Boat Trips in the National Park
(Picture: Luss)
Boat trips, cruises and ferry links have been enjoyed by generations of visitors to the Loch Lomond and Trossachs area. They are still a great way of enjoying the National Park.
Cruising Loch Lomond
The water bus service on Loch Lomond runs from spring to autumn and allows easy access to choice of walks, for example on Inchcailloch and from Inversnaid. There is even a link from Tarbet to Rowardennan with an early sailing so you can get on to Ben Lomond with plenty of time to complete the climb!
But the Loch Lomond experience is more than a floating bus service. As well as their ferry services that link Balloch with Luss and also with Balmaha, Sweeney’s Cruises offer a variety of loch excursions and cruises from their Balloch base. They even have a sunset cruise in summer evenings, as well as an Experience Loch Lomond and an Island Discovery cruise. This company is not only one of the longest running family businesses in Scotland, but also has operated boats on Loch Lomond since the 1880s. They know every inch of the Loch's 23 miles, its varied wildlife, wealth of history, legend and folklore.
On the east shore of Loch Lomond, the Balmaha Boatyard, Macfarlane and Son is another highly experienced operator. They offer an on-demand short ferry connection with Inchcailloch.
Based at Tarbet, Cruise Loch Lomond run a variety of cruises from there, and have four other departure points for their extensive cruising programme: Rowardennan, Inversnaid, Luss (pictured above) and Balmaha. They also operate some of the Loch Lomond waterbus connections.
Cruising on Loch Katrine in the Trossachs
There is a long-established tradition of cruising on Loch Katrine. The views of the unspoilt hills and woodlands around the loch have proved a highlight for visitors who have viewed them from a powered steamer from as early as 1843. The present SS Sir Walter Scott has sailed the loch since 1900!
The cruising programme annually offered by the vessel between April and October takes in the Trossachs pier at the east end and also Stronachlachar in the west. The perennial popularity of Loch Katrine cruising has allowed the running of a second vessel, The Lady of the Lake, with its own sailing schedule.
Cruising with the PS Waverley
The Paddle Steamer Waveley was launched on the River Clyde in 1946 (replacing the original Waverley, sunk off Dunkirk in 1940). The 693-ton ship was commissioned by the London and North-eastern Railway (LNER) and originally built to sail only between Craigendorran & Arrochar at the head of Loch Long. This was part of the popular ‘Three Lochs Tour’. Now she is the last sea-going paddle steamer in the world and in summer offers a Waverley cruising programme on the sea lochs and Clyde estuary to the west of the Park. More information, booking details etc on that link.
Loch Lomond Water Bus Services
For more information about Loch Lomond Water Bus services, please follow that link.
