runs every couple of hours from Moffat, taking 35 min via Beattock and Newton Wamphray.

Inter-city buses for Glasgow and Edinburgh rush past on the motorway and don't stop here. Change at Moffat for the Glasgow - Dumfries service.

Get around
You can walk round town, including the mile to the cemetery, as A709 Dumfries Road has a sidewalk that far. You need wheels for anything further out.

Taxis in town are Sandy's Cab (+44 7851 723643), PA Taxis (+44 7591 648400) and AC Taxis (+44 7597 199357).

See

 * is a well-ruined 14th century bastion, abandoned in the 17th century. It's free to view 24 hours. You might question how its Hereditary Keeper the Earl of Mansfield is discharging his responsibilities, but on his watch no enemy has seized this rubble.
 * is another 14th-century turret, but renovated into a family residence, lately the home of historian Steven Runciman (1903-2000). The house is available to let as a private study and spiritual retreat, if you happen to be Russian Orthodox, and the grounds may be open to stroll.
 * is a natural redoubt on the edge of Ae Forest, a promontory surrounded by deep gullies and reinforced by an earthwork rampart and dyke. It's believed William Wallace and his men were based here in 1297 as they planned to capture Lochmaben Castle (predecessor to the present ruin). But this redoubt is probably centuries older.
 * is a well-ruined 14th century bastion, abandoned in the 17th century. It's free to view 24 hours. You might question how its Hereditary Keeper the Earl of Mansfield is discharging his responsibilities, but on his watch no enemy has seized this rubble.
 * is another 14th-century turret, but renovated into a family residence, lately the home of historian Steven Runciman (1903-2000). The house is available to let as a private study and spiritual retreat, if you happen to be Russian Orthodox, and the grounds may be open to stroll.
 * is a natural redoubt on the edge of Ae Forest, a promontory surrounded by deep gullies and reinforced by an earthwork rampart and dyke. It's believed William Wallace and his men were based here in 1297 as they planned to capture Lochmaben Castle (predecessor to the present ruin). But this redoubt is probably centuries older.
 * is a natural redoubt on the edge of Ae Forest, a promontory surrounded by deep gullies and reinforced by an earthwork rampart and dyke. It's believed William Wallace and his men were based here in 1297 as they planned to capture Lochmaben Castle (predecessor to the present ruin). But this redoubt is probably centuries older.

Do

 * Golf: Lockerbie GC is on Corrie Rd just east of town. Lochmaben GC is five miles west. Several more around Dumfries.
 * Golf: Lockerbie GC is on Corrie Rd just east of town. Lochmaben GC is five miles west. Several more around Dumfries.
 * Golf: Lockerbie GC is on Corrie Rd just east of town. Lochmaben GC is five miles west. Several more around Dumfries.

Buy

 * Tesco is the main store, by the railway station. It's open M-Sa 7AM-1PM, Su 8AM-10PM.
 * Farmers Market is in Town Hall on the third Saturday of the month Sep-Dec and Feb-Jul: 9:30AM-1PM.
 * Farmers Market is in Town Hall on the third Saturday of the month Sep-Dec and Feb-Jul: 9:30AM-1PM.

Eat

 * Lucky Rainbow is a Chinese takeaway at 46 High St, open Th-Su 4:30-7PM.
 * Lucky Rainbow is a Chinese takeaway at 46 High St, open Th-Su 4:30-7PM.
 * Lucky Rainbow is a Chinese takeaway at 46 High St, open Th-Su 4:30-7PM.

Drink

 * Brewery: Lowland Brewing on Well St make a range of ales. No tours.
 * Distilleries: see Dumfries for two in Dalton - Ninefold make rum and Oro make gin. The nearest whisky distillery is in Annan.
 * Brewery: Lowland Brewing on Well St make a range of ales. No tours.
 * Distilleries: see Dumfries for two in Dalton - Ninefold make rum and Oro make gin. The nearest whisky distillery is in Annan.
 * Distilleries: see Dumfries for two in Dalton - Ninefold make rum and Oro make gin. The nearest whisky distillery is in Annan.

Sleep

 * Lochmaben has Crown Hotel.
 * Ecclefechan has Ecclefechan Hotel, Kirkconnel Hall Hotel and Cressfield.
 * Lochmaben has Crown Hotel.
 * Ecclefechan has Ecclefechan Hotel, Kirkconnel Hall Hotel and Cressfield.
 * Lochmaben has Crown Hotel.
 * Ecclefechan has Ecclefechan Hotel, Kirkconnel Hall Hotel and Cressfield.
 * Lochmaben has Crown Hotel.
 * Ecclefechan has Ecclefechan Hotel, Kirkconnel Hall Hotel and Cressfield.
 * Ecclefechan has Ecclefechan Hotel, Kirkconnel Hall Hotel and Cressfield.

Connect
Lockerbie and the A74(M) have 4G from all UK carriers, but there's little signal on the side lanes. As of March 2022, 5G has not reached this area.

