Okay so why have I not been to Loch Lomond Shores before? Well, I’ve been on the shore shores of Loch Lomond. Like the banks of Loch Lomond. But never the shopping shores. Why have none of you been good enough to tell me about this place? It’s a cracker! I got massive Miami Bayside Marketplace vibes from this fabulous outdoor shopping complex. Well, asides from the weather… and the temperature. Other than that, shopping on the banks of one of the most famous lochs in Scotland was a vibe all in itself. We arrived first thing in the morning for our visit to Sea Life Loch Lomond so it was really quiet. But it was crisp, Autumnal and proper pumpkin-spiced latte life.
Loch Lomond Shores
We were staying at the Lodge on Loch Lomond which is literally only 15 minutes away from the sea life centre and my new found love, Loch Lomond Shores. But I didn’t know this until we were running late and panic satnav-ing. If I had known that the shopping complex was there, I so would have arrived earlier for an afternoon wander around Jenners. Maybe some lunch. Some wine. Whatever. Instead, I was up to my eyes in the loch having a wee swim, and running around Luss like a headless chicken. Fit fun though!
Sea Life Loch Lomond
Suffice to say we’d never been to Sea Life Loch Lomond either. There’s literally heaps going on at Loch Lomond that I knew nothing about. I’m going to have to go back for a good month to shop, spy on the fishies at the Sea Life centre, swim and truly explore. The canal locks nearby were pretty impressive on my 5-second glimpse out the window. If you’re heading to Loch Lomond, take your time. Aside from the lovely scenery, there’s actually heaps to do.
The Sea Life Centre was a really fun morning out. I love the sea and all things sea life so I was in my water element. If I’m not in the water looking for fishies, I am out of the water looking for fishies. With the covid-19 pandemic, things were a little different at the centre but this didn’t take away from the fun at all. Our temperature was checked when we came in and there were staff members going around with cleaning equipment. There were markers on the floor and a one-way system to ensure social distancing. If anything, we enjoyed it more so as it felt like we had parts of the aquarium to ourselves.
You Otter Believe It
My favourite bits of the centre were the otter den, the aquarium walkthrough tunnel and the open-top floor with awesome Loch Lomond views. I love otters. I didn’t know I loved otters until we visited. Now all otters are my friends. Otters are the most entertaining wee water babes, a little like seals in that way, and they loved showing off their underwater skills, putting us to shame (although it wouldn’t take much).
If you’re looking for something to do around Loch Lomond, we definitely recommend Loch Lomond Shores and Sea Life Loch Lomond for a nice easy-going day out in amongst some of the best scenery in Scotland. You can book your sea life excursion here.
