How to Visit Loch Lomond: Scotland’s Largest Loch
Last Updated on 8th October 2024 by Sophie Nadeau
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Scotland’s diverse and dramatic natural landscapes are breathtaking in their beauty. Come rain or shine, the beauty of Scotland is truly dreamy and will leave you feeling as though you are featuring in a Lord of the Rings movie! A place which is no exception to this is that of Loch Lomond, situated within Trossachs National Park.
Here is your ultimate guide on how to explore Loch Lomond and its surrounding areas, and how to get the best out of your trip to Scotland’s largest loch.
Contents
What makes a lake a loch?
You may be asking this question a lot while exploring Scotland, but to clear things up it’s simply down to location. Lochs are lakes that are found situated in either Scotland or Ireland, this is due to the Gaelic languages which were historically used in these parts of Britain.
Why is Loch Lomond so special?
Not only is this the biggest loch in all of Scotland, but it’s actually the largest body of inland water by surface area in all of Great Britain! Stretching over 22 miles long, this vast expanse of water is certainly a sight to behold.
Aside from its vastness, Loch Lomond also has a unique form. Somewhat of a triangular shape, the loch was carved by glaciers during the final stages of the ice age.
Is Loch Lomond worth visiting?
Yes, yes and yes! Believe me when I say, you will absolutely not regret visiting this gem of Scotland. It’s breathtaking scenery will leave you in awe, itching to venture further into Scotland’s beautiful natural world.
Whether you like hiking, water sports activities or simply just sitting to have a picnic, Loch Lomond and its surrounding park make for a destination that has something for everyone, especially if you’re looking for a fun day trip from Edinburgh.
Best time to go
It completely depends on what you want to experience! The most popular time to visit Loch Lomond is between the months of April-October when the weather is warmer and the days are longer. Perfect all year around, in Spring and Summer you can enjoy the flora and fauna come to life, while in the Autumn months you’ll be amazed by the gorgeous autumnal shades of orange, yellow and reds!
That being said, some of the leisure activities are seasonal, so that’s something to bear in mind if you want to go out on the water with the watersports equipment available to rent. Find out more about Loch Lomond leisure activities here.
All the images shown here were taken in early June. The weather was warm and it surprisingly wasn’t busy at all.
How to get there
Loch Lomond makes for an easy day trip from Edinburgh. It’s also the perfect spot for a long weekend stay! It’s not too far out of the way and you can get to it both by car and public transport.
By car
The easiest way to get there is via your own transport, from Edinburgh the drive is approximately 2 hours. If you are able to, it’s definitely the best way to explore as you have free autonomy to drive all around the loch and fully explore its surrounding areas.
There are two big car parks situated just at the bottom of Ben Lomond just by the loch, and parking is free! The car park can get very busy during the summer months. Check car rental comparison prices here.
Public transport
It’s very much possible to visit without your own transport, the best way to do so (if travelling from Edinburgh) is to get a bus or train to Glasgow and then from Glasgow’s Buchanan Bus Station hop on a bus to Bypass – you will still need to walk about 20 minutes from the bus stop to reach Loch Lomond.
This journey can takes around 2.5-3 hours.
Book a guided tour
If you’re the kind of traveller who prefers all of the details to be taken care of for you, then visiting Loch Lomond via guided tour is also a possibility. This will also allow you to visit other Scottish attractions without worrying about figuring out public transportation. Here are some of our picks:
- Stirling Castle, Loch Lomond & Whisky Tour from Edinburgh
- From Edinburgh: Stirling Castle, Kelpies and Loch Lomond
What you need to know before you go
Like most trips to slightly more remote areas, it’s always best to have an idea of what to bring with you so that you can have the best time on your trip. Here are just a few suggestions:
- Wear comfy shoes: the majority of your exploring will be on dirt tracks or uneven paths, so it would be wise to bring shoes that are comfortable for walking around in
- Pack a drink & snack: there are a few cafés in the area, however as these are seasonal i’d recommend bringing your own supplies just in case
- Bring swimming stuff: obviously weather dependant, but if you go when it’s sunny it’s definitely a good idea to bring swimming things and a towel so that you have the option to take a dip if or take part in water activities if you want to
- Don’t worry there are toilets: If you aren’t a fan of ‘nature peeing’ don’t worry, there’s several toilets dotted around Trossachs National Park
Also worth noting, Loch Lomond is dog friendly! So if you have a furry friend, bring them along, i’m sure they would love exploring the nature routes and swimming in the loch.
