Loch Lomond water sports
Kayaks, paddleboards, boats and wakeboarding, and the rules that apply
Loch Lomond water sports run from kayaks and paddleboards to self-drive motorboats and wakeboarding. Loch Lomond Leisure hires paddle craft and boats from Loch Lomond Shores and Luss, Loch Lomond Wakeboard runs from Ardlui, and Roll Outdoors hires kayaks in Callander. Everything below comes from the operators' own sites and the National Park's byelaw pages, read on 13 October 2026.
- Paddleboard from
- £30
- Kayak from
- £35
- Speed zones
- 6 kph
- Lifejacket rule
- Under 16
What can you do on the water?
Hire a kayak, canoe or stand-up paddleboard for a few hours, or take a guided tour, if you want the loch under your own power. Loch Lomond Leisure lists paddleboards from £30 per person, kayaks from £35 per kayak, canoes from £20 per person and guided tours from £50 per person, with buoyancy aids and wetsuits available. Its prices carry no date on the page, so check them when you book.
Hire a boat if you would rather have an engine: Loch Lomond Leisure lists self-drive motorboats from £275 per boat. If you want to be towed, Loch Lomond Wakeboard at Ardlui Marina offers wakeboarding, water skiing, wakesurfing and speedboat trips, accredited by British WaterSki and Wakeboard, with a kids club for under-16s. For a sightseeing trip with someone else driving, boat trips and cruises on the loch compares the operators.
Bring your own kayak or paddleboard and the National Park names launch points: Milarrochy Bay, Sallochy and Rowardennan on the east shore, Luss, Tarbet and Inveruglas on the west, and Balloch at the south end. In the Trossachs it names Loch Lubnaig, Loch Drunkie, Loch Achray, Loch Ard and the Stronachlachar end of Loch Katrine.
The water is cold even in summer. The National Park says lochs and rivers stay cold enough to cause cold water shock on warm days: enter slowly, never swim alone, and expect to be coldest about 10 minutes after getting out.
Operators compared
We name operators whose own sites we could read. We give prices only where the page shows them, and none of the prices carry a date, so treat them as a guide and check before you book. A blank means the site did not say.
| Operator | What it offers | Where | Prices we saw | Rules and booking | Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loch Lomond Leisure | Stand-up paddleboards, kayaks, canoes, guided tours and self-drive motorboats. | Loch Lomond Shores G83 8QL, Luss Pier G83 8NZ and Luss Beach G83 8PA. | Paddleboard from £30 per person, kayak from £35 per kayak, canoe from £20 per person, guided tour from £50 per person, motorboat from £275 per boat. | Buoyancy aids and wetsuits available. Book online or on freephone 0333 577 0715. The page gives no age minimum or boat licence rule, so ask. | Open in maps |
| Loch Lomond Wakeboard | Wakeboarding, water skiing, wakesurfing and speedboat trips. Accredited by British WaterSki and Wakeboard. | Ardlui Marina, G83 7EB, at the head of the loch. | Not shown on the pages we read. | A kids club for under-16s. Book online or by email at ride@lochlomondwakeboard.com. | Open in maps |
| Roll Outdoors | Kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, canoes, packrafts, wetsuits and buoyancy aids. | 6 Leny Road, Callander FK17 8BA, for the Trossachs lochs. | Not shown on the page. | Kayak hire from age 12, and you must be able to swim. Walk in or book online. | Open in maps |
| Launching your own powered boat | A multiple-launch pass, a single launch and retrieval, or a one-way launch. | Loch Lomond. The registration helpdesk is at the Duncan Mills Memorial Slipway, 8am to 7.15pm daily. | From 1 April 2026: £110.95 for a multiple-launch pass, £27.80 for a single launch and retrieval, £13.90 one way. | Register with the National Park before you go. Under-18s register in person with rangers. Under-16s cannot be in charge of a vessel with an engine above 5 hp. Phone 01389 722030. | |
| Loch Venachar | Paddling from several entry points, open water swimming, and sailing and powerboat courses through the sailing club. | Between Callander and Brig o' Turk. See Loch Venachar and what to know. | Not applicable. | The Loch Venachar Association says permission to launch any boat must come from the landowner, with an engine limit of 4 horsepower and a speed limit of 4 mph. |
Registration for the 2026 round carried no fee, but launch fees apply to powered boats.
