William McGonagall’s “Loch Katrine” reads like an enthusiastic travel brochure written by someone utterly smitten with the Scottish landscape. The speaker can’t stop urging us to visit in summer, when the loch is at its most “lovely and sublime.” Every stanza circles back to the same refrain, creating a chant-like, almost hypnotic invitation. His admiration spills over into naming mountains, steamers, shimmering reflections, and tiny rippling streams—anything that catches his eye. There’s a charming ordinariness too: he marvels that the water ends up in Glasgow’s pipes, and he pictures tourists being cheered up by the view at Ellen’s Isle or imagining Rob Roy relaxing by the shore. It’s not finely crafted poetry, but the mood is infectious. You feel the speaker’s genuine, unguarded delight, as if he’s tugging your sleeve, insisting you share something that made him wonderfully happy. The poem’s warmth lies in its simplicity and its big-hearted, repetitive praise.
Loch Katrine — Summary
Beautiful Loch Katrine in all thy majesty so grand, Oh! how charming and fascinating is thy silver strand! Thou certainly art most lovely, and worthy to be seen, Especially thy beautiful bay and shrubberies green.
Then away to Loch Katrine in the summer time, And feast on its scenery most lovely and sublime; There's no other scene can surpass in fair Scotland, It's surrounded by mountains and trees most grand. And as I gaze upon it, let me pause and think, How many people in Glasgow of its water drink, That's conveyed to them in pipes from its placid lake, And are glad to get its water their thirst to slake.
Then away to Loch Katrine in the summer time, And feast on its scenery most lovely and sublime; There's no other scene can surpass in fair Scotland, It's surrounded by mountains and trees most grand. The mountains on either side of it are beautiful to be seen, Likewise the steamers sailing on it with their clouds of steam: And their shadows on its crystal waters as they pass along, Is enough to make the tourist burst into song.
Then away to Loch Katrine in the summer time, And feast on its scenery most lovely and sublime; There's no other scene can surpass in fair Scotland, It's surrounded by mountains and trees most grand. 'Tis beautiful to see its tiny wimpling rills, And the placid Loch in the hollow of a circle of hills, Glittering like silver in the sun's bright array, Also many a promontory, little creek, and bay.
Then away to Loch Katrine in the summer time, And feast on its scenery most lovely and sublime; There's no other scene can surpass in fair Scotland, It's surrounded by mountains and trees most grand. Then to the east there's the finely wooded Ellen's Isle, There the tourist can the tedious hours beguile, As he gazes on its white gravelled beautiful bay, It will help to drive dull care away.
Then away to Loch Katrine in the summer time, And feast on its scenery most lovely and sublime; There's no other scene can surpass in fair Scotland, It's surrounded by mountains and trees most grand. The mountains Ben-An and Ben-Venue are really very grand Likewise the famous and clear silver strand; Where the bold Rob Roy spent many a happy day, With his faithful wife, near by its silvery bay.
Then away to Loch Katrine in the summer time, And feast on its scenery most lovely and sublime; There's no other scene can surpass in fair Scotland, It's surrounded by mountains and trees most grand.