Loch Lomond villages: where to base yourself
Eighteen bases, from the south end to Breadalbane
The best of the Loch Lomond villages depends on what you want: Luss for the classic view, Balloch for car-free access, Balmaha for Conic Hill, Arrochar for the hills, and Aberfoyle and Callander for the Trossachs.
- Balloch. South end of the loch. Direct trains from Glasgow about twice an hour.
- Luss. West shore. Council car park: £1.20 an hour.
- Balmaha. East shore. Start of the Conic Hill walk.
- Rowardennan. East shore. Start of the Ben Lomond path.
- Tarbet. North-west shore. Station on the West Highland line.
South end and the Vale of Leven
The loch narrows to the River Leven here. These bases are the easiest to reach from Glasgow.
-
Balloch
Go for the easiest arrival without a car and the start of most boat trips.
Trains from Glasgow about 2 an hour
-
Alexandria
A town just south of Balloch. Go if you want a base close to the pier.
-
Gartocharn
A small village near the south-east corner of the loch, on the bus route to Balmaha.
Bus 309
West shore and the A82
The main road runs beside the water, so these villages suit a drive or the Citylink coach.
-
Luss
Go for the classic lochside village and an easy short visit.
Car park £1.20 an hour
-
Inverbeg
A roadside stop north of Luss, mainly useful as a bus stop.
Bus 302
-
Tarbet
Go for the train-and-boat link and a shore base.
Pier car park, all day £4
-
Arrochar
Go for the Arrochar Alps and Loch Long. It is the hillwalkers' base.
Glenloin car park £10.30 a day
-
Inveruglas
A short stop on the loch rather than a destination in itself.
Overnight motorhome permits
-
Ardlui
Go for the quiet northern end of the loch.
Coach Ember E5 stops
East shore and the West Highland Way
No main road runs along this side, which keeps it calmer and better for walking.
-
Drymen
Go for a pub stop on the West Highland Way, a short bus ride from Balmaha.
Bus 309
-
Balmaha
Go for Conic Hill and the ferry to Inchcailloch.
Car park first hour free
-
Rowardennan
Go for Ben Lomond, and plan around the car park because no bus serves it.
Car park, all day £5
-
Inversnaid
Go by boat for the waterfall and the wild shore.
Circular cruise 75 min, £17
The Trossachs and Breadalbane
Smaller lochs and forest to the east and north, in a separate area of the National Park.
-
Aberfoyle
Go for the Three Lochs Forest Drive and the Trossachs woods.
Riverside car park free
-
Callander
Go for a town base on the River Teith, with shops and walks.
Car parks, all day £6
-
Strathyre
A small village on the way from Callander towards Lochearnhead.
-
Lochearnhead
Go for Loch Earn, at the western end of the loch.
-
Killin
Go for the Falls of Dochart and the Breadalbane end of the park.
If you want this, stay there
Choose Balloch if you are coming by train. Direct ScotRail trains from Glasgow run about twice an hour, and most boat trips start here. Arrochar and Tarbet station on the West Highland line is the other rail option, about 1 hour 20 minutes from Glasgow, and passengers can connect to the waterbus at Tarbet.
Choose Luss for a short, easy stop on the water. Bus 305 runs from Balloch, and parking costs £1.20 an hour. Choose Balmaha for Conic Hill and the Inchcailloch ferry; parking is £3 for 2 hours or £5 all day. Arrochar suits hillwalkers, with Glenloin car park at £10.30 a day.
Choose Rowardennan only if Ben Lomond is the plan. There is no bus, parking is £5 for the day, and the public toilets are open from Easter to October.
Choose Drymen if you are walking the West Highland Way, which passes through, or want a village near Buchanan Castle Golf Club. Choose Aberfoyle or Callander for the Trossachs, and Killin for the Falls of Dochart at the western end of Loch Tay.
| Village | Best for | Public transport | Parking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balloch | Car-free arrival and boats | Direct train from Glasgow, about 2 an hour | Loch Lomond Shores £4 all day |
| Luss | The classic lochside stop | Bus 305, Citylink and Ember E5 | £1.20 an hour |
| Balmaha | Conic Hill and Inchcailloch | Bus 309 from Balloch | £3 for 2 hours, £5 all day |
| Arrochar | Hillwalking and Loch Long | West Highland line, about 1 hour 20 from Glasgow | Glenloin £10.30 a day |
| Drymen | The West Highland Way | Bus 309; bus C62 to Balfron | Not covered here |
| Aberfoyle | The Trossachs forest | Trossachs Explorer to Callander | Riverside car park free |
| Callander | A Trossachs town base | Trossachs Explorer, bus C60 and Ember E4 | Car parks £6 all day |
| Killin | Falls of Dochart | Bus C60 to Callander, Ember E4 | Not covered here |
Where the villages sit
Tarbet stands on the west shore at the junction of the A82 and A83, on the neck of land that separates Loch Lomond from Loch Long. Arrochar is just over that neck, at the head of Loch Long, which is why the two share a railway station on the West Highland line.
Drymen is on the eastern side, at the western end of the Campsie Fells, overlooking the Endrick Water as it enters the loch. Killin is at the Falls of Dochart, a series of rapids at the western end of Loch Tay, where the Rivers Lochay and Dochart join, well to the north of the main loch.
Callander lies on the River Teith and the A84, west of Stirling, and the National Park lists it as a Trossachs community along with Port of Menteith. The Trossachs is one of four areas of the National Park, alongside Loch Lomond, Breadalbane and Cowal.
Seasons and services
Most services run all year, but some are seasonal. The Rowardennan toilets are open from Easter to October, the waterbus between Tarbet and Rowardennan is a summer service, and boats run from 27 March to 1 November in 2026.
The Trossachs Explorer bus, which links Aberfoyle and Callander, runs year-round with 4 return journeys daily since it relaunched on 29 June 2026. Camping permits apply from 1 March to 30 September.
Questions people ask
What is the closest town to Loch Lomond?
Balloch, at the southern end of the loch, is the closest town and the usual first stop. Alexandria is just south of it.
Is Balloch worth visiting?
Yes, if you want direct trains from Glasgow (about two an hour) and a boat trip: the Sweeney's Experience Cruise takes 1 hour and costs £18.50 for adults. If you want a quiet lochside walk, Luss or Balmaha suit better.
What are some fun things to do in Killin?
Start with the Falls of Dochart, which run through the village. Killin sits at the western end of Loch Tay in the Breadalbane area, so it works as a day out beyond the main loch.
Can you swim in Loch Lomond?
People swim from beaches, but treat it as cold open water. The loch can deepen quickly, so do not swim alone, and check the National Park's water-safety advice on the day.