Things to do at Loch Lomond
Go for a dip!
This loch is full of the clearest, most sparkling mineral-rich Scottish water you can imagine! Of course, it’s absolutely freezing, but there’s nothing more refreshing than taking yourself for a quick dip in the water. The edges of the loch are like small pebble beaches that make for the perfect place to set down your things.
As briefly mentioned before about water activities, the calm waters also make it an idyllic spot for water sports like paddle boarding, rowing or kayaking.
It’s important to note that lochs in Scotland are very deep and very cold, so be safe when swimming out in them as they are known to change in depth suddenly and expectantly, so it’s always a good idea to keep this in mind when going in the water.
Climb Ben Lomond
Similar to that of the word ‘loch’, Scotland also have a Gaelic word for mountain, ‘beinn’, hence why all of the mountains will be named like so.
Ben Lomond looms over the loch and stretches 974 meters into the sky, and it offers by far the best views of the loch and its surrounding national park.
It’s also a Munro! Sir Hugh Munro, a British mountaineer made a list of mountains in Scotland that rose over 3,000 feet, which are now known as Munros. Today, it remains a popular feat among adventurers to try and reach the summit of all 282 Munros!
Walking up
The average walking time for going up and down this beautiful Munro is roughly 4 hours, but it can be done at whatever pace suits you best.
Known as one of the easiest mountains in Scotland to climb, I would say that the path is of moderate difficulty. It’s a pretty gradual incline and includes some zig zagging, but as you can see from the photos below, it’s a well used path and an easy guide up to the summit.
The views
There’s nothing more satisfying than being welcomed by stunning panoramic views after a fairly hefty walk, and Ben Lomond will not disappoint.
You can see the full breadth of Loch Lomond and its islands, the view to the north reveals the mountainous stretch of the highlands far into the distance. Truly a wonder, the beautiful Scottish landscape will leave you feeling full, not to mention all that fresh air!
On a clear day you can even see the mighty Ben Nevis in the distance, the tallest mountain in the UK.
Go on a sightseeing cruise
One of the more relaxing ways to enjoy entirely different views of the Loch is to go on a sightseeing cruise. For example, this cruise takes place over the course of an hour and will allow you to enjoy a commentary by archaeologist Neil Oliver. Find more details here.
Admire the flora and fauna
Thanks to the woodlands, mountains and surrounding lochs, Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park are home to a diverse and wonderfully rich abundance of wildlife and nature. The best time to experience this is from mid-Spring to late-Summer.
Much of the area is covered in woodland, with trees including oak, birch, alder, ash, hazel and rowan. The woodland floor and slopes of the hills are luscious with wild plants and flowers, including a variety of ferns, bluebells and wild garlic.
High in the sky don’t be surprised to see might birds of prey, from buzzards to golden eagles! And down below there are often red deer roaming the landscape, and in the water you can sometimes see beavers and otters enjoying the tranquillity of the loch.
Explore one of the nearby Villages
There are many quaint villages and towns that surround Loch Lomond, unique and full of character they are definitely worth a visit if you have time while in the area.
The nearest town is found on the southern shores of Loch Lomond, Balloch. Filled with plenty of cafes, restaurants and visitor attractions this charming Scottish town makes for a great day trip in itself and is the perfect place to grab a bite to eat after a long day of exploring the loch and its nature trails.
Top suggestions for other villages and towns you should visit:
- Balmaha, located on the eastern shore of Loch Lomond this home to Conic Hill, a sharp little summit where you can enjoy fantastic views of Balmaha, there’s also a statue of Scottish climber Tom Weir in the village to marvel at!
- Gartocharn & Drymen, two villages that sit at the western edge of the loch, they are steeped in history and nearby you can visit the ruins of 17th century Buchanan Castle, a former stronghold of the powerful Grahams of Montrose.
- Killearn, nestled in the northwestern side, this small village is home to approximately 1700 people and was the birthplace of the historian and humanist scholar George Buchanan.
Go camping
Camping, like in most of Scotland, is very much welcome throughout the National Park and what better place to do it than in a gorgeous nature reserve where there’s access to swimming and hiking routes!
There are camping bylaws that are in place from March-September in order to protect the natural area. You can find out more about camping at Loch Lomond here.
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