The first thing on our list today was to go
to Mount Stuart House but we learned yesterday that it was
closed today. Luckily, we were able to change our ferry time
and location which allowed us to explore Loch Lomond before
catching the ferry to Rothesay this evening. Our first visit
was to the
Sea Life Aquarium.
This turned out to be a really good experience because the
tanks were curved and clean. This meant we could get some
great movies and photos!
The "
Maid of the Loch",
built in 1953, was the last sea-going paddle steamer to be
made in the UK. She sailed in Loch Lomond for 29 years until
1981. She was laid up at Balloch Pier and left to
deteriorate. Since 1995, a dedicated group of enthusiasts
has worked hard to get her back on the loch. Through a grant
of £900,000 from the Scottish government and donations from
many sources, work is well under way. It is hoped
that, in the next few years, she will once again grace the
waters of Loch Lomond. We were able to board the ship, which
can carry 1000 passengers, to view the engine room and an
exhibition.