Getting to Loch Lomond from Edinburgh and Glasgow
From Glasgow and Edinburgh, with and without a car
From Glasgow it is about 35 minutes by car to Balloch, or about 50 minutes on a direct train. From Edinburgh allow about 90 minutes by car, or a train to Glasgow and a second train on. You can do the whole trip without a car.
- Train from Glasgow
- 50 min
- Trains
- 2/hour
- Drive from Glasgow
- 35 min
- From Edinburgh
- 90 min
The short answer
Take the train to Balloch from Glasgow Queen Street: it is a direct line, about 50 minutes, and trains run about twice an hour. Balloch has the loch, the boats and the buses on to the villages. For the hills, take the West Highland line from Queen Street to Arrochar & Tarbet in about 1 hour 20 minutes.
From Edinburgh, go to Glasgow first. Trains from Edinburgh Waverley to Glasgow Queen Street run every 15 to 30 minutes, with the fastest about 44 minutes, then change for Balloch. Add the two journeys and the wait and a day trip is realistic but long: about two hours each way. A car takes about 90 minutes.
Without a car, the loch works well: train to Balloch, bus 305 on to Luss, then a boat. If you want more help choosing a route, see our trip planning help.
Every way to get there
Journey times and frequencies as we read them on 12 October 2026. Bus and boat times change by season, so use Traveline Scotland and the operators on the day.
| Route | Time | How often | Operator or road | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glasgow Queen Street to Balloch (train)ScotRail, direct line | About 50 minutes | About twice an hour | ScotRail, direct line | The simplest car-free route, ending at the south end of the loch. |
| Glasgow Queen Street to Arrochar & Tarbet (train)ScotRail, West Highland line | About 1 hour 20 minutes | Up to 7 trains a day in the listing we saw | ScotRail, West Highland line | Hills at Arrochar and the waterbus from Tarbet. Ardlui is about 1 hour 35 minutes. |
| Edinburgh Waverley to Glasgow Queen Street (train)ScotRail | Fastest about 44 minutes | Every 15 to 30 minutes | ScotRail | The first leg from Edinburgh. Change at Queen Street for Balloch or the West Highland line. |
| Balloch to Luss, Balmaha and Helensburgh (bus)McColl’s Travel: 305 to Luss, 309 to Balmaha, 306 to Helensburgh | Times not recorded: use Traveline Scotland | Check on the day | McColl’s Travel: 305 to Luss, 309 to Balmaha, 306 to Helensburgh | Villages on both shores from the Balloch hub. |
| Glasgow to Oban and Fort William (coach)Citylink 975 and 976, and Ember E5, stopping at Balloch, Luss and Tarbet | Times not recorded: check the operator | Check on the day | Citylink 975 and 976, and Ember E5, stopping at Balloch, Luss and Tarbet | Direct to the west shore. Some Ember journeys need pre-booking. |
| Waterbus (Tarbet and Ardlui to the east shore)Cruise Loch Lomond and other boat operators | See the operator | Seasonal | Cruise Loch Lomond and other boat operators | Reaches Rowardennan, which has no bus. Stops here connect with the train. |
| By car from GlasgowM74/M8, M898 to the Erskine Bridge, then the A82 | About 35 minutes to Balloch | Any time | M74/M8, M898 to the Erskine Bridge, then the A82 | Flexible for the upper loch and the hills. Parking charges apply. |
| By car from EdinburghSame route as from Glasgow | About 90 minutes to Balloch | Any time | Same route as from Glasgow | The quickest door-to-door option if you are carrying kit. |
| By bike from GlasgowNational Cycle Network route 7, mostly traffic-free | Not stated: no reliable figure | Any time | National Cycle Network route 7, mostly traffic-free | Follows the Clyde through Clydebank and Dumbarton to Balloch. |
Train times: Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park and ScotRail listings. Car times: the National Park. Bus and coach times are not recorded here.
A car-free day from Glasgow
Take an early train to Balloch
Leave Glasgow Queen Street early. The trip takes about 50 minutes, with trains about twice an hour. Walk to the pier and buy a cruise ticket for the day, or go straight to the bus stop for the villages. Loch Lomond Shores is the nearby waterfront attraction and a good first stop.
