Alexandria, Loch Lomond: what to see and how to get there
A Vale of Leven town just south of the loch, and the postal address of much of Balloch
Verdict
Go if you want a working town with the Smollett Fountain, the River Leven and the Vale of Leven Golf Club, a short way from the loch.
Skip if you want a loch-shore village. The shore, the cruises and Loch Lomond Shores are at Balloch.
- Loch Lomond Shores. The waterfront at Balloch, with cruises, shops and a paid car park.
- Car park by Alexandria station. OpenStreetMap shows a car park named for Alexandria station. We have no verified operator, tariff or train times, so check the signs and ScotRail.
- Vale of Leven Golf Club. Northfield Road, Alexandria. Visitor policy and fees are not on the club's home page, so ask the club.
- Trains from Glasgow to Balloch, the nearest loch station
- 2/hour
- Loch Lomond Shores car park, all day
- £4
- Smollett Fountain refurbishment finished
- 2024
- Town named after Alexander Smollett in
- 1788
Today: 11°C and showers, sunset 18:22. The town itself is a quiet working centre. The visitor pressure is at Loch Lomond Shores and Balloch next door, on fine weekends and school holidays.
Alexandria in photos
Is Alexandria worth it?
Alexandria is the largest town in the Vale of Leven, a working town just south of Loch Lomond rather than a loch-shore village. Searches for Alexandria and Loch Lomond often really mean Balloch: the Bird of Prey Centre and the Loch Lomond Hotel in Balloch both use Alexandria in their postal addresses. The town's own sights are the Smollett Fountain, the River Leven path and the Vale of Leven Golf Club, and most visitors treat it as the practical side of the loch. Staying overnight? Alexandria hotels and B&Bs compares the options.
Go if you want
A look at a real Scottish town on the way to the loch, a walk beside the River Leven or the Smollett Fountain, and easy access to Balloch by train and bus.
Think twice if you want
Boats, a beach and a loch view from the main street. Those are at Balloch. Check month-by-month weather before you pick a day. Bringing a tent? Permit zones and rules explains where a National Park permit is needed from March to September.
Parking & getting there
Alexandria town centre and Loch Lomond Shores
- Town car parks
- OpenStreetMap maps several, including by the station and in Bank Street, Church Street and Gilmour Street. We have no verified operator or tariff, so check the signs.
- Loch Lomond Shores car park
- Paid since 28 January 2026: £4 all day, £2 up to 4 hours. Wise Parking, pay on arrival.
- Overnight
- Balloch Castle Country Park's bye-laws do not allow camping or overnight parking. Do not assume a car park allows overnight stays.
Last checked 13 Oct 2026
Car-free
Trains from Glasgow run direct to Balloch about twice an hour (ScotRail). OpenStreetMap shows a car park named for Alexandria station, so check ScotRail for trains calling in the town. Citylink 975 and 976 stop at a layby north of the Stoneymollan roundabout in Balloch, and McColl's buses 305, 306 and 309 run from Balloch to Luss, Helensburgh and Balmaha. Where to leave the car? See where to leave the car, and train, bus and waterbus options for the wider picture.
When it is busy
Editorial estimate of the visitor pressure in the Balloch area on a typical summer day, not measured counts. No counts are published for the town.
| Day | 9:00 | 10:00 | 11:00 | 12:00 | 13:00 | 14:00 | 15:00 | 16:00 | 17:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weekday | Quiet | Quiet | Steady | Steady | Steady | Steady | Steady | Quiet | Quiet |
| Saturday | Quiet | Steady | Steady | Steady | Steady | Steady | Steady | Steady | Quiet |
| Sunday | Quiet | Steady | Steady | Steady | Steady | Steady | Steady | Steady | Quiet |
Q QuietS SteadyB BusyF Car park full
Tip: the town itself stays steady. Head to Loch Lomond Shores before 10:00 on a fine weekend, or come by train.
