This page describes the loch and lochside road from Balloch in the south end of LochLomond, up the west side of the Loch to Ardlui and on the east side from Drymen to Rowardennan. Loch Lomond is considered by some to be the jewel of the national park lochs, but it's worth looking around the rest of the National Park to decide just what you want to see and do before deciding where your 'base' is to be.

The loch's southern end is dotted with some thirty-eight of Lochlomond's famed Islands boasting castles, burial grounds and ancient crannogs as well some modern dwellings. It's at its widest at the southern end and it is here that you find the bulk though by no means the best of the visitor attractions on the loch. You can see a photo of the Loch and its islands taken from the south at Duncryne hill at Gartocharn - once the home of Tommy Weir, the walker and TV personality.

Loch Lomond straddles the Highland boundary fault between the lowlands and highlands of Scotland creating a  variety of scenery.  The west shore is followed by the Dumbarton to Crianlarich trunk road. On the east side, a narrow road from Drymen (north-east of Balloch),  follows the east shore through Balmaha to Rowardennan but stops there. Inversnaid, further up the loch can only be reached by a long detour via Aberfoyle or by Lomond ferry services.

Cruises on Loch Lomond and Loch Katrine
SS Sir Walter Scott on Loch Katrine - +44 (0)1877 332000	The Steamship Sir Walter Scott has been sailing majestically on these waters for over a century, allowing today's visitor the opportunity to experience a bygone age which inspired the poet Sir Walter Scott . Breathtaking scenery unfolds as the grand old lady sails serenely on the fresh water of the loch. The gentle rhythm and almost inaudible sound of the steam-engine gives you an unforgettable experience. For the more energetic you can hire a bicycle to cycle alongside tranquil Loch Katrine, there are bikes suitable for all family members. There so much to see and do at Loch Katrine. It's a great day out for the whole family. Web: www.lochkatrine.com
Cruise Loch Lomond +44 (0)1301 702356	The 'Tarbet Explorer' departs for the village of Tarbet from Inversnaid on the western shore of Loch Lomond where you can disembark & spend time ashore for lunch or a walk. The 'Northern Adventure' cruises offer exciting options for experiencing the spectacular & dramatic beauty of Loch Lomond passing Rob Roy McGregors cave & the most northerly island's ruined strongholds. Also, why not hire us for that unique wedding venue Web: www.cruiselochlomond.co.uk
Sweeney's Cruises Loch Lomond +44 (0)1389 752 376	Sweeney's Cruises is a family-run business and has been operating boats on Loch Lomond for over 100 years. We now operate 5 passenger boats: Astina, Silver Marlin, Lomond Duchess, Lomond Sunrise and Glen Falloch. 2 of these boats are available for private charter. On board - our qualified, friendly crew give live commentary and every assistance to disabled persons. Written commentaries are available on-board in 8 different languages. Web: www.sweeney.uk.com

East shore of Lomond

The east shore of the loch is fortunate in having many sheltered bays which makes it popular with Lomond's watersport enthusiasts, but this also makes the narrow east shore road one of the more congested parts with parking difficult at peak periods.

Note:

South west of Loch Lomond

Southwest of Lomond you will find rolling hills which slope down to the sea lochs and seaside resorts of the Clyde coast, places like Helensburgh and Rhu. Further to the  west you find the long sea lochs and the rugged mountains more typical of the northern highlands. Loch Long with Arrochar and the fabulous "Arrochar Alps" being typical examples.
To the east you find the beautiful centre of the Trossachs with a variety of lochs - smaller than Lomond but just as beautiful, each with its own unique attractions, and Callander with its variety of shops, pubs, eating places and probably the biggest selection of accommodation in the 'Loch Lomond and Trossachs national park'. In the north east you come to Balquhidder, the home of Rob Roy MacGregor and finally to the north, the lands of the Campbells, MacNabs, and Stewarts by Lochs Earn, Dochart and Tay.

Drive around the south & west shores

Balloch, southern gateway to Loch Lomond

Balloch is busy, has lots of interest and things to do, although it is perhaps not the most beautiful place on the shores of Loch Lomond!  Here the river Leven exits the loch  and you will find the largest of the many marinas as well as watersports, Lomond trips on motor launches and Balloch Castle.
The railway line from Glasgow terminates here although most trippers now come by road. You'll even find the old Loch Lomond paddle steamer 'Maid of the Loch ' tied up at Balloch pier where it has served as a floating restaurant for some years.

