Loch Ard is considered to be the source of the river forth . The river flows nearly 50km into the North Sea near Edinburgh. Which means you could attempt to swim from Loch Ard all the way to Scotland’s capitol. I only had enough time to swim for 10 minutes. Edinburgh will have to wait!

You can either swim at the start of the Loch (if you are coming from Aberfoyle) as there are a couple of parking spots and easy access to the shore or you can drive to Kinlochard and park at the village hall.

There is lots of parking at the hall but the gate is always locked. Which I think symbolically represents how the locals feel about people visiting.

I normally park on the road beside the hall. It can get very busy here so expect to have a bit of trouble parking close to the shore if the weather is good.

The entry point is an old boat dock. Its very shallow here. I can walk out about 50 meters before the water goes over my head.

There is occasionally blue/green algae here but its pretty rare.

The water was nearly 20C as there had ben allot sunshine lately.

Ease of Access:

It can be very busy at the weekend so get there early or park further away and then walk/bike to the start.

Water quality:

The water is pretty clear for a loch. The west end is pretty sheltered so there aren’t many waves even on a windy day

Swim Quality:

A good place to swim but it can be very busy so don’t expect to have it to yourself.

Other People:

It can be very busy.

Would I go back: 

It is good for beginners and it is a great starting point for people who want to try outdoor swimming.