Loch Lomond hotels and where to stay

South end: easiest without a car

The south end is closest to Glasgow, with the station at Balloch and the boats. It suits trips on public transport and short breaks.

• Balloch

  Go for a car-free break: the train from Glasgow stops here. Balloch hotels and B&Bs are close to the pier and the boats.

  Trains from Glasgow about 2 an hour

• Alexandria

  A town just south of Balloch. Stay here if you want a lower-key base within reach of the pier.

West shore: the A82 villages

The road up the west shore has the classic village, the hill villages and the ferry points. It is easiest by car, though buses and coaches run.

• Luss

  Go if you want to wake up in the village before day-trippers arrive. Skip it if you need nightlife or a train.

  Public parking £1.20/h

• Tarbet

  Sleeping in Tarbet puts you on the West Highland line and next to the waterbus.

  Station West Highland line

• Arrochar

  Arrochar accommodation compared: a base for the hills at the head of Loch Long, with a train from Glasgow.

  Train from Glasgow about 1h 20

• Inveruglas

  Inveruglas hotels and B&Bs: a quiet base on the A82 north of Tarbet.

• Ardlui

  The best Ardlui stays: a remote head-of-the-loch base on the West Highland line.

  Train from Glasgow about 1h 35

East shore and the West Highland Way

The east shore is quieter and has less road traffic. It suits walkers heading for Conic Hill or Ben Lomond.

• Rowardennan

  Staying in Rowardennan puts you at the foot of the Ben Lomond path. There is no bus, so plan your arrival.

  Bus none

• Inversnaid

  The best Inversnaid stays: a remote spot on the east shore for walkers on the West Highland Way.

• Drymen

  The best Drymen stays: a village on the West Highland Way, close to Balmaha and Conic Hill.

  Bus 309

The Trossachs and Breadalbane

Inland, the lochs and woods of the Trossachs suit cyclists and families. They are a longer drive from the main loch.

• Aberfoyle

  Staying in Aberfoyle is a good gateway to the Trossachs forests and lochs.

  Bus Trossachs Explorer

• Callander

  Where to stay in Callander: a town on the River Teith on the edge of the Trossachs.

  Bus Trossachs Explorer

• Strathyre

  Sleeping in Strathyre: a small village in the Trossachs.

• Gartmore

  Gartmore accommodation compared: a quiet village near Aberfoyle.

• Killin

  The best Killin stays: a Highland base at the head of Loch Tay, well north of the main loch.

By type of stay

Hotels and inns give you a bar and breakfast in the village; lodges, cabins and self-catering give you space and a kitchen; B&Bs and guest houses are small and personal; campsites and caravan parks are the cheapest way to sleep by the loch. Each village page says what is there. A tent or a campervan outside a campsite needs a permit in the managed zones, so read the rules first.

• Camping and motorhomes

  Camping permits explained: needed in the managed zones from 1 March to 30 September, and booked online up to 4 weeks ahead.

  Permit season 1 Mar–30 Sep

• A lochside wedding

  Planning a lochside wedding? Start here for venues and where guests can sleep.

Compare the bases

Start with how you will travel, then with what you want to do each day. A base is a good fit when the thing you want is within a short walk, bus or boat ride of your bed.

Balloch has the station and the boats. Luss is the classic village, but its public car park does not allow overnight stays, so ask each place about its own parking. Balmaha is the base for Conic Hill, and Arrochar for the hills. Rowardennan puts you at the foot of Ben Lomond, with accommodation and food from the local hotel and hostel.

Which type of stay

Pick a hotel or inn if you want a bar and breakfast in the village, and a lodge, cabin or self-catering place if you want space and a kitchen. Pick a B&B or guest house for a small, personal stay, and a campsite for the cheapest night by the loch.

Campers should check the permit rules before booking. A permit is needed in the four management zones from 1 March to 30 September, and it is booked online up to 4 weeks ahead. The National Park's campsite pitches cost £11.20 per adult and £2.20 per child aged 5 to 15.

When to book

Book early for summer weekends and school holidays. The boat season runs from 27 March to 1 November in 2026, so places near the piers fill first in that window, while winter is quieter but has fewer sailings.

Without a car, check the last bus or train before you commit. Direct trains to Balloch run about twice an hour, but Rowardennan has no bus at all.

Not sure of your route? Check train, bus and waterbus options before you choose a base. If you are still comparing, you can choose a base from the full list, or read about Visit Loch Lomond. Booking links on this site may earn a commission, as explained in how we earn a commission.

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Questions people ask