Balloch Castle country park contains the 1808 castle built for  Buchanan of Ardoch and also the small remains of the 13c Balloch castle and is open to the public.

Balloch Visitor Information

Luss - 'the High Road' at Loch Lomond

Over to the west of Balloch the A82 heads north west up locln lomond past the Cameron House Hotel and its resort with marina etc.  If you have the time to explore, in the hills above the hotel are the remains of an Iron age hillfort and a little further west, the 'Lang Cairn', a neolithic chambered tomb over 200 yd long. It's about 5000 years old and contained 20 burials.
Continuing northwestwards, turn right to Duck Bay Marina with its bars, nightclubs etc, and after a while some good vistas over loch Lomond are seen.  Back up to the main road and at Arden the road to Helensburgh via Glen Fruin heads off into the hills on the left. It was near here in Glenfruin that the Colquhoun Clan was massacred by the MacGregors in 1603.

About 1 mile past Arden the road crosses the Water of Fruin.  Rossdu house is now off to the right near the lochside and nearby are the remains of the Castle of Rossdhu and the Chapel of Rossdhu. Further on on the right is Bandry point and Bay.

The main road north passes up the west bank of the Loch passing the Thistle bagpipe works.
At Luss there is a car park from whence you can wander through the lovely old village with its old church, have a cup of tea, and take a sail from the pier at the lochside.   To the south of the pier a path leads to the Church of St MacKessog which was built to commemorate Sir James Colquhoun and four others who drowned in lomond in 1873.  Some interesting grave slabs can be found here, two 'cross slabs' probably dating from the 8th or 9th c.

Luss Visitor Information

Tarbet, Loch Lomond

From Luss, the road continues northwards via Inverbeg (Ferry to Rowardennan has been reported NOT RUNNING . Ardlui Ferry operates April, September & October 9am to 7pm May , June, July, August 9am to 8pm. Contact Ardlui Hotel 01301 704243).

The road to the west here leads from Tarbet  to Arrochar on Loch Long via Glen Douglas, one of the highest roads in the area. 

The loch narrows considerably here as the road continues up Lomond to Tarbet.   About a mile after inverbeg is Rubha Mor (the Great Point) then several little bays best accessed by water.  Firkin Point and Rubha Dubh (Dark point) follow shortly and in the hills above Stuckgowan are the ruins of a village, Clachan Dubh (Black village) which was wiped out by the plague in medieaval times.

Views of Ben Lomond are now seen over the loch most of the way to Tarbet.

At Tarbet, the west  fork from the lochside road takes you over the short pass to Arrochar, Inverary  and Scotland's west coast.

Visitor Information

Arrochar (on Loch Long 1 mile west of Tarbet )

The top end of Loch Long was used as a torpedo testing range and the admiralty pier still remains on the west side of the Loch at the foot of the old 'rest and be thankful' road over to Inverary. The torpedo testing was finally stopped after a torpedo of the type used here exploded unexpectedly on land at another testing range.
Loch Long is a popular diving venu with a number of interesting wrecks to explore.

Arrochar makes an excellent base for exploring the ' Arrochar Alps ' which include Ben Arthur, seen in the above photograph, usually known as 'the Cobbler' and famous for its rugged and interesting skyline.

The West Highland railway also crosses the pass here before continuing up Loch Lomond side and on to Crianlarich.

The Train can be boarded at Tarbet Station .

Visitor Information

Inveruglas

The east fork from Tarbet leads up the lochside and on to Inveruglas where you can see some wonderful views down the loch and over the now narrow Loch Lomond to Inversnaid.

From the lochside car park a lomond ferry will take you over the loch to Inversnaid and Rob Roy's cave, or down to Rowardennan and Inverbeg. You can also see the parallel pipes which carry water  from Loch Sloy to the power station by the road.  Loch Sloy was once the gathering place of the Clan MacFarlane and 'Loch Sloy' was their war-cry.

For walkers, the best access to Ven Vane is obtained about 700 yards south of the car park.

