Loch Venachar
A quiet fishing and sailing loch just outside Callander
Verdict
Go if you want quiet water for fishing, paddling or a bike circuit, close to Callander.
Skip if you want a visitor centre, cruise or big cafe stop. This is a loch to do things on, with few facilities we could verify.
- Length of the loch
- 3.7 miles
- Forest walk with a hidden lochan
- 4.5 miles
- Circuit for cycling on quiet roads and paths
- 16 miles
- Boat speed limit set by the Loch Venachar Association
- 4 mph
The short answer
Loch Venachar is a 3.7-mile loch in Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park, between Callander and Brig o’ Turk. The Loch Venachar Association manages the fishing for brown trout and pike, a sailing club runs RYA dinghy and powerboat courses, and paddlers have several entry points. The National Park also says open water swimming is permitted. Most visitors base themselves in Callander. For more days out, try things to do across the park.
What you get
Fishing
The Association manages the fishing, which is for brown trout and pike. Permits are required for bank and boat fishing. Its site has a fishing permits page but we did not read prices, and a notice dated 4 August 2026 said fishing on the loch could resume, so check the site before you go. The Association’s contact number is +44 (0) 7597 337787.
Sailing, boats and paddling
A sailing club, reached by a private road, runs RYA dinghy and powerboat courses. There are several paddle entry points for canoes and kayaks. The Association says permission to launch any boat must come from the landowner, with a 4 horsepower engine limit and a 4 mph speed limit. Water sports compares the other lochs for paddling.
Swimming
The National Park says open water swimming is permitted. We have no water quality data or temperature figures, so treat it as cold open water and swim with a companion.
Walking and cycling
The National Park lists a 4.5-mile forest walk with a hidden lochan, and a 16-mile circuit for bikes that combines quiet cycling on the Invertrossachs Road with sections of the Great Trossachs Path. We have not verified the surfaces, so check before you take a road bike.
Venachar Lochside
Venachar Lochside (FK17 8HP) has a wood-fired sauna called the Wild Spa, a seasonal restaurant, and private hire for weddings. Opening hours were not stated on the page we read, so phone 01877 381442 before you drive out.
History on the water
Portnellan island holds an Iron Age crannog, a Scheduled Monument. Invertrossachs House on the shore was visited by Queen Victoria in 1869. We did not verify public access to either.
Callander
A stop in Callander covers the town’s shops and sights, and food and drink in Callander has somewhere to eat afterwards. For a bed, the best Callander stays compares what is on offer.
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 | A look at the water and a short shore stroll. | No tickets are needed to look at the loch. |
| Half a day | Paddling or a fishing session, then lunch in Callander. | Fishing needs a permit and launching a boat needs landowner permission. |
| A full day | The 16-mile circuit by bike, or the 4.5-mile forest walk, plus time in Callander. | We have no timed rides, so allow generously. |
| A wet day | Callander’s cafes, or a sauna session at Venachar Lochside if it is open. | Phone ahead for the sauna. |
Costs and rules
- Fishing permit
- Required for bank or boat. Price not verified; see the Association’s permits page.
- Launching a boat
- Landowner permission needed. Engine limit 4 horsepower, speed limit 4 mph.
- Sailing courses
- RYA dinghy and powerboat courses at the sailing club. Prices not verified.
- Camping
- Byelaws apply from March to September, with permits needed in Camping Management Zones.
- Sauna and restaurant
- Venachar Lochside, 01877 381442. Hours not stated on the page we read.
Getting there and parking
The National Park page gives no car park for the loch itself, so most visitors park in Callander. Callander car parks and fill times has the full guide.
Callander car parks
- Lochside parking
- No verified car park. Do not block the road or gates.
- Callander tariff
- 2 hours £3; 4 hours £4; all day £6
- Callander hours
- Pay and display every day, 8:45am to 5pm
- Launching a boat
- Landowner permission needed first
Last checked 12 Oct 2026
Car-free
Bus C60 runs from Killin to Callander via Kilmahog, and the Ember E4 stops at Callander. Neither is verified to stop at the loch, so treat Callander as your base and check Traveline Scotland for onward options.
Is it for me?
| If you are | Fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Anglers | Good | Brown trout and pike, with permits required for bank or boat. |
| Paddlers | Good | Several entry points, though launching a boat needs landowner permission. |
| Cyclists | Check | A 16-mile circuit mixes the quiet Invertrossachs Road with Great Trossachs Path sections. Check the surfaces. |
| Families | Mixed | There is no ticketed attraction, so plan your own activity. |
| Dog owners | Check | We found no verified dog rules for the loch. |
| Visitors without a car | Mixed | Callander has buses, but we have not verified a stop at the loch. |
Questions people ask
Do you need a permit to fish Loch Venachar?
Yes. Permits are required for bank and boat fishing, and the Loch Venachar Association manages the fishing. Check its site for the current state of the permits.
Can you walk around Loch Venachar?
We found no verified walk right round the loch. The National Park lists a 4.5-mile forest walk and a 16-mile circuit for cycling that uses sections of the Great Trossachs Path.
How long is Loch Venachar?
Loch Venachar is 3.7 miles long, between Callander and Brig o’ Turk.
Is there a sauna at Loch Venachar?
Yes. Venachar Lochside has a wood-fired sauna, the Wild Spa, near Callander (FK17 8HP). Phone 01877 381442 for hours.
Are there lodges at Loch Venachar?
We found no verified lodge listing on the pages we read. Venachar Lochside lists a sauna, restaurant and weddings. For beds nearby, look at Callander.
Can you swim in Loch Venachar?
The National Park says open water swimming is permitted. We have no water quality data, so go with a companion and respect the cold.
Can you camp at Loch Venachar?
Camping byelaws apply from March to September, with permits needed in Camping Management Zones. Check the permit map before you pitch.
Is there a sailing club on Loch Venachar?
Yes. The sailing club is reached by a private road and runs RYA dinghy and powerboat courses.