Loch Lomond Scotland: Where The Highlands Meet The Lowlands

Is hiking in the Scottish wilderness on your bucket list? Kate visited a mysterious loch, with misty glens, woodland paths, and mountain summits, just outside of Glasgow.

Many travel all the way up to Loch Ness in Scotland’s north in hopes of seeing its famous monster. But Loch Lomond in The Trossachs National Park also makes for an awesome weekend of walks, whisky, and water views — and it’s way easier to get to. 

Here’s what I learned from my autumn trip to Loch Lomond.

About Loch Lomond

Loch Lomond is one of the UK’s largest lakes and is roughly found on the dividing line between the Highlands and the Lowlands. Located in Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park (and a whopping 1,865 square kilometres), the great loch is an adventurers’ paradise.

There’s so much to do here. You can explore some of the lake’s 30 islands, enjoy a refreshing dip in the water, take a water bus or canoe across the surface. On land, there’s the hike up Ben Lomond — the Tassie mountain of the same name was named after this mighty Munro — or you can opt to take it easy and snap photos of fluffy Highland cattle or red deer.

All this making you want to visit Loch Lomond? I recommend all lengths of visit from a simple day trip including hikes and a quick exploration, to a laidback long weekend including three or more days of camping and rambling.

Loch Lomond History

While Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park has only been a national park since 2002, holidaymakers have been coming to this glacier-formed lake for much longer. Humans have made their home in the area for an estimated 5,000 years. In fact, it was in the park that many famous historic clans lived, including Clan Campbell and Clan Graham.

Loch Lomond’s history is reflected in the many Gaelic names you’ll see here, such as beinn for ‘Ben Lomond’, which means ‘mountain’. Gaelic was the dominant language of the area before it was eventually replaced by English.

The Romantic author and poet Sir Walter Scott helped publicise Loch Lomond for modern travellers, with his celebrated ‘The Lady of the Lake’ poem inspired by the lake, cementing its status as a ‘must visit’ natural attraction in Scotland.

Today, you can get a taste of the history of Loch Lomond when you visit its historic towns like Luss, which has buildings dating back to the 19th century.

How to Get to Loch Lomond

Loch Lomond is approximately 36km long, meaning there are plenty of places to stop along the roughly triangular-shaped water mass. The town of Balloch is at the wide southern end – part of the Lowlands – and the gateway to the national park. The furthest tip is much narrower – referred to as the Highlands – and home to the more rugged Ardlui village.

By Car

The simplest way to get to Loch Lomond is by car. This is because there’s so much to explore in the area. From Glasgow, it’s a 40-minute drive to the southern tip of the loch.

By Train

The Balloch stop by Loch Lomond is less than an hour from the Glasgow Queen Street station via ScotRail. It takes an hour and 30 minutes if you wish to go all the way to the northern tip of the loch to Ardlui station.

By Bus

From Glasgow Buchanan Bus Station to Ardlui it is an hour and 30-minute journey with CityLink buses.

Where to Stay in Loch Lomond

When I visited Loch Lomond to complete a handful of AllTrails hikes in the area, I stayed at the Lodge on Loch Lomond: a four-star hotel on the Loch’s ‘beach’ next to the historic town of Luss. If you’re looking for a place to stay in Loch Lomond where you can recover after a hard day of hiking (quite possibly in the rain) with a whisky in hand next to a fireplace, it’s a superb option.

In addition, the restaurant is pretty great! It overlooks the loch with options like vegan haggis bites or spicy Scottish mussels for lunch. A typical hot breakfast option is porridge (because, duh, Scotland). All perfect for lining your stomach pre or post-walk. Some rooms have water views, meaning a very fast dash is possible between a morning swim and your hot shower.

Rather camp at Loch Lomond? Remember that at certain times of the year, you may need to purchase a permit to do so (see the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park site for more details and updates). You’re permitted to wild camp (camp outside of a campsite) although there are rules you need to follow.

If you’re looking for a campsite for your tent or a motor site for your van or vehicle, the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park have detailed maps showing which sites suit what vehicles and/or tents. Book in advance when possible and on arrival use the maps to navigate to your specific site.

Where to Eat in Loch Lomond

Visiting Loch Lomond really blew my mind when it came to the variety of local food you can try. Here are some of my picks of the best places to eat in Loch Lomond:

Whisky Tasting at Glendoyne

Step amongst the gleaming copper stills of the historic and family-owned Glengoyne distillery for an impressive overview of how this beloved Scottish drink is made. And, it goes without saying, book yourself in for a paired chocolate and whisky tasting afterwards.

Lunch With a View at Duck Bay Hotel Restaurant

Come here for an extensive lunch menu that’s reasonably priced, with plenty in the way of local fare: all overlooking the loch through giant windows. The menu includes items like croque monsieur sandwiches and creamy Cullen Skink soup all the way to Scottish lobster or 24-hour cooked ox cheek.

Hot tip: the latter was perfect after a hard morning’s hike in the rain… paired with a Bloody Mary. If you want the view but aren’t hungry enough for lunch, Duck Bay also offers afternoon tea with scones next door.

Pub Dinner at The Inn Bar & Restaurant

A roaring fire, tuckered-out dogs curled next to owners’ feet, and a beautifully carved wooden elm bar from which to order a pint of Scottish beer… If this sounds up your alley, come to The Inn Bar & Restaurant. Here you can pick between a varied menu, with dishes like ‘haggis, neeps, and tatties’ (haggis, swede, and potatoes), woodfired pizza, chicken Kyiv, mussels, and burgers.