Go next

 * Dumfries is where the poet Robert Burn spent his final years.
 * Annan is where they brewed "the devil's porridge", a military secret.
 * Gretna is still an English wedding destination, but the Scots never needed to elope there.

title: Lockerbie


text:
Lock Haven

Lock Haven is a city in the Pennsylvania Wilds. The city is the county seat of Clinton County.

Get in
From the east: follow Interstate 80 west to the Lock Haven exit. Head north on 220 for seven miles.

From the west: follow Interstate 80 east to the Lock Haven exit. Head north on 220 for seven miles.

From the north: follow US 220-South to Lock Haven.

From the south: follow Interstate 99/US 220-North to Lock Haven.

Get around
Get into a car and drive, or ride your bicycle anywhere in the town. If you have a boat, you can push off into the West Branch Susquehanna River.

See
Beautiful fall foliage, high mountain peaks, and Amish farm country are all within 10 minutes of Lock Haven.

Do
Check out Avenue 209 Coffee House, with live music and open mic night. Then visit Lock Haven University. End your day with a drink at Uncle Albert's tavern, or the Hangar 9.

Eat
Texas Hotdogs, or pizza from Checkers.

Drink
16-oz Stegmaier's for a dollar all day every day at the Hangar 9!

title: Lock Haven


text:
Lockport

Lockport is a city in the Niagara Frontier of New York. It is the county seat of Niagara County, and is a few miles from Buffalo. The city is surrounded by the town of Lockport. Both the town and city are named after the double Erie Canal lock.

Get in
From Buffalo-Niagara International Airport, it's less than a 30-minute drive to Downtown Lockport. Lockport is served by the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA). Lockport is a 30-minute drive east of Niagara Falls, NY down Route 31.

Get around
It is best to rent a car. In the summer Lockport has a tourism trolley. The NFTA bus stops are not far from the downtown attractions.

See

 * There is a museum in the old lock control structure that contains historic photographs, maps, engineering drawings, and machinery.
 * The Canal Discovery Center is housed in an old church about 100 yards to the west of the locks.
 * Lockport is home to the widest bridge in North America which spans the canal to the southwest of the locks.
 * The Lockport Caves tour can be taken near the locks.
 * The Niagara County Historical Society at 215 Niagara Street is a complex of buildings that together tell the story of Niagara County history.
 * 100 American Craftsmen is an annual show of arts and crafts held at the Kenan Arena. The arena is on the historic Kenan Center campus.
 * Ida Fritz park plays host to the Taste of Lockport every August and to a Cruise Night every Monday during the summer.
 * Lockport is the home of the Molson Canal Concert Series on Fridays in the summer. The series brings national acts to the Ulrich City Centre and events are free of admission charge.
 * Just outside of Lockport is Niagara Wine Trail. It features 10 wineries.

Buy
A bookshop on the Erie Canal at the Erie Canal Discovery Center or Lockport Locks and Erie Canal Cruises.

Go next

 * Niagara Falls
 * Buffalo

title: Lockport


text:
Locust Dale

Locust Dale is an unincorporated community located in Virginia.

title: Locust Dale


text:
Locust Grove

Locust Grove is in the Green Country region of Oklahoma.

title: Locust Grove


text:
Lo de Marcos

Lo de Marcos is a town in Nayarit, Mexico. It has a year-round population of around 2,500, which swells to 3,000-3,500 between November and April. It is particularly popular  with Canadian tourists.

Understand
The tourist crowd is an interesting blend of Mexican and international visitors. Many of the rental properties on or near the beach are owned by Mexicans from inland, most of those from Guadalajara. Probably 60-70% of the tourists in Lo de Marcos are retirees that are there for part or all of the winter. Many of those are recreational vehicle owners that live in the 5 main RV parks on or near the beach.

Of the non-Mexican tourists, the split seems to be around 80%-20% Canadians to Americans, judging by the license plates in town. Americans are most likely to be from Northern California, Oregon, or Washington State. Canadians are most likely to be from British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Quebec. One of the jokes in town is that there are about as many Saskatchewan Roughrider flags flying as there are Mexican flags. The notable Quebecois tourist population in Lo de Marcos is primarily at the north end of the beach. Seasonal residents sometimes refer to this jokingly as the "French Quarter". So yes, you can be misunderstood in at least 3 languages in this little town.

By bus
Getting to Lo de Marcos (or anywhere on the Riviera Nayarit), is easy. Direct buses up highway 200 are available from the Puerto Vallarta airport. It's about 45 minutes to an hour from the PV airport to Lo de Marcos.

Get around
At about 2 km², all of Lo de Marcos is very walkable, even with a beer in hand. Visitors often travel to nearby towns such as San Francisco (San Pancho), Sayulita, Rincon de Guayabitos, and La Peñita for additional sightseeing. This can be done via taxi or bus. Buses run frequently along highway 200. The bus stop for Lo de Marcos is near the convenience store on the highway.

