Loch Lomond is often regarded as one of Scotland’s most stunning destinations.
It’s a place where locals and tourists alike can enjoy the tranquillity of the wilderness while exploring some of the most picturesque scenery the country has to offer.
However, as the loch and the villages surrounding it increasingly become a magnet for innovative new businesses, tensions are starting to reach boiling point between locals, visitors and entrepreneurs who have spotted its potential alike.
The most recent controversary to hit the area has been the arrival of the ‘Hot Tottie Sauna’ in the village of Luss. The sauna is described as a Scandi-inspired wellness spot, designed to offer visitors a unique, relaxing experience after a cold-water dip in the loch.
The business has already drawn a steady stream of customers since it opened last year, however some grumpy locals have blasted its arrival, claiming the sauna’s presence disrupts the village’s charm and heritage.
As well as complaints of parking woes and naked visitors getting changed out of their wet clothes in front of residential houses, some critics have gone as far to say the arrival of the sauna has “intimidated” them and puts the village “in grave danger of being destroyed by commercialism”.
I get it – no one expects to be met with a scantily-clad tourist when they’re standing at their kitchen sink doing the washing up.
But to say the sauna is destroying the charm of the area is ridiculous. If anything, it provides additional character and a breath of fresh air that is bolstering the local economy while adapting to the changing demands of the tourism industry.
It’s not just the Hot Tottie Sauna Scandal that has struck the shores of Loch Lomond, though. There has been another battle unfolding just down the road in Balloch for some time now, with no sign of letting up just yet.
Regular readers of this column will be familiar with the proposed £40 million Lomond Banks development by now. The project promises to transform a derelict area at the side of the loch into a world-class sustainable tourism destination, complete with new attractions, eco-friendly accommodation and improved transport links.
It’s a bold vision that is designed to unlock significant economic potential for the area. However, like the sauna, it faces staunch opposition from locals and short-sighted stakeholders who refuse to see the bigger picture.
Scottish Greens MSP Ross Greer and his cohort of ‘NIMBY’ know-it-all’s have painted the project as an environmental threat, claiming it to be a “commercial overreach” that would damage Loch Lomond’s natural integrity.
However, their outdated, knee-jerk opposition to change fails to acknowledge the rigorous planning, consultation, and mitigation measures the developers have undertaken, as well as the hundreds of jobs and millions of pounds for the local economy it could create.
With Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park Authority having rejected the developers bid and an appeal with ministers currently underway, The Lomond Banks debacle and the Sauna Scandal have revealed a fundamental question – who does Loch Lomond belong to? Is it a sanctuary reserved for those who live nearby, or a resource that should be shared and celebrated?
Those resisting change often forget that Loch Lomond’s appeal has always been its inclusivity – it’s a place for everyone, not just the privileged few who can afford to live on its shores.
Yes, there is a need to protect the loch’s natural beauty. But progress doesn’t have to come at the expense of preservation.
The world is moving forward, and Scotland’s tourism industry must evolve to meet the needs of modern travellers.
Businesses like the Hot Tottie Sauna and Lomond Banks are part of that evolution. They are not enemies of the loch’s heritage – they are a nod to its future, proving that sustainable tourism is not only possible, but essential.
It’s time for the naysayers to step aside and let Loch Lomond shine, not as a relic frozen in time, but as a vibrant, inclusive destination that welcomes everyone to enjoy it.
The loch isn’t just for the locals – it’s for all of us. Let’s ensure it remains that way.
Grangemouth’s Green Future
At the turn of the year, I was in a very positive mood and tried to capture that on the page as I noted all the reasons to be cheerful as we head into 2025.
One of those was the investment being made into new industries and developments across Scotland, including GB Energy in Aberdeen and our new freeports in Inverness and Fife.
The one which stood out to me, though, was the big question over the future of Grangemouth – a site which has dominated the skyline of Central Scotland for decades.
While much of the focus this year will be on the just transition plan for the Grangemouth oil refinery via The Falkirk and Grangemouth Growth Deal, I was heartened to hear the Grangemouth Industrial Cluster being lauded by Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes last week.
On a visit to Celtic Renewables – an innovative company which turns by-products and waste from the food, drink and agriculture industries into high-value green chemicals – Ms Forbes highlighted the groundbreaking technology at play.
The company’s CEO Mark Simmers also spoke of the biorefinery’s global growth ambitions as it starts to regularly ship tankers out of its site.
This can only be a huge plus for Scotland’s economy, as well as the environment, as we attempt to redefine our industrial heritage into a more modern, forward-thinking future.
Hopefully this is just the beginning, with Celtic Renewables at the vanguard of a green revolution for Grangemouth.
It Made Me Laugh
New Year, New Gains?
When doing my usual nosey around the business pages, my eyes were drawn to an excellent piece of marketing from supermarket chain, Iceland.
The frozen food giant has tapped into the nation’s New Year’s resolutions by adding a giant red dumbbell, weighing 15kg, to the side of their shopping baskets.
Iceland added the feature – and turned trolleys into 25kg sleds – after a study by them revealed 56% of people would love to work out while they shop.
It is a genius bit of marketing and consumer understanding.
We Scots could do with moving a little more, as many studies have revealed. Although, loading up your trolley with ice cream and frozen chips perhaps defeats the purpose a little.
It Made Me Weep
Scottish Water Price Rise
While we may not hear about it in the news as much, one story this week was proof enough for me that the cost-of-living crisis is still ongoing.
Following an increase of 8.8 per cent last year, Scottish Water has confirmed that water bills for households will increase by 9.9 per cent from April.
On average, this works out at £3.68 per month, or £44 per year. While this may not seem like a lot, coupled with everything else, it’s another increase consumers could do without.
Not to mention businesses, especially SMEs and local independent retailers, who will definitely feel the pinch of an almost 10 per cent increase on their water bills.
