Champagne seaplane tour over the Trossachs

Loch Lomond, Britain's largest lake, is considered the gateway to the Highlands. It’s surrounded by lowland meadows, the wild and untouched scenery of the Trossachs National Park and, as the lake narrows to the north, a deep glacial valley flanked by steep-sided mountains.

Much of this landscape is inaccessible by road and the distances involved mean that only fragments can be explored on foot. By air, however, the scenery is revealed in all its glory, the sweeping landscape of rugged mountains, green glens and steely lochs unfolding before you, castles sprinkled on lake shores. The ever-changing light makes each vista unique.

The champagne seaplane tour over the Trossachs is a 40-minute flight that departs from the dock on the shore of Loch Lomond at the Cameron House Hotel. Meet your crew and fellow passengers and get a short safety briefing as well as information on the planned route for the trip before climbing on board. Because of the plane’s small size, you’ll have to climb up a ramp to get inside.

The precise route of your flight is determined by the pilot on the day and depends on weather conditions both locally and out on the west coast. Whatever route you fly, the tour covers close to 70 miles, taking you over the spectacular mountainous landscape of the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, and out toward Scotland’s west coast.

The tour allows you to see the beautiful scenery of this part of Scotland from a unique vantage point. Your pilot will call attention to various points of interest throughout the flight, and will do his best to ensure that both sides of the tiny plane get similar views.

As you pass some of Scotland's most famous and most climbed mountains, learn about Viking longships on the lakes, famous writers who were inspired by the landscape and Queen Victoria's love of the region.

You'll fly past Ben Lomond, Scotland's most southerly munro (a peak over 914 m [3,000 ft]), as well as the ancient Arrochar Alps and spot castles and abbeys, royal residences and some of the first tourist routes through the mountains before coming in to land over the tiny islands of southern Loch Lomond.

At the end of the flight, return to the landing point on Loch Lomond to enjoy a glass of champagne on the dock, share your reaction with fellow passengers and then continue your afternoon at your leisure.