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Arrival · Railway station at the southern end of the loch
Balloch
About 50 minutes from Glasgow Queen Street, roughly every 30 minutes.
How to get there: by train from Glasgow to Balloch or Tarbet
Glasgow – Balloch
ScotRail runs direct from Glasgow Queen Street to Balloch, in about 50 minutes and roughly every 30 minutes according to the National Park Authority. From the station it is a few steps to the boats.
Visiting Loch Lomond & The Trossachs: lochs, Munros and forest
Contact: Balmaha
The National Park Authority’s visitor centre in Balmaha on the east shore is open daily 9:30 to 17:00 from April to September, until 16:00 in October and at weekends only from November to March.
The island is part of the Loch Lomond National Nature Reserve. Three walks of 30 to 45 minutes each lead through oak woodland and up to the top, Tom na Nigheanan.
Free entry – you pay for parking, boats and permits
Parking charged per car park
Car parks are run by councils, the National Park Authority, Forestry and Land Scotland and private owners, each with its own charges. At Rowardennan below Ben Lomond, Forestry and Land Scotland charges £2 for one hour and £5 for the day.
Scotland’s most southerly Munro; the main path from Rowardennan is 13 kilometres there and back and takes 4 to 6 hours. The National Trust for Scotland looks after the upper mountain.
How to get there: by train from Glasgow to Balloch or Tarbet
West Highland Line
The Glasgow – Oban/Fort William line stops at Arrochar & Tarbet, Ardlui, Crianlarich and Tyndrum. From Tarbet and Ardlui a waterbus crosses to the east shore.
Steamship Sir Walter Scott and Lady of the Lake, one-hour cruise.
Things to do: boats, Munros and wee hills
Boats on two lochs
Sweeney’s Cruise sails from Balloch, Cruise Loch Lomond from Luss, Tarbet and Balmaha. On Loch Katrine the steamship Sir Walter Scott and the Lady of the Lake run one-hour cruises from Trossachs Pier.