Choose and book
Pick the craft
Paddle craft suit calm water and a few hours. A hire motorboat suits a group and a longer trip. Wakeboarding and skiing run from Ardlui with an accredited school.
Pick the water
Loch Lomond is the big water, so check the wind first. Loch Lubnaig is non-motorised and sheltered, according to the National Park, and suits learners. Balloch and what to do there and Loch Lomond Shores are the easy starts, and Luss is the other hire base. For somewhere quieter, Balmaha and the Trossachs lochs are options.
Know the byelaws
The Loch Lomond Byelaws 2023 came into effect on 1 November 2024. Anyone in charge of a vessel with an engine, jet skis included, must register with the National Park first. Under-16s must wear a lifejacket or buoyancy aid on all moving vessels, including canoes, kayaks and paddleboards, and over-16s must carry one. The registration rule is written for vessels with an engine; the pages we read do not mention paddle craft.
Watch the speed zones
There are 6 kph zones at Balloch Castle Country Park, Duck Bay, Manse Bay, Milarrochy Bay, Luss, Sallochy and Rowardennan, and an 11 kph zone south of Inchtavannach, Inchmoan and Inchcruin, marked by buoys. The Park gives speeds in kph, not knots.
Check the weather and the water
Wind and cold decide a paddle more than anything. What the weather is like around the loch covers the seasons. Cold water shock is real in summer, so wear the buoyancy aid and a wetsuit if you are hiring one.
Book direct
Book with the operator for its own terms. Where we add a partner link, we always give the official option beside it.
Check before you go
- Today's prices and opening dates: the operator pages we read carry no date.
- Whether your craft needs registering, and whether you are launching from a place that charges.
- That everyone under 16 has a lifejacket or buoyancy aid, and everyone older has one with them.
- The wind and the forecast, especially on the open water of the south basin.
- Where you will launch and where you will get out. The National Park names the launch points listed above, and the speed zones at them.
Other lochs nearby
If Loch Lomond is too busy or too windy, these are the main alternatives.
- Loch EarnA 6.5-mile loch with a sailing club and fishing by permit. Loch Earn visitor guide has the details.
- Loch VenacharA 3.7-mile loch near Callander with paddle entry points and a sailing club, covered in the table above.
More on the water
If you want to be on the loch without paddling, getting out on the water is the cruise comparison. For other days out, see what to do around the loch. We may earn a commission on some links: how we earn a commission.
Questions people ask
Can you kayak on Loch Lomond?
Yes. The National Park names launch points on all sides of the loch, and Loch Lomond Leisure hires kayaks from £35 per kayak at Loch Lomond Shores and Luss.
Do you need a permit to kayak on Loch Lomond?
The National Park's registration rule is written for vessels with an engine. The pages we read do not say canoes or kayaks must register, but check the byelaws page, and note that under-16s must wear a lifejacket or buoyancy aid.
Can you paddleboard on Loch Lomond?
Yes. Loch Lomond Leisure hires stand-up paddleboards from £30 per person, and the lifejacket rule for under-16s covers paddleboards as well as kayaks.
Can you hire a boat on Loch Lomond?
Yes. Loch Lomond Leisure lists self-drive motorboats from £275 per boat. Ask the operator about licences and age limits, because the page does not give them.
Can you hire a jet ski on Loch Lomond?
Cameron House's activities page says Loch Lomond Leisure runs jet-ski rental from Luss Pier, but we could not confirm it on the operator's own page, so ask before you plan on it. If you bring your own, anyone in charge of a vessel with an engine, jet skis included, must register with the National Park first.
Can you go water skiing or wakeboarding on Loch Lomond?
Yes. Loch Lomond Wakeboard at Ardlui Marina offers wakeboarding, water skiing and wakesurfing, accredited by British WaterSki and Wakeboard.
Can you swim in Loch Lomond?
People do, but the National Park warns that lochs stay cold enough for cold water shock even on warm days. Enter slowly and never swim alone. Open water swimming is permitted on Loch Venachar.
What is the speed limit on Loch Lomond?
The National Park sets 6 kph zones at Balloch Castle Country Park, Duck Bay, Manse Bay, Milarrochy Bay, Luss, Sallochy and Rowardennan, and an 11 kph zone south of Inchtavannach, Inchmoan and Inchcruin.
Where can I launch my own boat on Loch Lomond?
Register with the National Park first. The registration helpdesk is at the Duncan Mills Memorial Slipway, and launch fees from 1 April 2026 start at £13.90 for a one-way launch.