Boat trips on Loch Lomond
Two operators run most of the trips on the lake. Sweeney's Cruise Co. sails from Balloch and Loch Lomond Shores at the southern end. Cruise Loch Lomond sails from Luss and Tarbet. A third operator runs Loch Katrine, a separate lake in the Trossachs. This site has no link to any of them, and the fares here are the ones published at the time of writing.
Three kinds of boat product exist. A circular is a round trip that returns to the same pier. An explorer is a return ticket that lets you land on an island or at a village and come back on a later boat. A waterbus is a simple crossing. Check which one you are booking, because the prices and the time on shore differ.
Loch Lomond boat trips from Balloch
Sweeney's Cruise Co. routes, with adult fares for 2026.
| Route | Starts from | Time | Season | Adult fare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Experience Cruise | Balloch | 1 hour | All year | £18.50 |
| Island Discovery | Balloch | 2 hours | April to October | £29 |
| Into the Highlands | Loch Lomond Shores | 70 minutes | April to September | £20 to £21 |
| Balloch to Luss ferry | Balloch or Luss | – | May to September | £20 single, £28 to £29 return |
| Luss to Balmaha | Luss or Balmaha | – | June to September | £15 single, £21 return |
| Evening Cruise | Balloch | 90 minutes | Check the timetable | £23.50 |
| Island Safari | Luss | 75 minutes | Check the timetable | £21 |
Children's fares are lower, and under-5s travel free. For the Experience Cruise, ages 13 to 15 pay £15.50 and children up to 12 pay £12.50. Family tickets for two adults and two children cost £57 on that cruise and £89 on the Island Discovery. On some routes the youth and child age bands overlap at 12, so ask which fare applies to a 12-year-old.
Our picks: boat trips
Two cruises from Balloch and a steamship trip on Loch Katrine.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in British pounds (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Loch Katrine steamship cruise
A two-hour trip on Loch Katrine with live commentary.
Check availability →
Two-hour island cruise on Loch Lomond
A two-hour round trip with captain, crew and live commentary.
Check availability →
One-hour sightseeing cruise on Loch Lomond
One hour on the loch with live commentary from a historian or archaeologist guide.
Check availability →Loch Lomond cruises and boat trips
Cruises on the lake, day trips from Glasgow and Edinburgh and Highland tours, with live prices and availability.
Loch Lomond cruises from Luss and Tarbet
Cruise Loch Lomond routes. Daily service runs from 27 March to 1 November 2026.
| Route | Time | Adult | Child | Family |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tarbet Circular | 60 minutes round trip | £17 | £12 | £54 |
| Luss Circular | 90 minutes round trip | £19 | £13 | £60 |
| Inversnaid Explorer | 30 minutes each way | £20 return | £14 return | £64 |
| Island Explorer (Inchcailloch) | 35 minutes out from Luss | £20 return | £14 return | £64 |
| Balmaha Explorer | 45 minutes each way | £20 return | £14 return | £64 |
Child and family fares come from the operator's 2026 timetable, so confirm them when you book. Children aged 5 to 15 pay the child fare, and under-5s travel free but should be added to the booking. A family ticket covers two adults and two children. Adults aged 60 or over, and students with a valid card, get £1 off the adult fare.
Departure times in 2026
Published seasonal timetables, not a guarantee for one day.
Experience Cruise
From April to September boats leave Balloch at 10:15, 11:30, 13:00, 14:15, 15:30 and 16:30. In October the last two are dropped. From November to March there are three departures: 10:15, 11:30 and 13:00.
Island Discovery and Into the Highlands
Island Discovery leaves Balloch at 12:30 and 15:00. Into the Highlands leaves Loch Lomond Shores at 11:45, 13:15, 14:45 and 16:00.
Balloch to Luss and Luss to Balmaha
The Balloch to Luss ferry leaves Balloch at 12:30 and 15:00 and Luss at 13:30 and 16:00. Luss to Balmaha leaves Luss at 11:00, 12:45 and 14:15, and Balmaha at 11:25, 13:10 and 14:40. The last boat of the day on this route is a round trip from Luss at 15:45, and a one-way run from Balmaha to Luss at 16:15.
