Surrounded by rugged forest and dotted with intriguing island, the 22 mile long Loch Lomond stretches across the boundary of Central Scotland and the Scottish Highlands. Find out how to experience the allure of Scotland’s flora, fauna, mountains and waters, and plan the perfect Loch Lomond day trip!
Scotland is somewhere I’ve spent a fair amount of city time in, including a weekend in Edinburgh and spending time with friends in both Glasgow and Aberdeen. However, I’ve always wanted to see more of it’s wilder side, the famed wilderness that road trippers wax lyrical about. If you’re travelling without a car, a day trip to Loch Lomond by train is a great way to intro to Scotland’s awe-inspiring landscapes and natural beauty.
My day at Loch Lomond actually came about when I attended a friend’s wedding, in a beautiful venue on the bank of the loch. Rather than just coming up from London for the wedding and heading straight back, I booked a couple of nights in a guesthouse to spend some time exploring Loch Lomond the following day.
From walks along the water’s edge to boat trips across the loch, find out how to have the perfect Loch Lomond day trip in Balloch…
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Getting to Loch Lomond by train
While renting a car will allow further exploration of the Loch and Trossachs National Park, a day trip to Loch Lomond using public transport is actually really easy to arrange.
The best way to experience Loch Lomond without a car is by making your way to Balloch, a quaint Scottish village known as the ‘gateway to Loch Lomond’. Perched on the loch’s southwestern shores, it’s easily accessible from Glasgow and even Edinburgh by train.
Trains from Glasgow to Balloch depart from Glasgow Queen Street and take around 50 minutes. An Off-Peak Day Return costs £7.40.
If you’re planning a day trip to Loch Lomond from Edinburgh, you’ll need to change at Glasgow Queen Street. The total journey time to Balloch is between 2hrs-2hrs 30, and costs £26 for an Off Peak Day Return.
Morning: Balloch Country Park & Castle
Once you’ve arrived in Balloch, the best place to get your first sighting of the mighty Loch Lomond is at Balloch Country Park & Castle. Part of Trossachs National Park, this 200-acre country park offers walking trails, woodland and gorgeous sweeping views of the loch.
As you walk through the park, don’t miss Balloch Castle, a 19th-century country house. The castle itself is out of use and closed to the public, you can visit the Walled Garden, a tranquil spot with plenty of plants and a centrepiece of charming pebble mosaic art.
Once you’ve finished exploring the country park, head down to Balloch Pier to pay a visit to the Maid of The Loch, the last paddle steamer built in Britain. The Loch Lomond Steamship Company are currently undergoing works on the ship to make it water-worthy, and visitors can learn more about the work at the shipyard.
Guided tours on board the ship take place at 11am and 2.30 daily, with a £15 charge that goes towards continuing the restoration work.
Afternoon: A boat trip around Loch Lomond
The absolute best way to see Loch Lomond? Get out onto the water, with a boat trip around the lake!
We booked the Island Discovery 2 Hour Cruise for our afternoon in Loch Lomond, and luckily, the September weather stayed firmly on our side for it. We arrived early enough to get three seats on the deck, to enjoy unrivalled views from one side of the loch to the other.
Sailing through ‘The Narrows’, a passage between three islands, only accessible by boat, we got a little closer to the uninhabited islets od the lake. Inchconnachan Island is one of the few places you can see wild wallabies in the United Kingdom – earning it the nickname of ‘Wallaby Island’. Despite our best efforts, we didn’t spot any from the shore, but keep an eye out as you’re passing by!
Turning around near the lochside village of Luss, the 974m peak of Ben Lomond looms in the distance, as we began to make the return journey back to shore.
The commentary along the way provides lots of information about what you’re seeing, taking in historic buildings and peeks of charming villages along the banks of the loch. Oh, and there’s a cafe on board for hot toddies and Scottish snacks!
Back on dry land, we spent a little more time wandering the banks of the loch before heading for dinner. In particular, we paid a visit to Loch Lomond Shores, an upmarket shopping centre with boutiques and a small department store.
If you have more time on your day trip to Loch Lomond, Balloch also has a SEA LIFE Centre Aquarium, or you can hire a kayak from Loch Lomond Leisure and paddle around the lake yourself!
Where to eat in Balloch
Balloch has plenty of restaurants serving breakfast, lunch and dinner – as well as takeaway options to enjoy outside if the weather’s in your favour!
- Locals’ favourite Cucina offers contemporary Italian dining, at affordable prices. Their set menu costs £20.95 for two courses, or £24.95 for three.
- Devour award-winning pies and pub classics at the homely Tullie Inn.
- Grab sandwiches and homemade cakes for outside dining at Monkey Island Cafe.
- Visiting with kids? Keep them entertained with the dinosaur displays at Jurassic Grill.
If you’re visiting Loch Lomond on a budget, there’s a Co-Op in town, where you can pick up some snacks and enjoy an affordable picnic by the lake. Alternatively – swing by Lomond Fish Bar for some takeaway fish and chips.
Travel Tip: Balloch’s restaurants often get booked up so it can be difficult to get a walk-in on the day, so I’d recommend booking a table before you go.
Staying the night at Loch Lomond
If you’re planning to make the most of your day trip to Loch Lomond with an overnight stay, Balloch has a small amount of accommodation options. Most of these are smaller guesthouses, but there are also a couple of hotels – the Queen of the Loch and Balloch House.
I booked a room for two nights at Woodvale, a small, cosy B&B that’s a stone’s throw from Balloch Castle & Country Park. The owners, Kevin and Elaine, couldn’t have been more friendly and welcoming – and they serve up an amazing Scottish cooked breakfast!
Day trips from Balloch
As well as being the ideal location for a day trip to Loch Lomond, Balloch is an ideal starting point for exploring more of the Scottish Highlands.
A budget-friendly Loch Lomond day trip
One great thing about taking a day trip to Loch Lomond from Glasgow is that it’s super budget travel friendly. The return train, boat trip and a meal deal from Co-Op for lunch comes in at under £40pp.
And if you skip out the boat trip in exchange for some long walks around the lochside, you could do this day trip for as little as £10.90!
