Cycling Loch Lomond: routes, bike hire and NCN 7
Cycle routes and bike hire around the loch and the Trossachs
Cycling Loch Lomond mostly means three things: National Cycle Route 7 (NCN 7), which runs from Balloch through the Trossachs to Killin; the 17-mile West Loch Lomond Cycle Path along the western shore; and the lochside road at Loch Katrine, just under 14 miles from Trossachs Pier to Stronachlachar. There is no single loop of the whole loch that we have verified. Bikes, including e-bikes, can be hired at Loch Katrine, Callander and Aberfoyle.
- West Loch Lomond Cycle Path
- 17 mi
- Loch Katrine road, Trossachs Pier to Stronachlachar
- <14 mi
- Katrine Wheelz bike hire, from
- £15
- Minimum age for e-bike hire at Katrine
- 14
Where can you cycle around Loch Lomond?
The best-known route is National Cycle Route 7. South of the loch it runs west from Glasgow along the Clyde through Clydebank and Dumbarton to Balloch, mostly traffic-free on old railway lines, a canal towpath and a riverside path. In the National Park it links Balloch with Drymen, Aberfoyle, Strathyre, Callander, Lochearnhead and Killin on a mixture of traffic-free paths and quiet roads. Highlights named by the route's managers include the Glen Ogle viaduct, the shores of Loch Venachar, Loch Lubnaig and Loch Earn, and Rob Roy's grave at Balquhidder. No distance is published on those pages, so we give none.
On the loch itself, the National Park describes the 17-mile West Loch Lomond Cycle Path (Regional Route 40) as following the western shores. The east side is different: the road past Balmaha to Rowardennan has no verified cycle path, and the West Highland Way is a walking route where we have not verified bike access, so check before taking a bike on it.
The easiest traffic-free day with a hire shop on site is Loch Katrine. The smooth lochside road runs just under 14 miles from Trossachs Pier to Stronachlachar with limited car traffic, a few hills on the north shore road and a 12-degree gradient at the graveyard brae. Our guide to Loch Katrine and the Steamship Sir Walter Scott covers the boat and the pier.
Cycle routes compared
What each route is like, from the managers' own pages. Where a page gives no distance or surface we say so rather than guess.
| Route | Where it goes | What it is like | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| NCN 7: Glasgow to Balloch | Glasgow, Clydebank and Dumbarton to Balloch. | Mostly traffic-free, on old railway lines, a canal towpath and a riverside path. | No distance is published on the page we read. Trains from Glasgow reach Balloch about twice an hour, so a one-way ride plus the train is possible: how to get here has the routes. |
| NCN 7: Balloch to Killin | Balloch, Drymen, Aberfoyle, Strathyre, Callander, Lochearnhead and Killin. | A mixture of traffic-free paths and quiet road sections. Part of the long-distance Lochs and Glens Way. | Passes Aberfoyle, Callander and Killin, so you can split it into day sections. Bus C60 runs from Killin to Callander via Strathyre and Lochearnhead, for a lift back. |
| West Loch Lomond Cycle Path | The western shore of Loch Lomond (Regional Route 40). | 17 miles, according to the National Park. Surface and gradients are not given. | Starts near Balloch. We have not verified where bikes can be hired on this stretch. |
| Loch Katrine | Trossachs Pier to Stronachlachar, then back the same way. | Smooth lochside road, just under 14 miles each way, limited car traffic, a few hills and one 12-degree gradient. | Bike hire is at Trossachs Pier. From May to October you can take the boat one way and cycle back. |
| Three Lochs Forest Drive | Forest roads and trails in the Queen Elizabeth Forest Park above Aberfoyle. | The road is closed to public vehicles from 4pm on Wednesday 30 September until spring, but the trails stay open to walkers, bikes and horse-riders. | See the Three Lochs Forest Drive guide for the route. |
| Loch Ard Forest | Forest trails near Aberfoyle and Kinlochard. | Forestry and Land Scotland says the trails suit family strolls and cycle rides. | The route on Loch Ard has the walking detail, and the same trails are the cycling start. |
| Three Lochs Way | A walking route of about 50 km, about three days on foot. | Cycling is permitted, but some steep sections may need to be walked. | Dogs on leads near livestock. See the Three Lochs Way for the route. |
We give no ride times. They depend on the bike, the weather and the gradient, and none of the managers' pages publish one.