In the bay is Inveruglas island upon which lie the remains of a castle, once the stronghold of the MacFarlanes, this is one of the many castles in Scotland which Cromwell burned to the ground.

On to Ardlui, north of Loch Lomond

The loch is now little over half a mile wide and on the left of the road you can see an early attempt at conservation where the railway viaduct was built of local stone and with castellated piers to match the residences of the local gentry.
Hidden among the trees on 'Isle I Vow', the little island out in the loch are the remains of a castle built by another chief of the MacFarlane clan in the 16th c to replace that burned by Cromwell. It was occupied until the mid 19th century!
The road continues to reach Ardlui and Inverarnan

Looking over Loch Lomond, to the south side of the hotel you see a magnificent waterfall on the high slopes over the loch. The west highland way passes up the shore on the opposite side but no bridge was ever provided due to a dispute with the Colquhounes of Luss.  The only way over is by ferry from the pier at the marina or by the bridge 4 miles north of Ardlui.

Ardlui Visitor Information

Loch Lomond Ferry at Ardlui

Ardlui ferry crosses the narrow north end of Loch  Lomond to access the west highland way. Ardlui Ferry operates April, September & October 9am to 7pm May ,
June, July, August 9am to 8pm.
Contact Ardlui Hotel 01301 704243

Loch Lomond's East shore

Balmaha

A left turn at Drymen takes you to Balamaha, about 4 miles away on the shore of Loch Lomond. Balmaha is I suppose the eastern pleasure boating centre of Loch Lomond nestling in a sheltered bay, permanently populated by pretty pleasure craft. Quiet in winter, impossible to park in summer, it's a popular stop for walkers and climbers on their way to the West Highland Way or Ben Lomond.

A popular walk along the Loch Lomond shore leads eventually to the old steamer pier. The island seen offshore and reached by ferry is 'Inchcailloch'.
The island boasts an ancient burial ground of the MacGregor Clan.

Visitor Information

A couple of miles up the road is Milarrochy bay, a wooded area with a shingle beach. A little further up is a sailing club - the 'Canoe Club', then a Caravan club park and the Forest Enterprise camp site at Strathcashel point. Offshore in Loch Lomond are the remains of an ancient 'Crannog' or man made island.

Rowardennan

Some 6 miles up the road is Rowardennan, on the Lomond shore and among the trees.  Rowardennan boasts a lovely beach.
The small steamer pier here is still used by pleasure boats taking visitors on Loch Lomond and round some of the islands.

The West Highland way continues here all the way up Loch Lomond via Inversnaid and ultimately to Fort William via Rannoch Moor.
Most walkers intending to tackle Ben Lomond start their attempt here at Rowardennan and ascend by the 'tourist route' which starts at the car park, climbs up through the wooded lower slopes before following the long shoulder northwards to the peak. A circular, but harder route returns over a small hillnamed 'Tarmigan' which lies to the south of ben Lomond.

The road stops here and unless tackling the West Highland Way or Ben Lomond, the only way out is to re-trace your steps.

Car Park space here is limited especially in peak season.

Other places to visit from Loch Lomond

Before deciding where to holiday, take a look at other parts of the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park:

Ferries and cruises on Loch Lomond

The following people operate ferries on the loch, mostly on a seasonal basis.

Try a cruise on Loch Katrine on the SS Sir Walter Scott - the 100 year old steamer. Two smaller cruisers also operate.

The Loch Lomond Song

Short audio . . Full length audio

Lyrics of Loch Lomond song.

By yon bonnie banks and by yon bonnie braes,
Where the sun shines bright on Loch Lomond
Where me and my true love were ever wont to gae,
On the bonnie, bonnie banks o’ Loch Lomond.

Chorus

O ye’ll tak’ the high road and I’ll tak’ the low road,
And I’ll be in Scotland afore ye.
But me and my true love will never meet again,
On the bonnie, bonnie banks o’ Loch Lomond.

‘Twas there that we parted in yon shady glen,
On the steep, steep side o’ Ben Lomond.
Where in deep purple hue, the hieland hills we view,
And the moon comin’ out in the gloamin’.

The wee birdies sing and the wild flowers spring,
And in sunshine the waters are sleeping:
But the broken heart, it kens nae second spring again,
Tho’ the waefu’ may cease from their greeting.

 

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