Loch Lomond & the Trossachs Newsletter
Visit Loch Lomond

An independent traveller’s guide

Loch Lomond from a lawn beside Rowardennan Hotel, with a jetty and hills on the far shore under a cloudy sky
Photo: Chris Heaton, CC BY-SA 2.0

Rowardennan

East-shore start of the Ben Lomond path

Verdict

Go if Ben Lomond is the plan and you can arrive by car or on the summer waterbus.

Skip if you rely on buses, because none serves the village. Parking in Rowardennan explains the car park.

Sketch map of Rowardennan: the shore road, the car park beside the pier and the youth hostel jetty on Loch Lomond Sketch map of Rowardennan: the shore road, the car park beside the pier and the youth hostel jetty on Loch Lomond. Marked places: Rowardennan car park, Youth hostel jetty.
  • Rowardennan car park. Forestry and Land Scotland pay and display. The Ben Lomond path starts here. Check the signs for today’s charges.
  • Youth hostel jetty. The summer waterbus to Tarbet leaves from this jetty. Check the operator’s dates and days.
Car park, all day
£5
Bus service
None
Ben Lomond, return
4.5–5.5 h
Waterbus from Tarbet
30 min

Fine weekends and school holidays are the busy times, especially for Ben Lomond. Weekdays and early starts are easier.

Last checked 12 Oct 2026 Map © OpenStreetMap contributors. Open in maps

Rowardennan in photos

A jetty and information board on the Rowardennan shore, with a lifebuoy and a small wooded island on the loch
The ferry landing at Rowardennan.Peter S, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Ben Lomond rising above Loch Lomond seen from Beinn Narnain in evening light
Ben Lomond from Beinn Narnain.Cunikm, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
Loch Lomond and its islands stretching south, seen from the summit area of Ben Lomond
Looking south down the loch from Ben Lomond.Colin, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Is Rowardennan worth it?

Rowardennan is worth it for one reason: the Ben Lomond path starts here. There is a Forestry and Land Scotland car park, a hotel and a hostel, and the loch shore, but no bus. In summer the waterbus from Tarbet is the car-free way in.

Go if you want

A big hill day on the tourist path, 12 km with 990 m of climbing, with the loch below you all the way.

Think twice if you want

A village to browse, or a spontaneous day without a car. Check midges, rain and daylight by month before you choose a date. Bringing a tent? Where to camp around Rowardennan has the rules, and the permit season runs from 1 March to 30 September.

Parking & getting there

Rowardennan car park (Forestry and Land Scotland)

Operator
Forestry and Land Scotland (Queen Elizabeth Forest Park)
Price
£2 up to 1 hour; £5 all day; £14 minibus or coach all day; Blue Badge free. Check the machine for today’s rates.
Payment
Coins, card or RingGo; annual passes available
Postcode
G63 0AR
Toilets
Public and accessible, open from Easter to October
Ben Lomond start
The path starts from this car park (grid reference NS359986; OS map OL39). Seasonal toilets are in the information building.

Last checked 12 Oct 2026

Open in maps Apple Maps

Car-free

No bus serves Rowardennan. In summer Cruise Loch Lomond’s waterbus crosses from Tarbet in 30 minutes. From Tarbet it runs on Saturdays and Sundays, and from Rowardennan on Fridays and Saturdays. Dogs travel free and bikes cost £5. On 12 October 2026 the operator’s pages showed 2027 dates, so the 2026 season was over. Trains reach Arrochar & Tarbet in about 1 hour 20 minutes from Glasgow Queen Street. Train, bus and waterbus options covers the rest.

When it is busy

Editorial estimate of a typical summer day, not measured counts. No fill times are published for this car park.

How busy Rowardennan gets by hour, summer pattern
Day9:0010:0011:0012:0013:0014:0015:0016:0017:00
WeekdayQuietQuietSteadySteadySteadySteadySteadyQuietQuiet
SaturdayQuietSteadyBusyBusyBusyBusyBusySteadyQuiet
SundayQuietSteadyBusyBusyBusyBusyBusySteadyQuiet

Q QuietS SteadyB BusyF Car park full

Tip: arrive before 10:00 on a fine weekend. Ben Lomond takes 4.5 to 5.5 hours, so the all-day ticket (£5) is the safe choice.

Things to do in Rowardennan

  1. Ben Lomond

    4.5–5.5 hours · 12 km · 990 m ascent

    The tourist path from the car park climbs to a 974 m summit, which is a Munro. Cloud on top makes the path harder, so check the forecast. The Ben Lomond walk guide has the route and timings.

  2. Waterbus to Tarbet

    30 minutes one way · summer only

    The waterbus leaves from the youth hostel jetty and links the east shore with Tarbet and its train station. Book ahead and check the operator’s days before you plan a loop.

  3. The loch shore

    Short stop

    The pier and shore are beside the car park. It is an easy stop before or after the hill.

1 hour, 3 hours or a full day

1 hour

A quick stop (suggested timings)

  1. 0:00 Park (£2 for up to 1 hour) and walk to the shore.
  2. 0:20 Along the water’s edge and the pier.
  3. 0:50 Back to the car before your hour ends.

3 hours

Lower slopes

  1. 0:00 Park for the all-day rate (£5) if you will climb past the first hour.
  2. 0:15 Start up the Ben Lomond path and turn back when you have had enough of the view.
  3. 2:30 Back at the car park (suggested timing).

A full day

Ben Lomond

  1. 8:30 Arrive early and pay for all day (£5).
  2. 9:00 Start up the tourist path. Allow 4.5 to 5.5 hours in all.
  3. 14:30 Back at the car park, with time for food at the hotel or hostel.

Eat & drink

  • Hotel and hostel

    Check first · Village

    Forestry and Land Scotland says the local hotel and hostel offer food and drink. We have not verified hours, so check before you plan a meal. Our guide to pubs and tearooms in Rowardennan has more, and where to stay in Rowardennan covers a night here.

  • Picnic

    Bring your own · Car park

    We have not verified a shop. Bring water and snacks for a hill day so you are not relying on one.

Where to stay near Rowardennan

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Browse all stays near Rowardennan

Questions people ask

Where does the Ben Lomond path start?

At Rowardennan car park (grid reference NS359986), on the east shore of Loch Lomond. The tourist path is 12 km with 990 m of ascent and takes 4.5 to 5.5 hours.

How much is the car park at Rowardennan?

£2 for up to 1 hour and £5 for all day, with £14 for a minibus or coach all day. Blue Badge holders park free. Pay with coins, card or RingGo.

Is there a bus to Rowardennan?

No. Forestry and Land Scotland lists no bus service. In summer a waterbus crosses from Tarbet, which has a train station.

How do I get to Rowardennan without a car?

Take the train to Arrochar & Tarbet, about 1 hour 20 minutes from Glasgow Queen Street, then the summer waterbus across, which takes 30 minutes. From Tarbet it runs on Saturdays and Sundays, and the 2026 season is over.

Are there toilets at Rowardennan?

Yes. There are public and accessible toilets, open from Easter to October, and seasonal toilets in the information building.

Can I camp near Rowardennan?

Between 1 March and 30 September you need a permit in the park’s camping management zones, which include East Loch Lomond. Check the zone map for Rowardennan before you pitch.

Is there food at Rowardennan?

Forestry and Land Scotland says the local hotel and hostel offer food and drink. We have not verified hours, so bring snacks for a hill day.

Is Rowardennan worth visiting?

Yes, if you are climbing Ben Lomond or want the quieter east shore. Go early on summer weekends. More bases are compared in towns and villages around the park.

Nearby places