Inchmurrin restaurant and ferry
The biggest freshwater island in Britain, reached by a short private ferry from Arden
Verdict
Go if you want a meal on a big loch island and are happy to phone ahead for a table and the ferry.
Skip if you want a spontaneous trip. The ferry runs by arrangement and the 2026 restaurant season ended on 28 September.
- Adult ferry return from Arden
- £8
- Crossing time
- 15 min
- Size of the island
- 113 ha
- Restaurant 2026 season ended
- 28 Sep
The short answer
Inchmurrin is the largest freshwater loch island in Great Britain, 113 hectares in the south of Loch Lomond, and its restaurant and bar is the main reason people go. A passenger ferry leaves Burnfoot Jetty at Arden, takes 15 minutes and costs £8 return for an adult, but it runs by arrangement with no set timetable. The island’s site says to phone the restaurant on 01389 850 245 for a table and the ferry. The restaurant’s 2026 season ran from 3 April to 28 September, so in October ring first. For other trips, see island day trips.
What you get
The ferry from Arden
The jetty is at Arden, off the A82 about 3 miles north of Balloch (G83 8RD). The jetty car park is about 400 m from the roundabout. The ferry is passenger-only, 15 minutes each way, and costs £8 return for an adult or £4 for a child under 12. There is no set timetable. The restaurant page says the ferry can be arranged when you book a table.
Restaurant and bar
The restaurant season ran from 3 April to 28 September 2026, open daily from 11am to 11pm, serving food from 12 until 8pm. It welcomes people arriving by ferry and by their own boats. Dogs are welcome on leads in the bar and outdoor seating, and dietary needs are handled on enquiry. Phone 01389 850 245 to book.
Staying on the island
The island lists self-catering units for 4 to 8 people. We found no hotel rooms. For a bed on the mainland, a bed for the night in Balloch is the nearest guide.
The island itself
Inchmurrin is 1.5 miles long and 0.5 mile wide, and it sits on the Highland Boundary Fault. The National Park lists a ruined Lennox castle at the south end. The island also has summer moorings, winter boat storage and a sheep farm.
Can day visitors go?
The ferry page says it runs by arrangement for guests of Inchmurrin, and does not say whether anyone else can use it alone. The restaurant page says the ferry can be arranged through the restaurant when you book. Booking a table is therefore the route to try, but confirm by phone.
Before and after
The Balloch village guide covers the south end of the loch. When the island restaurant is closed, a meal in Balloch is the fallback.
How long to allow
These are planning estimates built from the checked facts. They are not timed visits.
| Time you have | What fits | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| One hour | Not enough: the crossing alone is 15 minutes each way. | The ferry has no set timetable, so allow slack. |
| Half a day | Ferry over, lunch at the restaurant, ferry back. | Food is served from 12 to 8pm in the 2026 season. |
| A full day | Lunch on the island, then Balloch’s attractions on the mainland. | Book the return ferry when you book the table. |
| A wet day | The restaurant and bar are the only verified indoor space. | We have no verified shelter details beyond that. |
Prices and hours
- Ferry fares
- Adult £8 return, under-12 £4 return.
- Ferry times
- No set timetable. By arrangement, through the restaurant when you book.
- Restaurant 2026
- 3 April to 28 September, daily 11am to 11pm, food 12 to 8pm.
- Booking
- Phone 01389 850 245 for tables and the ferry.
- Last return ferry
- Not published. Ask when you book.
- Winter opening
- Not published for the restaurant. Phone first.
Getting there and parking
The ferry leaves from a small jetty car park. Parking around the loch covers the wider pay-and-display picture.
Burnfoot Jetty car park, Arden
- Postcode
- G83 8RD
- Location
- Off the A82, about 3 miles north of Balloch; the car park is about 400 m from the roundabout
- Tariff
- Not stated on the page we read. Check on arrival.
Last checked 12 Oct 2026
Car-free
We have not verified a bus stop at Arden. Citylink coaches stop at Balloch, and the Ember E5 stops at Balloch and Duck Bay, so check Traveline Scotland on the day.
Is it for me?
| If you are | Fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Diners | Good | The restaurant takes ferry users and visitors with their own boats, in season. |
| Dog owners | Check | Dogs on leads are welcome in the bar and outside seating. We have no ferry dog rules. |
| Families | Mixed | The child fare is £4 under 12, but we have no family facilities listed. |
| Visitors without a car | Poor | We have not verified a bus stop at Arden. |
| Wheelchairs and buggies | Check | We have no verified details on the jetty or island paths. Phone first. |
| Spontaneous trippers | Poor | The ferry is by arrangement and there is no set timetable. |
Questions people ask
Is there a ferry to Inchmurrin?
Yes, a passenger ferry from Burnfoot Jetty at Arden, 15 minutes, £8 return for an adult. It runs by arrangement with no set timetable.
How do you get to Inchmurrin?
By the passenger ferry from Burnfoot Jetty, off the A82 about 3 miles north of Balloch, or in your own boat. Phone 01389 850 245 to arrange the ferry.
Can day visitors go to Inchmurrin?
The ferry page covers guests, but the restaurant page says the ferry can be arranged through the restaurant when you book. Phone to confirm.
Is the Inchmurrin restaurant open in October?
Its 2026 season ran from 3 April to 28 September. We found no later dates, so phone 01389 850 245 before you go.
Can you stay on Inchmurrin?
Yes, in self-catering units for 4 to 8 people, according to the island’s own site.
Is there a hotel on Inchmurrin?
We found self-catering units but no hotel rooms on the island’s site.
How big is Inchmurrin?
113 hectares, 1.5 miles long and 0.5 mile wide, and the largest freshwater loch island in Great Britain.
Can you take a dog to Inchmurrin?
Dogs on leads are welcome in the restaurant’s bar and outdoor seating. We found no ferry dog rules, so ask when you book.