Our Place on the banks of Loch Lomond

A Special Place in Scotland

The landscapes around Loch Lomond hold a unique place in Scotland's story, recognised globally as an area of outstanding natural beauty and cultural significance. Montrose Estates sits at the very heart of this special region, stretching from Drymen to Milarrochy Bay and encompassing a diverse mosaic of hills, woodlands, wetlands, farmland, open moorland and pristine shoreline.

Located within Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park—Scotland's first National Park, established in 2002—our lands form part of a landscape that welcomes more than four million visitors every year. These visitors are drawn by iconic scenery, abundant wildlife, diverse outdoor opportunities and rich cultural heritage. Montrose Estates has long played a central role in shaping and stewarding this landscape, working alongside local communities to create a place where people can live, work and enjoy the countryside while protecting the natural environment that makes the area so special.

History

  • The former Buchanan House

  • Buchanan Castle

  • Buchanan Castle - now in ruins

Our Approach to Stewardship

For generations, the Graham family has believed that the best land management balances multiple objectives. We farm the land productively, expand and restore natural habitats, welcome responsible public access, generate renewable energy, support local housing and employment, and maintain the cultural heritage that defines this region.

This approach is not always without tension. Public access and livestock farming require careful management. Conservation and productive land uses sometimes compete. But we believe these tensions can be creative ones—and that the most valuable landscapes are those where multiple uses coexist, each enhancing the others.

Generations of Grahams

Loch Lomond

  • Conic Hill, Loch Lomond and the Highland Boundary Fault

  • Balmaha Bay, one of the most popular places for visitors to Loch Lomond

  • Milarrochy Bay, Loch Lomond on the route of the West Highland Way

A National Park Setting

Being located within Scotland's most popular countryside destination brings particular responsibilities. Our stewardship decisions affect not only the people who work and live here, but hundreds of thousands of visitors who come to enjoy Loch Lomond each year. We take this responsibility seriously and work closely with the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park Authority to ensure our landscape remains healthy, accessible and welcoming. In collaboration with National Park, we invest in and maintain path infrastructure, conduct habitat restoration and promote safe and responsible public access.

Looking Forward

The 21st century presents unprecedented challenges and opportunities for land stewardship. Climate change, nature loss, housing demand, the energy transition and changing patterns of work and recreation all reshape the context in which we manage the estate. Rather than viewing these changes as threats, we see them as prompts to innovate—to demonstrate that responsible land stewardship is dynamic and can deliver solutions to some of Scotland's most pressing challenges.