See
Lo de Marcos' biggest draw is obvious. It is blessed with a long, wide stretch of near-perfect, and almost completely empty, beach. There is a river outflow on the north end of the beach near the Tlaquepaque RV park and resort, and tidal pools at the south end. Humpback whales are commonly seen off of the beach. Lo de Marcos is built around a central natural wetland, where turtles, waterfowl, and other wildlife can be spotted. Iguanas are not uncommon.

There are festivals several times a year, including independence day and Semana Santa (Easter week). On these holidays and long weekends, the beach swells with tourists from inland.

Do
What not to do is more like it. Hanging out in a chair on the fantastic beach with a beer and friends should be this town's logo.

The surf break at Lo de Marcos can range from lake calm to large angry breakers. The south end of the beach is suitable for surfing, and it's not uncommon for the local kids to show up with their boards after school. Most of the surf break at Lo de Marcos are large breakers that crash quickly and produce a long, strong churn, very suitable for boogie boarding by people of all ages. Kayaking is popular here.

Many species of fish inhabit the waters just off the coast here. Sierra, Dorado, Huachinango (red snapper), sea perch, and Bhota (blue triggerfish) are commonly fished for because of their abundance and excellent taste. If you're interested in angling or catching your lunch, many local fishermen are open to taking on passengers, and both the rate and company is always good.

Golf- The town is blessed with a lovely little golf course 15 minutes away. You can golf to your hearts content at Campo de Esuenos (Field of Dreams). This lovely executive course has a par 4 and a signature par 5 with an island green. In addition, an open air clubhouse with state of the art kitchen, dance floor, and Canadian satellite TV on the big screen ensure that this will be a well-used party destination for the Canadian and American snowbirds.

Buy
There are a few souvenir shops with handmade crafts. Several stores specialize in beach gear (towels, beach toys, inflatables, etc.) There are several clothing outlets. In general, Lo de Marcos has all of the staples of day-to-day living, but does not have the overdeveloped (and expensive) retail of traditional travel destinations.

There are also some beach vendors selling jewelry and local handicrafts, but you certainly won't be harassed by them like in established tourist destinations. If you're looking to shop, the 15 minute drive to Rincon de Guayabitos or La Peñita to the north, or Sayulita or Puerto Vallarta to the south are in order.

Drink
There are 3 or 4 liquor stores in Lo de Marcos. Liquor prices are, on average, about 10% higher than in discount chains or outlets in larger towns.

Eat
There are 4 or 5 great restaurants in Lo de Marcos, most offering excellent traditional Mexican fare. The restaurant at the Tlaquepaque Hotel is excellent. On Saturday nights, the number of food service outlets triples as the town square comes alive with taco wagons and entertainment. "Taco hopping" is a common Saturday activity among seasonal visitors. The puerco con piña (roasted pork with pineapple) and tacos lengua (beef tongue) are local favorites. Ground pork is the most common taco served. Because of the abundance of fresh seafood, excellent ceviche is abundant.

Lo de Marcos also has a fantastic rustic clay oven bakery, producing a wide variety of breads, cakes, pastries, and other delectable treats. There are several grocery stores with all the items required for daily life, and also a local produce wagon that will bring all varieties of produce to your door, including tourist imports like potatoes and apples. And no trip to the town square would be complete without a slice of Arcelia's chocolate tres-leche cake.

Homesick for some western fare? Burgers and hot dogs abound in Lo D, but many visitors head up to Rincon de Guayabitos to someplace like Jaimie y Tequila Willie's on the south end of the beach. Here the Western Canadian influence is in full effect, since you can watch an NHL hockey game and chow down on very reasonably priced prime imported Alberta beef.

Sleep
There are 4 or 5 small hotels in Lo de Marcos. However, it's common for residents also have bungalows for rent above their primary residences. Many beach houses can also be rented, either short or long term.

Go next

 * Compostela
 * Bucerias
 * Tepic
 * Ixtlán del Rio

title: Lo de Marcos


text:
Lodi (California)

Lodi is a city in San Joaquin County in California's San Joaquin Valley.

By train
Four daily Amtrak trains calls at Lodi, via the San Joaquins service between Sacramento and Bakersfield. is next to the Transit Center at 24 S Sacramento St.

By bus
Greyhound also has a station at the Lodi Transportation Station.

Get around
A car is the preferred way to get around Lodi but the city does have public transit available. Lodi Grapeline is the transit agency for the City of Lodi. It has 5 fixed routes that provide service to virtually all parts of Lodi and provides a Dial-A-Ride service for direct trips in the Lodi area. Its terminal is at the Lodi Transportation Station.

Drink
Lodi is known for its Zinfandel wineries.

Sleep
Galt, only a few minutes north, also has many accommodation options.

Go next

 * Sacramento - 35 miles north on Route 99, about 35 minutes up to 1h 15 minutes on peak hours, home to the California State Fair, Sutter's Fort, and the California State Capitol.
 * Stockton - 10 miles south on Route 99, Home to University Of The Pacific

title: Lodi (California)