Loch Lomond boat trips and cruises
Cruises, ferries and the steamship, compared
Loch Lomond cruises run from Balloch, Loch Lomond Shores, Luss, Balmaha and Tarbet, and the steamship sails on Loch Katrine. Adult fares we priced start at £17. Main season runs from 27 March to 1 November 2026, and the timetable depends on the operator, so check the operator’s page on the day.
- Cheapest cruise
- from £17
- Main season
- Mar–Nov
- Island ferry
- £10
- Trains to Balloch
- 2/hour
Which boat should you pick?
Pick by where you are staying and how long you have. From Balloch, Sweeney’s runs a one-hour Experience Cruise at £18.50 for an adult and a two-hour Island Discovery at £29. From Luss, Cruise Loch Lomond’s 90-minute Luss Circular is £19, and its Tarbet Circular is the cheapest we priced at £17.
To land on an island, the Inchcailloch ferry from Balmaha is £10 return for an adult. Choose a cruise on a clear day for the views and a walk instead in poor visibility. A boat on Loch Lomond is a loch trip, not a Loch Ness day: the two are a long drive apart.
Every operator, route and fare we have checked
Adult fares as listed by each operator on 12 October 2026. Seasons come from the operator or, for Cruise Loch Lomond, the tourism site noted in the sources. Sweeney’s gives no season dates, and a boat that is not listed here may still run.
| Route and operator | From | Duration | Adult fare | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Experience CruiseSweeney’s Cruise Co | Balloch | 1 hr | £18.50 | Operator gives no dates. Check the booking page. |
| Into the HighlandsSweeney’s Cruise Co | Loch Lomond Shores | 70 min | £20 | Operator gives no dates. Check the booking page. |
| Island DiscoverySweeney’s Cruise Co | Balloch | 2 hr | £29 | Operator gives no dates. Check the booking page. |
| Island SafariSweeney’s Cruise Co | Luss | 75 min | £21 | Operator gives no dates. Check the booking page. |
| Evening CruiseSweeney’s Cruise Co | See booking page | 90 min | £23.50 | Operator gives no dates. Check the booking page. |
| Balloch, Luss and Balmaha ferrySweeney’s Cruise Co | Balloch, Luss, Balmaha | 1 hr | £28 return | Operator gives no dates. Check the booking page. |
| Luss CircularCruise Loch Lomond | Luss | 90 min | £19 | Main season to 1 Nov 2026; scheduled cruises to the end of October. |
| Tarbet CircularCruise Loch Lomond | Tarbet | 60 min | £17 | Main season to 1 Nov 2026; scheduled cruises to the end of October. |
| Inversnaid CircularCruise Loch Lomond | See timetable | 75 min | £17 | Main season to 1 Nov 2026; scheduled cruises to the end of October. |
| Balmaha ExplorerCruise Loch Lomond | Luss to Balmaha | See timetable | £20 | Main season to 1 Nov 2026; scheduled cruises to the end of October. |
| Island ExplorerCruise Loch Lomond | Luss to Inchcailloch | See timetable | £20 | Main season to 1 Nov 2026; scheduled cruises to the end of October. |
| Inchcailloch ferryBalmaha Boatyard (Macfarlane and Son) | Balmaha | Not published | £10 return | Daily in summer, 9:25am to 5pm. Aims to run to at least the end of September. |
| Inchmurrin ferryInchmurrin Island | Arden (Burnfoot) | 15 min | £8 return | No set timetable: by arrangement for guests. |
| Steamship Sir Walter ScottLoch Katrine (Steamship Sir Walter Scott Ltd) | Trossachs Pier | 45 min to 2 hr | Check booking page | 27 Mar to 25 Oct 2026, then selected sailings in winter. |
Children under five go free on Sweeney’s, and well-behaved dogs travel free. Cruise Loch Lomond is dog and bike friendly. Neither operator lists concession prices that we could verify.
How to choose and book
Start from your base
Staying at Balloch means Sweeney’s, and the Loch Lomond Shores pier is the easiest start for families. Staying at Luss or Tarbet means Cruise Loch Lomond.
