Loch Lomond 'ready for visitors' as travel restrictions ease

Staff at Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park are ready to welcome visitors back on Friday as Scotland’s travel restrictions ease.

From April 16, Scots will be able to leave their local authority area for socialising, recreation or exercise, though travel between the mainland and some islands will not be permitted.

Six adults from up to six households will also be able to meet up outdoors.

The First Minister announced the changes at the Scottish Government’s coronavirus briefing on Tuesday.

Gordon Watson, chief executive of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, told STV News that extra rangers and litter staff will be out in force.

He said: “This weekend we’ll have all of our staff out. Our seasonal staff are all trained, inducted and ready to welcome people to [the national park].

“So we will have extra rangers on the ground [and] extra litter staff to make sure people have a really good experience when they take their first day trip back out to the national park.”

Mr Watson advised all those heading out to plan ahead.

He added: “We know people are desperate to get out after a long winter lockdown, but things aren’t quite the same just yet.

“So if you do come out, businesses won’t be open and not all facilities will be open, so we ask people to plan ahead.

“We expect car parks to be busy, so please check our website to see what car parks have capacity.

“And if they are full, please look at another location and don’t park on road verges.”