By boat, ferry, waterbus

Loch Cruises

No trip to Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park would be complete without a cruise across a loch. Sit back, relax and take in the beautiful and dramatic scenery. On Loch Lomond, opportunities to cruise the loch are available from Balloch (on the River Leven just opposite the railway station or from Loch Lomond Shores, and from Tarbet, Inversnaid, Luss and Rowardennan.

For trips on Loch Katrine cruises run from Trossachs Pier near Aberfoyle, to Stronachlachar and back. Choose from circular cruises, or a number of themed journeys like sunset, island discovery, wildlife and history.

There’s also a short ferry from Balmaha to Inchcailloch – a nature reserve with shady woodland walks, sandy beaches, wildlife and a history of saints and early Christianity. And speed boat trips if you fancied something faster, available from Luss Pier.

Waterbus

As well as the cruises, there’s a scheduled waterbus service providing regular ferry services between both shores of Loch Lomond at numerous disembarkation points – Inveruglas, Inversnaid, Tarbet, Rowardennan, Luss, Balmaha, and Balloch.

These services have been designed to provide visitors with the flexibility of combining trips on the loch, with breaks on shore – for lunch stops, picnics, pub visits, short (and long) walks, cycle routes (bring your bike or rent one locally), exploring local history (Rob Roy in particular) and wildlife, even bagging a Munro – or to tie-in with train stations (Balloch and Tarbet).

The waterbus service even stretches across two lochs – combining Lochs Lomond and Katrine, linking Tarbet and Trossachs Pier via Inversnaid and Stronachlachar – mind you’ll need to walk or cycle the 5 miles between the two lochs, twice!

Boat hire

If you fancy being captain of your own vessel, then why not hire a boat? Self-drive rentals are available from the lagoon at Loch Lomond Shores, while you can hire a speed boat complete with driver/guide at Luss Pier. Or power your own with row boats at Balmaha and canoes at Loch Lomond Shores.