Choosing a base at Loch Lomond
You can sleep in a hotel, a lodge, a B&B, a pod or a tent. The more useful choice is the place. The loch is long and has no road around it, so a base on the south or west shore suits a different trip from one in the Trossachs.
This page does not compare room prices. Rates, minimum stays and cancellation terms change by date, so check them with the property when you book. What it does cover is the location of each base, how you reach it without a car and which rules apply to camping and the new visitor levy.
The main bases compared
Pick the base that matches your transport and your plans.
| Base | Shore | Without a car | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balloch | South | Direct train from Glasgow, about 50 min | Boats, country park, Loch Lomond Shores |
| Luss | West | Bus 305 from Balloch | Village, beach and pier, island cruises |
| Balmaha | East | Bus 309 from Balloch, about 30 min | Conic Hill, Inchcailloch ferry |
| Tarbet | West | West Highland Line at Arrochar and Tarbet | Crossing to Inversnaid, west shore walks |
| Callander and the Trossachs | – | Trossachs Explorer bus within the area | Loch Katrine, Callander Crags, quiet forest |
Base by base
What each place gives you.
Balloch
Balloch has the train station, the boats and Loch Lomond Shores, and it is the easiest base if you arrive from Glasgow. Balloch Castle Country Park is open around the clock, but camping and overnight parking are not allowed there. See the Balloch guide.
Luss
Luss is a stone cottage village on the west shore with a beach and a pier. A campervan may not sleep in the council car park, even if the vehicle fits. The village is covered in the Luss guide.
Balmaha
Balmaha is the start for Conic Hill and the Inchcailloch ferry. The Oak Tree Inn offers B&B rooms and pods. Dogs are not allowed in the pods but are welcome in certain rooms, according to the inn. By public transport, take the train to Balloch and then bus 309. Read the Conic Hill guide and the Inchcailloch guide.
Tarbet
Tarbet has a pier on the west shore, a paid car park and free public toilets. The 30 minute crossing to Inversnaid starts here. Arrochar and Tarbet is a stop on the West Highland Line.
Callander and the Trossachs
Callander and Aberfoyle are the practical bases for Loch Katrine and the forest walks. At Trossachs Pier there are ten eco-lodges, and the pier sites also offer motorhome pitches. See the Trossachs guide.
Tours and cruises to combine with your stay
Cruises and guided day trips around Loch Lomond and the Trossachs, with live prices and availability.
Camping and motorhomes: management zones
Part of the national park is covered by camping byelaws. There are four management zones: West Loch Lomond, East Loch Lomond, Trossachs West and Trossachs North. They apply from 1 March to 30 September and cover less than 4% of the park. Inside a zone you may camp only on a campsite or in a designated permit area.
- Permit: you need one permit per pitched tent. A permit costs roughly £4.30 to £4.50 per tent, and the booking page shows the exact amount.
- Booking: up to 4 weeks ahead, for a maximum of 3 nights in one permit area. You get no fixed pitch, and regular campsite facilities are not guaranteed.
- Times: arrive from 13:00 and leave by 11:00.
- Cancelling: contact the park authority at least 1 week ahead. Bookings under £9 are not refunded.
- Motorhomes: permit areas are Firkin Point, Inveruglas and Three Lochs Forest Drive. The Three Lochs site charges £3 extra for vehicle access. Keep passing places clear.
- Fires: no damaging fires and no collecting or cutting wood.
Outside the zones, wild camping follows the Scottish Outdoor Access Code. The authority held a public consultation on the rules from July to September 2026, so check the current rules before you book.
Camping this winter
From 1 October 2026 to 28 February 2027 no seasonal camping permit is needed. On 20 October 2026 the campsites at Loch Chon, Loch Achray, Inchcailloch and Sallochy were shown as closed. That is the current status, not a permanent closure.
The Inchcailloch campsite is published at £11.20 per adult per night and £2.20 per child aged 5 to 15, for a maximum of 2 nights. Book up to 4 weeks ahead. The site takes at most 12 people in total, in groups of up to 6. Arrive from 12:30 and leave by 11:00. It is about 1 km from the north jetty, it has composting toilets and no drinking water, and ticks are a risk. Arrange the ferry and your luggage before you go, and take your rubbish home.
The visitor levy from 2027
There is no single park-wide charge. Each council decides, so the area of your bed matters. No levy applies to stays this autumn.
- West Dunbartonshire (Balloch): 5% of the accommodation charge before VAT, without extras such as food, parking or transport. It applies to stays from 1 July 2027. Bookings made and at least partly paid before 1 October 2026 are exempt.
- Stirling (Balmaha and Callander): 3% all year, for stays from 14 June 2027 and bookings from 1 January 2027.
- Argyll and Bute (west shore): a new consultation ended on 5 October 2026 on the draft scheme. The final rate and start date are still to be set, so check the council's current position when you book.
If you book a stay in 2027, ask the property whether the levy is included in the price shown.
Plan the rest
Once you have a base, work out the journey and the season.
Where to stay at Loch Lomond: frequently asked questions
Where is the best base without a car?
Balloch is the easiest, with a direct train from Glasgow in about 50 minutes and boats from the pier. Balmaha and Luss are reachable by local bus from Balloch.
Can I camp anywhere around the loch?
Not in the four management zones between 1 March and 30 September. There you must use a campsite or a permit area. Outside the zones, wild camping follows the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.
Can I sleep in my campervan in the Luss car park?
No. The council says a car park big enough for your vehicle is not permission to sleep in it, and the Luss car park is not designated for motorhomes.
Do I pay a visitor levy in 2026?
No. The levy applies to stays from 1 July 2027 in West Dunbartonshire and from 14 June 2027 in Stirling. Argyll and Bute has not set a final rate yet.
Is camping allowed in Balloch Castle Country Park?
No. Camping, overnight parking and drinking alcohol in the park are not allowed under the local byelaws.
Where can I sleep near Loch Katrine?
Ten eco-lodges stand at Trossachs Pier, and the piers offer motorhome pitches. Callander and Aberfoyle are the nearest towns.