Things to do in and around Alexandria
-
The Smollett Fountain
West Dunbartonshire Council describes the fountain as a listed landmark from the 1870s, and says a refurbishment was completed in 2024: conservation repairs, steam cleaning, the cast-iron heron restored, basins re-lined, missing gargoyles re-carved and new decorative lighting. It was not possible to restore the water flow.
-
The River Leven path
The River Leven runs through the town to the loch. The National Park's Balloch page says there is a path from the Balloch House side of the bridge along the river and into the Country Park, which makes an easy way to link the two.
-
Loch Lomond Shores and SEA LIFE
The waterfront shopping, food and cruise hub is in Balloch. Loch Lomond Shores: what to know before you go has the parking and prices, and visiting SEA LIFE Loch Lomond covers the aquarium.
-
Bird of Prey Centre
Its address is Ben Lomond Way, Balloch, Alexandria G83 8QL. The centre advises not to trust the postcode on a satnav, so use a maps app. The Bird of Prey Centre guide has the details, and Balloch Castle and the country park is a walk away.
-
Cameron House
The five-star resort on the south-west shore takes spa and dining bookings from non-guests. Loch Lomond Hotel Cameron House has what to expect.
-
Golf
The Vale of Leven Golf Club on Northfield Road, Alexandria (phone 01389 752351) was founded in 1907 and has views of Loch Lomond. Its home page gives no visitor policy or fees, so ask. Loch Lomond Golf Club, at Luss by Alexandria, is private. Golf around the loch compares the courses.
1 hour, 3 hours or a full day
1 hour
Town centre (suggested timings)
- 0:00 Park in the town centre and walk to the Smollett Fountain.
- 0:20 Walk down to the River Leven and follow the path for a while.
- 0:50 Back to the car.
3 hours
Town and Balloch
- 0:00 Start at the fountain and the riverside path.
- 1:00 Follow the river path towards the Balloch bridge and the country park.
- 2:00 Coffee or lunch at Loch Lomond Shores.
A full day
River and loch
- 9:00 Arrive early at Loch Lomond Shores. All day is £4.
- 10:00 A cruise or SEA LIFE: book ahead, as pre-booking is essential at SEA LIFE.
- 14:00 Back along the river to Alexandria for the fountain and the town.
Eat & drink
-
Town centre cafes and takeaways
Expect everyday cafes and takeaways rather than a visitor row. We have not verified individual businesses, so check opening hours on the day.
-
Shores and Balloch
The widest choice is next door. Pubs and tearooms in Balloch covers it, and Cameron House lists its restaurants on its own dining page.
-
Supermarket stop
OpenStreetMap shows a supermarket car park in the town, which is handy for a picnic or a camping top-up. Hours are not verified.
Where to stay near Alexandria
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Questions people ask
What is Alexandria, Scotland famous for?
It is the largest town in the Vale of Leven, named after Alexander Smollett in 1788, with a history of textile works along the River Leven. Its best-known landmark is the listed Smollett Fountain.
What is special about Loch Lomond?
It is the loch at the heart of the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park, with the loch villages, the islands and the West Highland Way. Start with all places around the loch for the choice.
What is the prettiest town in Loch Lomond?
That is a matter of taste. Luss is the best known and Balmaha is the hill base. Alexandria is the practical town to the south, and a stop in Balmaha or the loch shore at Balloch show the loch itself.
Is Alexandria on Loch Lomond?
Not quite. The town is a short way south of the loch on the River Leven. The loch shore, the cruises and Loch Lomond Shores are at Balloch, though many loch addresses use Alexandria as the postal town.
How do I get from Glasgow to Alexandria?
Trains run direct from Glasgow to Balloch about twice an hour (ScotRail). OpenStreetMap shows a car park by Alexandria station, so check ScotRail for trains that call in the town.
Where should I park for Alexandria and the loch?
In the town centre there are several car parks we have not verified. At Loch Lomond Shores the all-day charge is £4 and Wise Parking runs it, paid on arrival.