The Drovers Inn If there is one pub that has to be seen to be believed this is it. Many visitors to Scotland take the A82 from Glasgow, past Loch Lomond in into the Highlands on their way north. Many tourists may not take much notice of an old building with an upended cart outside it's front door in the small village of Inverarnan two miles from Ardlui, at the head of Loch Lomond. For this is the Drovers Inn and well worth a visit. |
 The Grizzly Bear |
The uninitiated visitor is
in for a surprise when he steps past the cart and into
the huge hallway of this ancient pub. Standing sentinal
at the door is a stuffed grizzly bear guarding a
menagerie of other animals that have come to a similar
fate. Glass cases contain ducks and other waterfowl
together with grouse and birds of prey while wall mounted
trophies stare down upon the visitor. In a window is a
two-headed lamb, a mutation recorded in ovine births over
the centuries and either killed by the ewe or an ignorant
human, seeing it as a sign from the Devil. Attitudes towards hunting have changed in recent years and many of the exhibits are valuable as they are from animals that can no longer be hunted due to legislation protecting endangered species. |
| Even today a lot of hunting and shooting still goes on in Scotland and what the visitor may see at the Drovers Inn is a representation of a way of life in this small, culturally rich nation. The animals here would have enjoyed a better quality of life than most modern farm animals, spending life free range in the open before falling to a huntsman's gun, far preferable to the factory farmed animals that are raised in confined cages to produce the meat we take for granted. |
| A door to the left takes
you into the smoky bar, warmed by two open fires,
providing a flavour to the air and a cosy feel to the
place. Here kilted barmen serve you a good range of
drinks and delicious meals, followed by an evening
relaxing at the bar which has a good collection of
Scottish whiskies. The bar has a very Scottish flavour to it and dust and cobwebs have appeared to have formed in many places, giving the inn it's unique, ancient feel. Rob Roy MacGregor no doubt drank here. |
 The Hallway |
I strongly
recommend the Drovers Inn to anybody who is on holiday in
Scotland. Ideally situated, I find it an excellent place
to stop over when I am returning from the Isle of Mull. I
find the accommodation to be well priced, from only £22
per night including Scottish breakfast. Each room has
it's own character, some even have ghosts! Bathroom
facilities are shared. |
 The Dining Room |
Contact:The Drovers Inn, Tel: +44 (0) 1301 704234 |
 Looking down into the hallway |
 One of the bedrooms |
| The Drovers Inn is where the "craic" is at on Saturday nights with regular live music from quality Scottish and Irish bands. Book early for a room on such nights. |
 Live music at the Drovers Inn |
 Guitarist at the Drovers Inn |
| On April 1st, 2002 the Loch Lomond and Trossachs area became Scotland's first National Park. It is one of two currently being set up by the recently established Scottish Parliament. The Park extends from Balloch in the south to Crianlarich in the north and will include the Drovers Inn. Unlike in most other countries where National Park land is owned by the goverment, Loch Lomond National Park will consist of mainly privately owned land subject to planning and other restrictions regarding it's usage. |