There are more opportunities to enjoy water-based recreation and sporting activities across the Park’s lochs, rivers and coasts while maximising safety for all users and protecting the quality of water environments.
Many of the lochs in the Park are popular for water-based sport and recreation activities, with changing trends in what people come here to do. For example, we are seeing growth in the popularity of canoeing, open-water swimming and new activities, such as paddleboarding.
Water-based recreation
Boating and fishing continue to be popular and the availability of boating facilities (publicly-accessible piers, pontoons and moorings) continues to fall short of demand.
The well-established Loch Lomond Byelaws continue to work effectively, helping our Ranger Service to achieve balanced management of the loch in a way that enables a wide range of recreational activities, while minimising conflicts.
Paddleboarding on Loch Lubnaig
Marine tourism
The success of the Loch Lomond Waterbus has made better use of the Loch’s piers with services now also connecting Loch Katrine. It has benefited our lochside communities, in addition to established cruise and ferry offerings, by providing an appealing sustainable transport alternative to journeying by car.
The Scottish Marine Tourism Strategy identifies that there is further potential to capitalise on and grow water-based tourism in the Park. This can be done through continued investment in infrastructure, the promotion of routes, activities and itineraries, as well as linking Clyde coastal and inland waters by improving facilities on Loch Lomond, Loch Long and Loch Earn. Appropriate pier infrastructure may also be required to accommodate the Maid of the Loch as efforts continue to bring this historic paddle steamer back into operation.
The other lochs have the potential to support more non-motorised activities. So it’s important that we work with partners to further develop the opportunities on our lochs, rivers and coasts in the Park.
The priorities for Outcome 6 are outlined below:
Priority 6.1 – Water Facilities
Securing investment in more publicly accessible boating and recreational facilities, such as piers, pontoons and moorings for a range of users, particularly on Loch Lomond, Loch Long and Loch Earn.
Encouraging more participation in established and emerging water recreation activities such as fishing, kayaking, canoeing, open water swimming and board sports by promoting suitable locations and itineraries as well as clear water safety advice.
Listed below are partners who have committed to helping deliver these outcomes (Lead Delivery Partners) and those who could provide further support (Support Delivery Partners).