Match the time you have
The Tarbet Circular takes 60 minutes. The Inversnaid Circular takes 75 minutes and the Luss Circular 90 minutes. Sweeney’s Island Discovery is the longest Loch Lomond trip we priced at two hours.
Book with the operator first
Sweeney’s books through its own site, or by phone on 01389 752 376 (office 9am to 4pm, seven days). If we add partner booking links beside the official ones, they will be labelled, and our affiliate disclosure explains how we earn.
Go without the car
Trains run from Glasgow to Balloch about twice an hour, and bus 309 reaches Balmaha. Getting there without a car covers the rest, including coaches to Luss and Tarbet.
Check before you go
- Confirm the season on the operator’s site. Sweeney’s gives no season dates, and Cruise Loch Lomond’s scheduled cruises run to the end of October.
- Winter sailings are limited. Loch Katrine runs selected sailings from 26 October 2026 to 25 March 2027.
- We found no weather or cancellation policy for Sweeney’s. Ask when you book.
- The Inchcailloch ferry gives no last-return time. Ring 01360 870 214 in October.
Where the boats leave from
Each stop has a guide to the village, the car park and what to do around the cruise.
- BallochSweeney’s main base at Riverside, Balloch. Visit Balloch covers the town, and the Shores waterfront is next door.
- LussCruise Loch Lomond and Sweeney’s both sail from here. Luss and what to do there has the village, and Luss Pier the landing itself.
- BalmahaThe Inchcailloch ferry and Cruise Loch Lomond call here. Visit Balmaha covers the harbour, and Inchcailloch the island.
- Tarbet and ArrocharThe Tarbet Circular leaves from Tarbet. Arrochar and what to do there is the neighbouring village.
- InversnaidCruise Loch Lomond runs an Inversnaid Circular. The village of Inversnaid covers the stop.
- Ardlui and InveruglasThese are not on the routes we priced. A stop in Ardlui and a stop in Inveruglas cover the northern shore.
- The islandsLoch islands explains which you can land on, and planning a visit to Inchmurrin covers the largest.
Own boat, hire and the water
Bringing your own boat? Motorised craft on the loch must be registered with the National Park Authority. The Duncan Mills Memorial Slipway at Balloch charges £27.80 for a single launch and retrieval, and £110.95 for an annual pass, from 1 April 2026. Phone 01389 722030 to check.
We have not verified any boat-hire operator, so we do not list one. For paddling and sailing under your own power, getting on the water is the guide.
Loch Katrine is a separate loch. The Steamship Sir Walter Scott leaves from Trossachs Pier, with a two-hour cruise to Stronachlachar, a one-hour circular at 1pm and 45-minute circulars. The ticket office is on 01877 376315. Trossachs Pier visitor guide and a day at Loch Katrine cover the visit.
Questions people ask
Can I take my own boat on Loch Lomond?
Yes, but motorised craft must be registered with the National Park Authority. The Duncan Mills Memorial Slipway at Balloch charges £27.80 for a single launch and retrieval.
How much is a Loch Lomond cruise?
Adult fares we priced run from £17 for Cruise Loch Lomond’s Tarbet Circular to £29 for Sweeney’s two-hour Island Discovery.
When do the Loch Lomond cruises run?
The main season runs from 27 March to 1 November 2026. Cruise Loch Lomond’s scheduled cruises run to the end of October, and Sweeney’s gives no dates.
Are dogs allowed on Loch Lomond boats?
Well-behaved dogs travel free on Sweeney’s, and Cruise Loch Lomond is dog friendly.
Is the Loch Ness boat cruise worth it?
It is a different trip from Loch Lomond. We have not verified a road distance between the two, so check a route planner before you plan both in one day.
What is close to Loch Lomond?
Loch Katrine and the Trossachs are close, and every village in the park lists the stops along the shore.
What's close to Loch Lomond?
Glasgow is about 35 minutes by car from Balloch at the south end. The Trossachs, with Callander, Aberfoyle and the Loch Katrine steamship, lies to the east in the same National Park.