Scotland abounds with beautiful nature, so picking one place to visit can be quite challenging!
However, if you only have a short time to explore, Loch Lomond is an eminently doable day trip, as well as an enchanting destination that is sure to delight you.
Only located about an hour from Glasgow, Loch Lomond offers serene views, nice hiking at a variety of activity levels, and a lovely escape from city life.
While the loch is part of the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park, it is super easy to just visit the loch by itself, even if you do not make it to the rest of the national park.
Named after nearby mountain Ben Lomond, Loch Lomond has loads of history. The surrounding area has been the site of battles, and a refuge for many Scottish rebels. Learning about the history really adds to the visit and colors the framework of this place in a very special way.
While those seeking to explore the wider national park area may find it easiest to drive, it’s totally doable to see the loch itself as well as a variety of walking paths and even a castle by taking public transport.
If you’re coming from Glasgow, it’s very easy to navigate. Simply take the train from the Glasgow Queen Street Station to Balloch, the end of the train line. It should only take about 45 minutes, and the trains run pretty frequently as well.
Note that we thought that there would be more connections within the Trossachs by bus– while they do exist, they are quite few and far between, and not really doable for a day trip. If you want to do other popular hikes other than the loop around the loch itself or a boat ride, you may need a car.
Things to Do on a Loch Lomond Day Trip
Hiking or nature strolls:
There are several hiking trails around the loch worth visiting. Once you arrive in Balloch, check out the tourist information center across the street from the train stop. Balloch is quite small, but as it acts as the gateway to the southern part of the loch, and there are very knowledgeable folks working at the center that can recommend hikes and activities, as well as give you some maps and other goodies.
An easy walking loop takes you along the water to the Balloch Castle overlooking the loch, and then back through the walled garden. This was an enjoyable 45 minute-ish walk that offered beautiful views of the loch and the wooded surrounding area. We found that the trail was clearly marked, and it’s easy to see why it’s a popular option.
If you want to take the bus a bit further up the lake (and the route schedule fits with your time constraints), the tourism office really recommended Balmaha.
From here, you have several options for admiring the surrounding nature: if you are feeling a bit adventurous, hiking up Conic Hill is super recommended, but takes about 2 hours or a bit more. If you are more interested in staying at a lower altitude, taking a boat out to Inchcailloch Island is a great option as well.
Recommended Reading
Take a boat ride
For those who want to go out on the loch itself, taking one of the many boat rides onto the water is a really memorable and enjoyable experience. There are a few options and price ranges, but we chose to go on the hour-long boat ride to Inchmurrin Island and back. You can get tickets at a little gazebo near where the boats dock.
As you go, you’ll be able to see the entrance to the Highlands, as Loch Lomond acts as the dividing area between the Lowlands and Highlands.
Along the way, you see a few historic houses that are built on the water, and there’s a presentation about the history of the homes and the area in general, of course done in an ultra-charming Scottish accent. Cameron House in particular was neat to pass by. We recommend sitting on the left side of the boat for the best views of the houses.
Be sure to pack some layers, as there is quite a windchill once you get on the water! There was also a freak rainstorm in the middle of our ride despite otherwise sunny skies, so a rain layer is also a good thing to bring along.
Ultimately, we absolutely loved visiting Loch Lomond, but it really just scratched the surface of the amazing nature that Scotland possesses. It’s a great option for those in a pinch time-wise, as it’s so easily accessible from Glasgow. While beautiful, it really only served to spark our desire to visit the Highlands even more!
As we’ve mentioned in our Glasgow and Edinburgh travel guides, we are absolutely smitten with Scotland and really eager to go back to visit. If you’re planning a trip of your own (which you absolutely should!) feel free to save our guides on Pinterest here or by clicking on the photos below!
