Rowardennan Hotel and where to stay
A hotel, lodges and a youth hostel at the foot of Ben Lomond
Rowardennan Hotel, the hotel's four lodges and Rowardennan Lodge youth hostel are the places to stay on this stretch of the east shore, and there is no bus. Both the hotel and the hostel sit on the West Highland Way, and the Ben Lomond path starts at the village car park.
- 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.
- Rowardennan Hotel bedrooms
- 24
- Bus service to Rowardennan
- None
- Waterbus crossing from Tarbet
- 30 min
- Hostel dog charge per night, private rooms
- £7.50
Should you stay in Rowardennan?
Yes, if you are walking the West Highland Way or climbing Ben Lomond: you finish the day beside the loch and start the hill from the door. No, if you rely on public transport, because no bus serves Rowardennan and the summer waterbus has a short season.
Three kinds of stay have their own sites. Rowardennan Hotel lists 24 bedrooms (double, twin and triple), and welcomes dogs. Its four lodges are self-catering with on-site parking. Rowardennan Lodge youth hostel, run by Hostelling Scotland, offers private rooms and shared dorms on the loch bank.
We give no prices, star ratings or review scores, because we have no dated source for them. Book direct, check the dates on the property's own site, and read recent reviews on at least two sites.
Rowardennan hotel, lodges and hostel compared
Everything here comes from the properties' own websites, read on 12 October 2026. A blank in the table means the site did not say, not that the answer is yes.
| Stay | What it offers | Parking | Dogs | Food | Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rowardennan HotelHotel on the West Highland Way | 24 bedrooms (double, twin and triple); sauna; on-site shop. | Not stated for the hotel: ask when you book. | Dogs welcome. | Buffet-style breakfast; the Clansman Bar serves food. | Open in maps |
| Hotel lodgesFour self-catering lodges run by the hotel | Fully equipped kitchens and laundry facilities. Two of the lodges sleep four each. | On-site parking, per the lodges page. | Dog friendly. | Cook yourself, or walk to the hotel. The Clansman Bar restaurant runs March to October. | Open in maps |
| Rowardennan Lodge youth hostelHostelling Scotland, on the loch bank | Private rooms and shared dorms; only one bedroom is en-suite. Self-catering kitchen, lounge and free WiFi. | Not stated on its page: ask. | Private rooms only, £7.50 a night. Phone the hostel to book a dog. | Wee Breakfast and evening meals from 6pm to 7.30pm; pre-book breakfast. Licensed. | Open in maps |
The hostel is available for exclusive private rental in winter, from November to March, so check whether individual rooms are open on your dates.
Choose and book
Decide whether Rowardennan is your base
Rowardennan suits the hill and the long-distance path. The Ben Lomond walk starts from the car park here, and the West Highland Way runs between Drymen and Rowardennan, about 23 km on the measured route. For a bigger village with shops, compare places to stay in Luss or places to stay in Tarbet.
Match the stay to your group
Choose the hotel for a bed and breakfast on the Way, a lodge for a family or two couples who want a kitchen, or the hostel for the lowest-cost bed and a shared lounge. All three allow dogs on their own terms, so read the dog column.
Sort out parking before you book
The Forestry and Land Scotland car park charges £5 for the day, and its overnight rules are not stated on the page we read. Ask your property where guests leave the car. Rowardennan car park guide has the tariff and the busy hours, and the parking guide compares the other car parks.
Plan the journey without a car
No bus serves Rowardennan. In summer a waterbus crosses from Tarbet in about 30 minutes, on Saturdays and Sundays only, running roughly May to late September on the dates we found, so it has finished for this year. Check the operator before you rely on it, and see how to get here for the rest.
Check before you book
- Does the hotel have its own parking? Its page states on-site parking for the lodges, not for the hotel.
- What are the hostel's winter opening dates? It offers exclusive hire from November to March.
- Is food available when you arrive? The Clansman Bar restaurant runs March to October on the lodges page.
- Do you need electric vehicle charging? We have not confirmed any at Rowardennan.
- Deals change daily, so we state none.
Other bases nearby
If Rowardennan is full or not quite right, these are the closest alternatives.
- LussThe west shore village, reached by bus 305 or the A82. It has more choice but sits across the water.
- TarbetThe waterbus start for the east shore, and on the A82 and the railway line.
Eating, camping and the village
Need a meal? Rowardennan places to eat covers the hotel bar and the alternatives. Bringing a tent? Rowardennan camping options explains the permit zone.
For a wider choice, choosing where to sleep compares every other base. We may earn a commission on some links: how we earn a commission.
Find a place to stay
Partner links: we may earn a commission
Questions people ask
Does Rowardennan Hotel allow dogs?
Yes. Its own site says dogs are welcome, and the lodges page lists them as dog friendly. Ask about any charge and where dogs may go inside.
Can I stay at Rowardennan Lodge youth hostel with a dog?
Yes, in a private room only, not in the shared dorms. The hostel's page gives a charge of £7.50 a night and asks you to phone to check availability.
Is there a bus to Rowardennan?
No. Forestry and Land Scotland says no bus serves Rowardennan. A summer waterbus links it with Tarbet at weekends, and the hostel jetty is its stop.
Is Rowardennan Hotel on the West Highland Way?
Yes. Its own site says it stands on the Way, and the hostel says the same.
Does Rowardennan Hotel have a sauna?
Its own site lists a sauna among the facilities. It does not give hours or prices, so ask when you book.
Where is Rowardennan Lodge youth hostel?
On the bank of Loch Lomond at Rowardennan, on the West Highland Way and close to the start of the Ben Lomond path. The waterbus to Tarbet leaves from the hostel jetty.