Twelve experiences around the lake
This is an editorial selection, not an official ranking. It mixes easy outings (a park, a village, a boat trip) with harder ones (two hills and a stretch of the West Highland Way). Nothing on the list needs a ticket for the area as a whole, because the national park has no single entry fee. Each entry gives the cost where one applies.
Most items sit around the southern half of the lake, within reach of Balloch by train and bus. The last four lead east and north into the Trossachs and along the eastern shore, where distances grow and public transport thins out. Hill walks are mountain days and need proper preparation. Village walks are not comparable in effort.
The twelve at a glance
Use the table to pick, then read the numbered entries below.
| No. | Experience | Type | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Balloch Castle Country Park | Park and shore walk | Balloch |
| 2 | Loch Lomond Shores | Shops, food, attractions | Balloch |
| 3 | Luss | Village, beach, pier | West shore |
| 4 | Balloch cruise | Boat trip, 1 hour | Balloch |
| 5 | Ben Lomond | Mountain walk | Rowardennan |
| 6 | Conic Hill | Hill walk | Balmaha |
| 7 | Inchcailloch | Island paths | Balmaha |
| 8 | Tarbet to Inversnaid | Crossing and waterfalls | East shore |
| 9 | Loch Katrine | Steamship or boat | Trossachs |
| 10 | Callander Crags | Woodland viewpoint walk | Callander |
| 11 | Bracklinn Falls | Waterfall | Callander |
| 12 | West Highland Way, east shore | Long-distance path | Rowardennan to Inverarnan |
Our picks: things to do
A cruise from Balloch, the aquarium at Loch Lomond Shores and a bike tour in the Trossachs.
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.
Trossachs bike tour from Edinburgh
Transfer from Edinburgh, a qualified guide, a bike and a helmet.
Check availability →
Two-hour island cruise on Loch Lomond
A two-hour round trip with captain, crew and live commentary.
Check availability →
Aquarium ticket at Loch Lomond Shores
Entry to the aquarium, daily talks and animal feedings on the day's schedule.
Check availability →Loch Lomond tours and boat trips
Cruises on the lake, day trips from Glasgow and Edinburgh and Highland tours, with live prices and availability.
Parks, villages and the first boat trip
Entries 1 to 4 sit in the south and are the easiest to reach.
1. Balloch Castle Country Park
The park covers 200 acres of woodland, meadow, formal gardens and playgrounds on the south-east shore. It is open 24 hours. Camping, overnight parking and alcohol are banned under local byelaws. The walled garden is usually open from 10:00 to 15:00, and the toilets at the castle from 9:00 to 14:30. Summer hours may be longer. The castle itself is a mansion built in 1808, so enjoy it from the grounds.
Balloch guide →2. Loch Lomond Shores
This complex at the southern end of the lake has shops, places to eat and separate paid attractions, including SEA LIFE. Those tickets are not part of any park entry. Parking has cost money since 28 January 2026: £0.50 for 30 minutes, £1.50 for 2 hours, £2 for 4 hours and £4 for the day. You pay on arrival at a machine, with RingGo or with PayByPhone.
3. Luss
Luss is a village on the west shore with a beach, a pier and stone cottages. The council car park at the Old Toll House has 250 spaces and is Pay & Display daily from 9:00 to 18:00. The 2026/27 rates run from £0.35 for 15 minutes to £1.20 for an hour. A separate private car park also serves the village. Take the Luss Circular boat to see the lake from the water.
Luss guide →4. Balloch cruise
The Experience Cruise leaves from Balloch and circles the southern part of the lake in one hour. Adults pay £18.50, ages 13 to 15 pay £15.50, children up to 12 pay £12.50 and under-5s go free. In October there are four departures, at 10:15, 11:30, 13:00 and 14:15. From November to March there are three, and from April to September six.
Cruises and fares →Hills, an island and the eastern shore
Entries 5 to 8 involve more effort or a boat. Check the weather the evening before, tell someone your route and carry waterproofs. Both hill walks have separate pages with full details.
