The Loch Café is a timber frame building, which is located near Bala Lake. It has sturdy chapel wooden pews with views of the lake, which certainly attracts the hungry tourists.
It’s in a prime position for the number of paddle boarders, cold water swimmers and hikers who visit this beautiful part of the world. I didn’t fancy dipping my toes into the cold lake myself. However, the lure of a sausage sandwich was a different matter entirely.
The cafe has an ice cream parlour near the counter with a fridge full of delicious looking cakes on the other side. Outside, there is a gelato cabin with some picnic tables for when the weather is kinder.
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The simple no nonsense menu offers a full cooked breakfast for £8.50 and double egg and chips costs £7.99. There is a small children’s menu with meals priced at about £5.50 and there were quite a few vegetarian options on offer as well.
The views from the café are amazing as we stare out at Llyn Tegid and wonder about the stories that claim that the lake has its very own version of the Loch Ness Monster. Reports of a mysterious creature have cropped up from time to time - and, like the fabled ‘Nessie’ of Loch Ness, the monster has even been given its own nickname ‘Teggie’.
The lake is home to the Gwyniad fish, which have lived in its waters for the past 10,000 years or more. The Gwyniad is certainly not a big specimen and would never be mistaken for a monster.
However, it begs the question that if this ancient fish could survive in the lake, could there be a much bigger species surviving in the expanse of water. Bala Lake is just under four miles long, about half a mile wide and more than 40 metres deep, large enough to hide a monster or monsters.
![Bacon and egg on toast at The Loch Café](https://i2-prod.birminghammail.co.uk/incoming/article27782670.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/0_IMG_5720.jpg)
The food arrives at the table really quickly from a very polite young waitress. The aroma of a freshly cooked breakfast wakes me up from my day dreams about hunting for ‘Teggie’.
A monster of a sausage sandwich is served with three huge sausages cut into half. The sarnie is soon demolished with the aid of some brown sauce to help with digestion.
My wife has a similar experience with her three rashes of bacon and a fried egg served sunny side up on top of two slices of brown toast. She slowly and expertly makes a toasted sandwich out of the ingredients and bites into her little slice of happiness. A good old-fashioned mug of frothy milky coffee and a fancy Dan chocolate mocha are our chosen drinks.
![The Loch Café](https://i2-prod.birminghammail.co.uk/incoming/article27782672.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/0_IMG_5724.jpg)
All of a sudden, I am slightly distracted by what looks like a black shadow on the water. Is it the fabled monster? Or perhaps it’s just a paddle boarder with a black wet suit who has falling off his board?
The lake is a calm and tranquil; place where the imagination can certainly run wild. That’s if you can be bothered to drag yourself away from your tasty brekkie of course.
Apparently, the café and a few outbuildings are on the market for a cool £975,000. Hang on, while I break into my piggy bank and count my pennies.
The facts
What we ate and drank: Bacon and Egg on toast £6.75; Sausage sandwich £5.75; Drinks £6.50. Total £19
Address and contact details: Loch Café, Pensarn Road, Bala, LL23 7SR, 07708 617291
Opening times: 9am to 5pm, April to late October at present
Atmosphere: Great views of the lake
Car parking: £5 per car lakeside
Disabled access: Flat flooring although limited space
Service: Warm, welcoming and couldn't do enough for us
Overall: The lake side café with monster size sausage sandwiches