Uppa Close, unique retro themed flat, Loch Lomond

Uppa Close is accessible by public transport, but it is better to have a car, as restaurants and attractions are a short distance away. It's perfect for two people, but can accommodate another two on a sofa bed in the living room. It is a ten minute drive from Loch Lomond, twenty minute drive from Glasgow Airport, and a forty minute drive from Glasgow city centre. Uppa Close is a one bedroom first-floor flat in a refurbished 1950s tenement block. It sits on its own dead-end street adjacent to the main road, with open aspects to the front and rear. Free parking is usually available directly across the road from the flat - you will certainly get a space nearby. Uppa Close is in a residential area, with no pubs or restaurants nearby - but a short drive or bus journey, or two stops on the train, takes you to the heart of Balloch and its nightlife. The bedroom has two single beds. The living room has a metal frame pull out sofa bed, which is fine for two light adults. The flat has gas central heating throughout. The kitchen has an electric cooker, microwave oven and toaster. There is no washing machine, but you can do a hand wash in the sink, and an airing rack is provided. You may also hang your washing on the communal clothes line in the back yard, at your own risk. Uppa Close has a small tv, wifi, and dvd player. There is a selection of dvds, books and board games. We aim to meet your basic accommodation needs in a comfortable and eco-friendly way, from pre-loved furniture to recycled toilet paper to a completely green energy supplier. We have a social media page (not the tweeting one, the other one!) which often has useful information about the area. Feel free to contribute to it. As a visitor, you might have holiday tips which us locals miss - drop in and share your expertise! (I'm not allowed to post web links, but if you search for Uppa Close you'll find us.) You have access to the entire flat (I don't live on site), and to the communal back yard, which has a small patch of grass, a washing line, and the communal bins. I'll meet you at the beginning of your stay, to hand over the keys and show you round. I live a twenty minute drive away: get in touch if you need anything. There is a small supermarket about a five minute walk from the flat (go left along the main road). Alexandria has a small Co-op and a good Aldi. Balloch has a larger Co-op. St James Retail Park in Dumbarton offers a Morrisons, a 24-hour Asda and an M&S Food shop. There are no pubs or clubs in the immediate vicinity, but both Balloch and Dumbarton are a very short train or bus journey away. Renton Station is home to the Robert the Bruce Heritage Centre. Scotland's great medieval king retired to what is now Renton - he lived out his life in a mansion on the banks of the river Leven. After his death, his heart was famously taken on crusade, and his body is buried in Dunfermline Abbey. But not many folk know that the Bruce's entrails and breastbone were buried in St Serfs Chapel in nearby Dumbarton. This town - the ancient capital of Strathclyde - is 3 miles away, and its castle, perched high on Dumbarton Rock, is well worth a visit. For those with a nautical interest, the Denny Tank Museum concentrates on the history of Clyde shipbuilding. The tank in this instance is the world's first commercial ship model experiment tank. The famous Cutty Sark tea clipper ship, now on display in London, was built in Dumbarton in 1869. 2.5 miles from the flat in the opposite direction takes you to Balloch, and Lomond Shores - the shopping centre and visitor gateway to Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. Explore the aquarium, hire a canoe or visit the Maid of the Loch - the historic paddle steamer undergoing restoration, and aiming for a return to full cruising ability. Take a cruise on one of the modern boats, or get the water bus to a destination further up the lochside. If water isn't your thing, take a stroll round Balloch Country Park. Helensburgh sits on the Clyde 8 miles from Renton. Stroll along its seafront, or visit the Hill House, designed by everyone's favourite Scottish architect, Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Catch the Waverley paddle steamer at Helensburgh pier for a return trip 'doon the watter'. Visit the Tower Digital Arts Centre, Helensburgh's independent cinema. Or sit in a cafe in Helensburgh's newly refurbished Colquhoun Square and watch the world go by. For hillwalkers, there is something suitable for all abilities. The National Park is home to 21 munros, many of which are within a one hour drive from the flat. Ben Lomond, our most southerly munro, is a 45 minute drive away and is a relatively straightforward ascent. Or challenge yourself with the twin beasts of Ben More and Stob Binnein, looming above Crianlarich. If you'd prefer a shorter day, the Luss Hills are worth a visit. Steep grassy slopes give way to great views at the summits, and there's a good chance you'll have the hills to yourself. Conic Hill, above Balmaha, is a short sharp shock with tremendous views of Loch Lomond. It's a very popular walk, and there's an ice cream shop (and a pub/restaurant) in Balmaha for when you get back down! Renton train station is a 10 minute walk from the flat. For drivers, Renton is just off the A82: this main route goes from Glasgow to the Highlands, travelling the whole western side of Loch Lomond on the way. There are local bus stops close to the flat. The cycle path from Glasgow to Loch Lomond runs along the river Leven, a very short distance from the flat. Take a walk upriver to Balloch, or downriver to Dumbarton, and if you don't fancy the return journey just get the train back to Renton station.