Getting to the Park

By train

There are two key train lines that provide access to the National Park.

• Glasgow – Balloch: ScotRail operate a direct line from Glasgow Queen Street and the journeys takes ~50 minutes and run approximately every 30min; from the station it is a short walk to catch a cruise on the loch or wander through Balloch Castle Park
• Glasgow – Oban/Fort William: ScotRail’s West Highlands Line is considered one of the most scenic in the country and provides stops in and close to the National Park (Helensburgh, Garelochhead, Arrochar & Tarbet, Ardlui, Crianlarich and Tyndrum); jump off at Tarbet and Ardlui to connect with Waterbus services across to Loch Lomond’s eastern shores and the West Highland Way, Ben Lomond and Balmaha

Train access from the south is via Avanti West Coast into Glasgow, from stations including London (every 40 minutes, taking ~4½ hours), Birmingham (just over 4 hours) and Manchester (just over 3 hours).

View from the Train – Scottish Natural Heritage has a free iPhone & Google Play (Android) app that provides an audio guide to a number of scenic train routes in Scotland including the route through the Park.

By coach

There are two Citylink bus routes that cross the National Park:

• one of them going to Fort William/Skye from Glasgow has stops at Balloch, Duck Bay Beach, Luss, Inverbeg, Tarbet, Inveruglas, Ardlui, Inverarnan, Crianlarich and Tyndrum
• the other route going to Oban/Campbeltown also has stops at Arrochar, Ardgartan, Rest & Be Thankful and Benmore Botanic Gardens

See the timetables here.

By car

From the south/east – take the M74/M8 past Glasgow, then change to the M898 to the Erskine Bridge, then take the A82 into the National Park.

Drive times to Balloch:

• Glasgow 35 minutes
• Edinburgh 90 minutes
• Manchester 4 hours
• Newcastle upon Tyne 3 hours 20 minutes
• Birmingham 5 hours 20 minutes
• London 7 hours 30 minutes

From the north/west – take the A82 into the National Park.

Drive times to Balloch:

• Fort William 2 hours
• Inverness 3 hours 30 minutes
• Oban (A85 to A82) 1 hour 40 minutes

Traffic Scotland posts up-to-date traffic information.

If you’re driving an electric or plug-in hybrid vehicle, you can find a list of local charging points at Zap Map.

By airplane

• Glasgow Airport connects Scotland to the rest of the world, with direct flights to and from destinations across the globe
• Getting to Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park from the airport is pretty easy. All the major car rental brands are at the airport (near domestic arrivals). Once you have your car, getting to the National Park is simple. Follow the M8 west and then the M898 to the Erskine Bridge. Change to the A82 which will take you to Balloch, the gateway to the Park and the west of Loch Lomond
• Likewise Edinburgh Airport has numerous international connections. The airport has a car rental centre with all the key hire brands. To get to Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park by public transport will require you to head to Glasgow first and change there
• Seaplane – Loch Lomond is home to the UK’s only seaplane airline and it provides aerial tours across the National Park and beyond

By ferry

• Gourock – Dunoon with Western Ferries: regular ferries across to the Cowal Peninsula providing access to Argyll Forest. See timetable for 2018-19 here
• Gourock – Kilcreggan with SPT (Strathclyde Partnership for Transport); 15 minute crossing running approximately hourly, providing access to the Rosneath Peninsula and the National Park beyond. See timetable & prices here

The closest international ferry access for Scotland and the UK are at Stranraer (from Belfast), Newcastle (Holland), Hull (Belgium and Holland) and Liverpool (Dublin).

Find out more at Traveline.