How to plan a ride
Choose the kind of day
For a flat, traffic-free day with hire on site, choose Loch Katrine. For a town-to-town ride, take a section of NCN 7: NCN 7 links Aberfoyle and Callander, so that is a natural section. For a lochside view, the west shore path starts near Balloch.
Hire or bring a bike
The National Park says you can bring your own or hire on arrival. See the list of hire shops below, and phone ahead: the pages we read give no prices at Callander or Aberfoyle.
Add a boat
At Loch Katrine, take the boat one way and cycle back between May and October. A per-bike charge applies and space is limited, so pre-book. Sweeney's cruises from Balloch allow bikes, and Cruise Loch Lomond describes itself as bike friendly. The summer waterbus from Tarbet to Rowardennan carries bikes at £5 and e-bikes at £7.
Without a car
Trains from Glasgow run direct to Balloch about twice an hour, and bus C60 links Killin, Lochearnhead, Strathyre and Callander. Check Traveline Scotland on the day, and ask each operator whether bikes are carried.
Ride shared paths politely
The National Park asks you to use multi-use trails safely and responsibly. Slow down for walkers and horses.
Check before you go
- Distances: only the Loch Katrine road and the west shore path have a published length. We give none for NCN 7.
- Bike hire prices at Callander and Aberfoyle are not on the pages we read, so phone first. Katrine Wheelz says hire starts from £15 for one hour to all day, with helmets included.
- Boat-and-bike prices: sources differ on the Loch Katrine bike carriage charge, so we quote none.
- The Three Lochs Forest Drive is closed to cars from the end of September but stays open to bikes.
- We have not verified a cycle path on the east shore of Loch Lomond, or a hire shop at Balloch.
Where to hire a bike
These shops give their details on their own sites. We have not used or rated any of them.
- Katrine Wheelz, Trossachs PierHires bikes including e-bikes, from £15, for anything from one hour to all day. Helmets are included, and the minimum age for e-bike hire is 14.
- Wheels Cycling Centre, CallanderInvertrossachs Road, Callander FK17 8HW, phone 01877 331100. Open daily 9:30am to 5:30pm when we checked on 13 October 2026. It hires and sells cycles and has an adaptive section with tandems, side-by-side bikes, wheelchair bikes and children's trikes. No prices on the page.
- Aberfoyle Bike Co.Main Street, Aberfoyle FK8 3UQ, phone 01877 381385. It hires e-bikes, gravel, mountain, hybrid and kids' bikes, plus baby seats and trailers. No prices or hours on the page.
- Forest Holidays StrathyreBike hire is listed as an on-site amenity for cabin guests. See Strathyre cabins and where to stay for the site, and the village of Strathyre for the glen.
Longer routes and more to read
Callander's visitor site names the C7 cycleway between Milngavie and Killin and the Lowland Highland Trail, part of NCN 7, from Killin to Drymen, as the highlights of the cycling in the area.
For the long-distance walking routes you may also meet on a bike, start with hill and lochside walks. The Great Trossachs Path is covered as a walk, so check access rules before taking a bike on it.
To see where the routes sit in relation to the villages, use the map of the loch and villages.
Questions people ask
What are some exciting cycle routes near Glasgow?
National Cycle Route 7 runs west from Glasgow along the Clyde through Clydebank and Dumbarton to Balloch, mostly traffic-free. From Balloch it continues through the National Park to Killin.
What is the prettiest town in Loch Lomond?
That is a matter of taste. On the cycle routes, Aberfoyle, Callander and Killin are the towns you pass; every village in the park lists the loch villages.
Can you cycle all the way round Loch Lomond?
We have not verified a continuous cycle route round the whole loch. The 17-mile West Loch Lomond Cycle Path follows the western shores, and we have found no verified cycle path on the east shore.
Where can I hire a bike near Loch Lomond?
At Trossachs Pier on Loch Katrine (Katrine Wheelz), at Wheels Cycling Centre in Callander and at Aberfoyle Bike Co. We have not read a hire shop's own site at Balloch.
Can you hire an e-bike at Loch Katrine?
Yes. Katrine Wheelz hires e-bikes, with helmets included and a minimum age of 14. Hire starts from £15.
Can I take my bike on a boat?
Often. Sweeney's cruises from Balloch allow bikes, and the Loch Katrine boat carries them for a charge, with space limited. The Tarbet to Rowardennan waterbus charges £5 for a bike and £7 for an e-bike.