Trip to Loch Lomond on the Northern Belle

[Rosalind]

I have just received my tickets today for me and my friend Pauline's trip to Loch Lomond. We leave Newcastle next Saturday at 8.25am and have brunch on the way up to Loch Lomond. We arrive at Helensburgh Upper station at 1.30pm and we are taken by coach to the Balloch Centre, then a cruise on Loch Lomond and a visit to the village of Luss. The we are taken back to the train and we then have a four course dinner with wine. We leave Helensburgh Upper station at 6pm and arrive back in Newcastle at 9.45pm. This is the last part of my 60th birthday celebrations.

[wendy]

How lovely
It looks great enjoy every minute
Xx

[maureenho]

That looks wonderful Rosalind, enjoy and have a fantastic time.

[annie]

Sounds great, hope you enjoy!!!

[wendy]

and I forgot to thank you for starting a new topic
xx

[Rosalind]

We thoroughly enjoyed our trip to Lock Lomond on the Northern Belle. There was 125 people got on at Newcastle, the train had picked up at Darlington and Durham before us. We left Newcastle at 8.30am, we were served brunch, which consisted of a bucks fizz, fruit cocktail, a crumpet with scrambled on it and topped of with smoked salmon and hollandaise sauce. Finishing off with Danish pasteries, butter and preserves, then a choice of tea or coffee. We finished our brunch by 10.30am, at 12.30pm the staff put a fork and spoon in front of us, followed by a bowl. We could not decide what we were having, we were then served, haggis, tatties and nepes, it was very tasty. We arrived at Helensburgh Upper station at 1.30pm and transferred to coaches. We were taken to Balloch pier and got on our boat to cruise across the Loch to the village of Luss. We passed Loch Lomond golf course and apparently the fees for a year there are £66,000. The weather was lovely, sunny with a breeze, which we did not mind.
We got off at the village of Luss and had a look around this quaint village, we then travelled to a shopping centre at Loch Lomond shores, Pauline and I had a cuppa, then looked around the market that was outside.
We were then taken back to the train, which had gone into Glasgow for servicing and it had rained the whole time they were there, so we had been lucky. We left Helensburgh Upper station at 6pm, we stood in the sunshine waiting for the train to arrive.
We started our dinner with champagne, we had chosen a chardonnay to go with our meal, with water as well. We had orderves, then fish, followed by chicken with guinea fowl on a bed of peas in a rich gravy and accompanied by new potatoes. Then there was a choice of cheese with biscuits and chutney, Pauline and I declined, as we wanted to save ourselves for dessert. The dessert was white chocolate cheesecake, topped with strawberries, then there was a choice of tea or coffee. We all received a box which held 4 chocolate truffles. We arrived back at Newcastle at 9.40pm
We had a marvellous day and really enjoyed it, a good time was had by all.

[maureenho]

Sounds like you all had a wonderful time.

[wendy]

glad you had such a great time.
so special

[annie]

I am so pleased to read this.xx

[JaneJ]

Sounds absolutely amazing. What a wonderful experience.

Xx