Bus 305 to Luss
McColl’s bus 305 runs from Balloch to Luss via Arden. We have not recorded its times, so check Traveline Scotland before you rely on it. Citylink and Ember coaches also stop at Luss.
Cruise on from Luss
On the autumn timetable Cruise Loch Lomond published on 12 October 2026, boats leave Luss for Balmaha at 10:00, 11:30, 13:15 and 14:45, with returns from Balmaha at 10:45, 12:15, 14:00 and 15:30. Scheduled cruises run to the end of October, with a reduced winter service. Look at waterbus and boat options for the full list.
Come home by bus or boat
Return on the 305 from Luss or by boat to Balmaha, then bus 309 to Balloch. Check the last bus and the last boat before you leave the station in the morning.
Walking instead
For a longer trip on foot, the West Highland Way: route, parking and timings runs from Milngavie through Drymen and along the east shore.
Check on the day
- ScotRail pages blocked our checker, so the Edinburgh to Glasgow time and the number of trains a day to Arrochar & Tarbet come from ScotRail timetable listings. Look at the ScotRail journey planner before you travel.
- Bus 305, 306 and 309 times are not recorded here. Use Traveline Scotland for the date you travel.
- Some Ember journeys need pre-booking, and dogs are reported as not permitted on Citylink coaches, so check the operator.
- Sunday and bank holiday trains can differ, and journeys may take longer at weekends.
- To see how we date every figure, read how we verify prices and times.
Which station for which village
Where you get off decides what you can reach without a car.
- BallochTrain terminus. The Balloch village guide covers the pier, the Shores and the castle park.
- LussNo station. Bus 305 or a coach from Balloch, or a boat. Luss is the first village on the west shore.
- Tarbet and ArrocharArrochar & Tarbet is on the West Highland line. The station serves Tarbet and Arrochar, and connects to the waterbus.
- Balmaha and DrymenBus 309 from Balloch runs via Gartocharn and Drymen to Balmaha. Balmaha is the start of the Conic Hill walk, and you can visit Drymen on the way.
- RowardennanThere is no bus. Take the waterbus from Tarbet in summer. The village of Rowardennan is the start of the Ben Lomond path.
- Aberfoyle and CallanderThe Trossachs Explorer bus links Aberfoyle and nearby Callander, with four return journeys a day since it relaunched on 29 June 2026. Check Traveline Scotland to get there from Glasgow or Stirling.
- KillinWe have no sourced public transport route to Killin. Check Traveline Scotland before you plan a trip there.
Cars, bikes and planning your base
Driving? Which car park to choose lists charges village by village. On two wheels, by bike covers the route from Glasgow.
To see every stop together, open our map of the park. If you are still choosing a base, start with all places around the loch.
Questions people ask
How long does it take to get to Loch Lomond from Glasgow?
About 50 minutes by direct train to Balloch, or about 35 minutes by car.
Can you do a day trip from Edinburgh to Loch Lomond?
Yes, but it is a long day. Allow about two hours each way by train via Glasgow, or about 90 minutes each way by car.
What is the closest town to Loch Lomond?
Balloch, at the southern end of the loch, with direct trains from Glasgow about twice an hour.
Can I visit Loch Lomond without a car?
Yes. Train to Balloch, bus 305 to Luss, and a boat across to Balmaha. Rowardennan has no bus, but a summer waterbus connects it with Tarbet.
Is there a cycle path from Glasgow to Loch Lomond?
Yes. National Cycle Network route 7 runs from Glasgow along the Clyde through Clydebank and Dumbarton to Balloch and is mostly traffic-free.
How long does it take to explore Loch Lomond?
One village, a cruise and a short walk fill a day. A big hill such as Ben Lomond takes about 4.5 to 5.5 hours on its own.
What is Loch Lomond famous for?
It is a long freshwater loch you can reach by train from Glasgow, with cruises, villages on both shores and walks from Conic Hill to Ben Lomond.