Ardlui hotel and where to stay in Ardlui
The Ardlui Hotel, holiday park lodges and glamping at the head of the loch
The Ardlui Hotel is a small hotel with ten en-suite bedrooms on the northern shore of Loch Lomond, in an historic country house on the bank of the loch. Beside it are a holiday park with caravans, glamping pods and hot tub lodges, and a marina. Ardlui is a quiet base at the top of the loch with a railway station and coach stops.
- Hotel bedrooms
- 10
- Ferry season to Ardleish
- Apr–Oct
- Marina moorings
- 26
- Holiday park deposit
- £25
Where should you stay in Ardlui?
Stay at the Ardlui Hotel if you want a small, loch-side hotel. Its own pages describe ten en-suite bedrooms, standard and superior, a bar and restaurant, and a Whisky Ambassador listing. Stay in the holiday park if you want space and a kitchen: it lets caravans, glamping pods and lodges, and some lodges have hot tubs and saunas.
Who runs it? Harrison Holidays, a family-owned group, presents the holiday park, hotel and marina as its own on its website. The hotel's own website (ardlui.com) says the Squires family has lived on the site since 1959. We could not settle the difference from primary sources, so we do not name an owner. We also cannot confirm whether the hotel has been sold: neither page we read says so. Phone the hotel on 01301 704 243 before you plan around it.
Ardlui is a place for quiet and the water, not for choice. For more choice, the nearest alternatives are Inveruglas and Inversnaid, covered under other bases below.
Ardlui hotel, park and marina compared
We name the hotel, the holiday park and the marina because Harrison Holidays and the hotel's own website gave us facts we could check. We give no rates, review scores or deals.
| Place to stay | Suits | What we know | Without a car | Booking tip | Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Ardlui Hotel | Couples and walkers who want a small hotel with a bar and restaurant. | Ten en-suite bedrooms, standard and superior, in a country house on the loch bank. Whisky Ambassador hotel. Parking and dog rules are not stated on the pages we read. | Coaches and the West Highland line stop at Ardlui. Check times before you go. | Ask about dogs, parking and dinner times when you book. | Open in maps |
| Holiday park lodges and hot tub lodges | Families and groups who want space and a kitchen. | Harrison Holidays lets caravans and lodges, some lodges with hot tubs and saunas. Most lodges are on the loch edge, according to ardlui.com. A £25 deposit reserves a short break. | Carrying luggage from the station or coach stop may need a lift. Ask the park. | You can pick 1 to 7 nights on the booking page. Check changeover days. | Open in maps |
| Glamping pods | Couples and walkers who want a roof without a full cabin. | The park lists glamping pods among its holiday lets. We have no verified size, price or dog rule. | As for the lodges: ask the park about collection from the stop. | Ask what is included before you book. | Open in maps |
| Camping and touring | Tents and tourers. | The booking page shows no touring pitches. The hotel's own website carried a notice that its tent area would not reopen for the 2022 season, so ask before you plan on a pitch. Camping outside a site needs a permit from 1 March to 30 September in the management zones; see camping rules around the loch. | Possible on foot from the stop if you carry your kit. | Ask the park directly. Do not assume a pitch is available. | |
| Arriving by boat | Boat owners and visiting crews. | The marina has 26 swinging moorings, pontoons and a 20-ton hoist. A refurbished floating pier offers fresh water and electric hook-up for short visits or a night or two. | By water. A ferry runs between Ardlui and Ardleish only, 1 April to 31 October; raise the signal ball at Ardleish. | Ask the marina about berths and the hoist before you sail. |
Facts come from the Harrison Holidays page for Ardlui and the hotel's own website, read on 13 October 2026.
Choose and book
Decide whether Ardlui is your base
Ardlui suits a quiet stay at the head of the loch. For shops, cafes and a wider choice, look south. Ardlui and what to do there is the village guide.
Pick the type of stay
Hotel for a short break, lodge for a group, pod for a couple, boat berth for a crew. The table shows what we could check.
Work out how you will arrive
Citylink 975 runs via Ardlui, and the Ember E5 coach also stops there; some E5 journeys need pre-booking. Train passengers can get off at Ardlui and connect to the waterbus across to the east shore. How to get here covers the full options, and loch-side parking guide covers the public car parks.
Ask about dogs and parking
Neither is stated on the pages we read. Phone the hotel on 01301 704 243.
Use the official site first
Book direct with the park or the hotel for their own terms. Where we add a partner link, we always give the official option beside it.
Check before you book
- Who runs the hotel now? Our two sources differ, so ask when you book.
- Are dogs welcome, and in which rooms or lodges? We have no verified answer.
- Is there parking for your vehicle, and is it free? Not stated on the pages we read.
- Is there a tent area? The hotel's website carried a notice that it would not reopen for 2022.
- What meals are served, and when? Ask for dinner times if you are arriving late.
Other bases nearby
If Ardlui is full or not quite right, these are the closest alternatives.
- InveruglasThe next base south. Where to stay in Inveruglas is our guide.
- InversnaidOn the east shore, popular with West Highland Way walkers. Inversnaid accommodation compared covers the hotel and bunkhouse.
More stays and planning
Looking further afield? Hotels, lodges and campsites compared covers every base around the loch. We may earn a commission on some links: how we earn a commission.
Find a place to stay
Partner links: we may earn a commission
Questions people ask
Has Ardlui Hotel been sold?
We cannot confirm a sale. Harrison Holidays presents the hotel as part of its Ardlui holiday park, hotel and marina, and neither page we read mentions a sale. Phone the hotel to check.
Who owns the Ardlui Hotel?
Our sources differ. Harrison Holidays lists the park, hotel and marina on its own site; the hotel's own website says the Squires family has lived there since 1959. We name no owner.
Is Ardlui Hotel dog friendly?
We could not confirm it. The pages we read do not state a dog policy for the hotel, so ask before you book.
Is Ardlui on Loch Lomond?
Yes. Ardlui is on the northern banks of Loch Lomond, at the head of the loch.
How many rooms does the Ardlui Hotel have?
Ten en-suite bedrooms, in standard and superior types.
Can I camp at Ardlui?
The holiday park's booking page shows no touring pitches, and a notice on the hotel's website said its tent area would not reopen for 2022. Ask first.
How do I get to Ardlui without a car?
By Citylink 975 or Ember E5 coach, or by train on the West Highland line, which stops at Ardlui. Check the timetable on the day.