5. Ben Lomond
At 974 m (3,196 ft) it is the southernmost Munro. The main route starts at the Rowardennan car park and is 13 km (8 miles) there and back. It takes 4 to 6 hours with about 930 m (3,050 ft) of climbing, and is rated hard. Entry is free. Parking is £2 for up to 1 hour or £5 for the day. This is a mountain day in any season.
Ben Lomond guide →6. Conic Hill
At 361 m (1,184 ft), it sits on the Highland Boundary Fault above Balmaha. The popular route is about 4 km (2.5 miles) there and back, takes 2 to 3 hours and climbs around 350 m (1,150 ft), mostly on a good path with steps. The last stretch to the top includes a short rocky section. During lambing, usually mid-April to the end of May, dogs may not enter the fenced fields at the start. A signed diversion is in place.
Conic Hill guide →7. Inchcailloch
The island is part of the Loch Lomond National Nature Reserve. Three paths cross it: the Central, Low and Summit paths, the last being the steepest. The park authority gives 30 to 45 minutes per path. Old church ruins and a burial ground lie on the island. Reach it by ferry from Balmaha or on the Island Explorer boat from Luss, £20 return for adults in 2026.
Inchcailloch guide →8. Tarbet to Inversnaid
A 30-minute crossing takes you from Tarbet on the west shore to Inversnaid on the east. There you find the Arklet waterfalls and an RSPB oak woodland, where entry is free for everyone. For a same-day return the operator points you to the Inversnaid Explorer ticket, £20 return for adults. It runs daily from 27 March to 1 November 2026, and booking online is strongly recommended.
The Trossachs and the long-distance path
Entries 9 to 12 need a car, a bus or a long walk.
9. Loch Katrine
The steamship Sir Walter Scott was built in 1899 and has sailed on the loch since 1900. The 2-hour round trip costs £31.50 for adults and the 1-hour circular £21. A 45-minute motor boat trip costs £17. The summer timetable ends on 25 October 2026. From 26 October, motor boats run hourly from 10:00 to 15:00, and the steamship only on selected dates.
Trossachs guide →10. Callander Crags
A woodland path climbs to a viewpoint and cairn at 343 m (1,125 ft). The circuit is about 4 km (2.5 miles). The Callander Crags and Bracklinn Falls car parks were open in October 2026.
11. Bracklinn Falls
The waterfall is a separate target near the parking area for the Callander Crags walk. You can combine it with entry 10 or visit it on its own.
12. West Highland Way, east shore
The section from Rowardennan to Inverarnan follows the quieter northern shore. North of Inversnaid the terrain gets demanding, and at Inversnaid the path crosses the waterfall on a footbridge. After heavy rain, stream crossings can become impassable. Walk one section, with a boat or bus plan for the way back, instead of the whole route.
Plan the rest of your trip
Getting there, the weather and where to sleep.
Things to do in Loch Lomond: frequently asked questions
Which of these can I do without a car?
Entries 1, 2, 3 and 4 are reachable by train to Balloch and bus or boat onward. Conic Hill works with bus 309 from Balloch to Balmaha, about 30 minutes. There is no bus to Rowardennan, so Ben Lomond is easier by car.
Which experiences are free?
Ben Lomond is free to enter, as is the RSPB reserve at Inversnaid. Balloch Castle Country Park is open around the clock. Costs that remain are parking and any boat fare.
What can I do in winter?
The country park stays open, and the Experience Cruise keeps three daily departures from November to March. Loch Katrine runs motor boats from 26 October to 26 March, closing on 24, 25 and 31 December. Hill walks need winter skills and kit.
Can I combine two of these in one day?
Yes, if they are close. Entry 1 and entry 2 sit side by side in Balloch. Conic Hill and Inchcailloch share Balmaha. Entries 9 to 11 are all in the Trossachs and take a day by car. Ben Lomond fills a day on its own.
Are the hill walks suitable for beginners?
Conic Hill is the shorter and easier of the two, with a good path, but it still has a rocky final stretch. Ben Lomond is rated hard and weather can turn quickly. Do not treat either as a village stroll.