Tarbet and Luss Circulars
Tarbet Circular leaves at 10:30, 11:45, 13:45, 15:00 and 16:00. Luss Circular leaves at 10:00, 11:30, 13:15 and 14:45.
Island Explorer
Boats leave Luss for Inchcailloch at 10:00, 11:30 and 13:15. The island departures back are at 12:05, 13:50 and 15:20. The way back takes 55 minutes, longer than the 35 minutes out, so plan the island walk around the boat.
Loch Katrine steamship and boat trips
Loch Katrine lies in the Trossachs, not on Loch Lomond. The steamship Sir Walter Scott was built in 1899, first sailed on the loch in 1900 and was last restored in 2023. It is in service again. The summer timetable runs until 25 October 2026. From 26 October to 26 March 2027, motor boats make 45-minute trips at 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00 and 15:00. The loch is closed on 24, 25 and 31 December, and the steamship runs only on selected special dates in winter.
| Trip | Adult | Child under 16 | Under 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steamship, 2 hours, 10:30 | £31.50 | £15.50 | £1 |
| Steamship, 1 hour, 13:00 | £21 | £12 | £1 |
| Motor boat, 45 minutes | £17 | £11 | £1 |
On the motor boat, visitors aged 60 and over pay £16. A family ticket for two adults and one child costs £40 on the motor boat, and for two adults and two children £44. Dogs cost £2. Book ahead for trips from Stronachlachar and for bicycles. More is in the Trossachs guide.
Rules, bikes, dogs and access
The practical details that decide a day on the water.
Bikes and dogs
On Cruise Loch Lomond, bikes cost £5, e-bikes £7 and dogs travel free. On the Balloch to Luss ferry, a bike costs £2 on both single and return tickets. On Loch Katrine, dogs cost £2.
Booking ahead
Online booking is strongly recommended for the Tarbet to Inversnaid crossing, though spare seats may be sold on board. Do not assume a boat has space on a sunny weekend.
Wheelchair access
Sweeney's asks wheelchair users to contact the company first and does not carry electric wheelchairs. On Loch Katrine the steamship has level access and an accessible toilet, while the motor boat has steps and does not suit wheelchairs or mobility scooters.
Weather cancellations
A published departure is a plan, not a promise. On Loch Katrine a motor boat can be replaced by a smaller boat or canceled in poor weather. Check the day before.
Walking from a boat
The Inchcailloch and Inversnaid boats let you walk. Check the last boat back and allow a margin. The island has three paths, and Inversnaid has waterfalls and an RSPB oak wood.
Inchcailloch guide →Groups of 12 or more
Sweeney's asks groups of 12 or more to get in touch directly.
Plan the rest of your trip
Where the boats leave from and what to see on land.
Balloch
Castle Country Park, Loch Lomond Shores and the train from Glasgow.
Luss
Beach, pier and parking at the village on the west shore.
Inchcailloch
Island paths and the burial ground, reached by ferry or Island Explorer.
Glasgow to Loch Lomond
Train, bus and car to the piers.
Loch Lomond cruises: frequently asked questions
How long is a boat trip on Loch Lomond?
From Balloch, the Experience Cruise takes 1 hour and the Island Discovery 2 hours. From Luss, the Luss Circular takes 90 minutes. From Tarbet, the circular takes 60 minutes and the crossing to Inversnaid takes 30 minutes each way.
Do boats run in winter?
Yes, in reduced form. The Experience Cruise keeps three daily departures from November to March. The Luss Circular runs on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays from 5 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, and the Tarbet Circular on selected days until 18 December. Check the timetable for the date.
Which boat takes me to Inchcailloch?
The Island Explorer runs from Luss and takes 35 minutes out. A ferry from Balmaha also serves the island. Ask the operator for the current fare and times before you go.
Are children free on the boats?
Under-5s travel free on the Loch Lomond routes here, though Cruise Loch Lomond asks you to include them in the booking. On Loch Katrine under-5s pay £1.
Can I take a bike on a boat?
Yes, on some routes. A bike costs £5 and an e-bike £7 on Cruise Loch Lomond, and £2 on the Balloch to Luss ferry. Loch Katrine asks you to book bikes ahead.