Fine Dining at Cameron Grill

In the mood to blow the budget? I know just the place. Head to the Cameron Grill at the five-star loch-side luxury hotel, Cameron House. You mightn’t have the pennies to book a flight on the seaplane moored outside, so save them for plates of local delicacies like pan-seared native roe deer or Orkney scallops, North Sea lemon sole with pickled mussels, and — my personal favourite — an array of Scottish cheeses.

Activities / Things To Do in Loch Lomond

Hiking

Due to the massive variations in terrain, there are a tonne of variations in hike difficulty and access. With the help of AllTrails and their hiking app, I did the following walks:

Beinn Dubh, 7.6km Return Route

A stunning but hard walk that takes you all the way up over slopes and hills to 600m. It can be a little boggy and quite windy at certain points but with views overlooking the loch and the surrounding mountains, as well as walks through rainbow-speckled woodland, it’s very easy to forgive

Conic Hill, 3.9km Return Route

This was a moderately challenging walk you can embark on after taking the water ferry over here. I found it a challenging incline at times, but the result is increasingly incredible views over the loch, stops with super cute highland cows, and a magnificent summit finale

Inchailloch, 2.9km Circular Route

Due to some confusion with boat times, we unfortunately missed this trail. It’s an island walk on Inchailloch (whose name means ‘island of the old or cowled woman’) located at the point where the Highlands meet the Lowlands. It’s popular and moderately challenging, with rocky parts as it loops around the hills and woodlands. Keep an eye out for deer.

The West Highland Way, 154km One-Way Route

While I didn’t do this walk, it’s firmly on my bucket list! The iconic long-distance trail, which takes in some awe-inspiring Scottish scenery, passes the Loch.

Water Activities

Canoeing, Kayaking, and Boating

If you’re an experienced paddler looking to get onto the open water, or you’d like to go as part of an organised group, Loch Lomond has plenty of options. If you’re new to the experience, you might be best linking up with a group like Loch Lomond Leisure (which also offers boat hire).

Cruise

Whether you are taking a water bus with Cruise Loch Lomond or embarking on an evening cruise with Sweeney’s Cruise Co, a jaunt on the water is a must-do experience (particularly for getting to some of those fantastic walks).

Swimming

Okay, so the water here is not warm by any stretch of the imagination, with temperatures resting around 4°C to 15°C. But if you’re keen on experimenting with cold water therapy, grab a buddy (best to be safe, and not to do it alone) and have at it!

Sightseeing

Luss

The historic buildings in the town of Luss might only date back to the 19th century, but people have been living here since the early Middle Ages. Artefacts from earlier times can be found in its churchyard.

Birds of Prey Park

Looking for what to do in Loch Lomond with kids, or would just love to know more about the birdlife here? Visit the Loch Lomond Birds of Prey Park to get to know golden eagles, buzzards, hawks, vultures, and owls — and how supporters are working to protect them.

Essential Gear for Loch Lomond

Obviously, an essential gear list for Loch Lomond is going to change depending on the season. But considering the changeability of weather in this part of Scotland, and my experience hiking there with AllTrails, I recommend the following Loch Lomond packing list:

• Beanie and baseball cap
• Sunglasses
• Singlet/light t-shirt
• Thin, breathable long-sleeved top
• Fleece
• Sports bra (for those that need, obviously)
• Waterproof coat
• Thick hiking socks
• Gloves (winter and shoulder season)
• Neck gaiter (winter and shoulder season)
• Hiking boots
• Gumboots (if you’re planning to go fishing)
• Leggings and waterproof trousers
• Swimming costume
• Towel
• Water bottle
• Backpack
• High-energy snacks (nuts, dried fruit, muesli bars)
• Charge pack (if you are using your phone to navigate)
• Midge repellent (I did not notice any, but apparently they can be bothersome in some months)
• Wetsuit (if you’re planning water activities outside of summer)

As you can tell from above, the key to hiking here is LAYERS. The above covers what you might need for a hiking day trip. If you have plans to camp, you’ll need to consider the items on this overnight packing list too.

What it’s Like to Visit Loch Lomond

What made visiting Loch Lomond so brilliant was pairing the mental health benefits of getting away from it all on spectacular hikes with activities on the more-indulgent side. Trust me: being exhilarated and sweaty while hiking your way up a sweeping Scottish mountain is extra fun when you know you have a hot bath, a nap, and a whisky tasting awaiting you in the afternoon.

One of my stand-out highlights was standing at the back of Cruise Loch Lomond’s waterbuses, keeping an eye out for Osprey nests in the towering island trees, or perhaps swooping down to catch a fish. As I tousled the furry ears of a rather muddy, but friendly, spaniel I’d met (on his first trip on a boat, according to his owners), with my beanie pulled firmly down over my ears against the wind, I even spotted some red deer on one of the loch’s dozens of islands.

But nothing can really beat sitting in the long grass on Beinn Dubh, as my hair whipped in the wind, enjoying the silence as I looked over at the magnificent Ben Lomond. If you’re looking for scenic views on Scottish hikes, Loch Lomond and its surroundings is very much it.

And after tramping up here, through mud, mist, and even a rainbow, it was incredibly life-affirming to have the chance for a moment’s reflection.

Tips For Visiting Loch Lomond

In terms of final tips for your Loch Lomond trip, remember that the weather can change quickly here — something that can very much impact your hike. Bring layers of clothes, and plan for changes from relatively clear skies to rain.

You can check out some of the hikes beforehand on the AllTrails site or with the Loch Lomond and Trossachs Park website. The former also has details from past hikers on what the conditions are — so if they keep mentioning muddiness, and this is an issue for you, perhaps avoid that one if it’s been raining for a week beforehand!

Don’t stress if this happens! There are plenty more hikes to choose from at Loch Lomond.

Photos thanks to AllTrails

Please note: The writer travelled to Loch Lomond with the support of AllTrails