The Loch Lomond island home to wallabies and how to get there

ANYONE who thinks that wallabies can only be found in their native Australia should think again.

By The Newsroom Wednesday, 17th August 2016, 3:50 pm Updated Thursday, 25th August 2016, 7:07 pm

Picture: Wikimedia

There are, in fact, other places where the marsupials can be found, including right here in Scotland.

Inchconnachan, an island in Loch Lomond, is host to the red-necked species of wallaby and was brought there by Lady Arran Colquhoun in the 1940s.

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Their presence on the island has been the source of some debate. There are those who claim that wallabies on the island threaten the capercaillie – also known as wood grouse – population, while others are sceptical of this given that the two species have co-habited on the island for over 60 years now.

A fisherman on the jetty at Balmaha on Loch Lomond with the island of Inchcailloch in the background. Picture: Stephen Mansfield

Inchconnachan – which translates from from Gaelic as ‘The Colquhoun’s Island’ – contains a wooden bungalow that was built in the 1920s and was the holiday home of late Lady Colquhoun, who later became known as the “fastest granny on water” after reaching 103mph on Lake Windermere in the 1980s.

There is no passenger boat available to visit the island. Those who do visit hire either a speed boat or kayaks and make the journey themselves.

Another option is to book yourself in for a speedboat tour. One company, Loch Lomond Leisure, offer tours from Luss on the eastern shore and Rowardennan farther up on the western shore.

Luss is accessible by bus from the Central Belt, while those wishing to travel to the island from Rowardennan are required to take the ferry from Tarbet Pier. Rowardennan itself can be reached by bus.

A fisherman on the jetty at Balmaha on Loch Lomond with the island of Inchcailloch in the background. Picture: Stephen Mansfield