The Perfect Loch Lomond Day Trip From Glasgow (Car-Free!)

No trip to Scotland is complete without visiting Loch Lomond. Known as the ‘Great Ribbon Lake,’ it’s easily one of the country’s prettiest lochs. 

If you have time, I highly recommend spending a few days on its bonnie banks, but if not, you can easily explore some of its most scenic highlights on a Loch Lomond day trip from Glasgow. 

This is a car-free guide with practical, tried-and-tested public transport routes I’ve taken myself, but it equally works if you’re driving.

It starts with a short train journey to Balloch, the gateway to Loch Lomond. From there, you’ll explore the loch on a boat trip, visit the Viking village of Luss and admire the loch’s myriad of islands from the summit of Beinn Dubh. 

If you have more time, climb Conic Hill for even more iconic views, visit the mysterious island of Inchcailloch and hire kayaks from Loch Lomond Shores. By the end, you’ll know exactly how to plan a smooth, stress-free day trip to Loch Lomond and the Trossachs.

Why Visit Loch Lomond for a Day Trip 

Loch Lomond is one of Scotland’s most iconic landmarks and for good reason. At 32km long, the ‘Great Ribbon Lake’ is the country’s largest lake by surface area and has jaw-dropping, diverse scenery to match. 

Lying within the Trossachs National Park, the loch is bisected by the Highland Boundary Fault Line, which runs between the Isle of Arran and Stonehaven, splitting the Scottish Highlands from the Lowlands. 

The loch’s southern shores are bucolic with gently rolling hills, while to the north, the landscape becomes more rugged. The loch thins to a ribbon shape, surrounded by the jagged peaks of the Arrorchar Alps, with Ben Lomond the tallest among them. 

This cinematic landscape is easy to reach from Glasgow, and you don’t need a car to explore. It’s just 50 minutes by train from Glasgow Queen Street to Balloch, the largest town on the southern end of Loch Lomond’s shores.

From there, local buses make it simple to explore the most scenic parts of the loch, so you can see its highlights without the stress of driving or parking. Here’s exactly how to do it.

💡Editor’s tip: Always plan public transport with Traveline Scotland. It’s much more accurate at planning journeys by bus, train or ferry than the likes of Google Maps!

Loch Lomond Day Trip at a Glance

Perfect for first-time visitors, non-drivers or anyone wanting an easy Loch Lomond day trip from Glasgow. Here’s your itinerary at a glance: 

• Start & end: Glasgow 
• Morning: 50-minute train from Glasgow Queen Street to Balloch
• 1-hour cruise on Loch Lomond with Sweeney’s Cruises (Balloch Pier)
• Midday: Bus to Luss, a Viking heritage village with pretty stone cottages
• Afternoon: Hike up Beinn Dubh for panoramic views across Loch Lomond’s islands
• Alternative route: Bus to Balmaha for Conic Hill, then boat to Inchcailloch Island
• Optional: Balloch Castle & Country Park, a final stop before the return train

How to Do a Loch Lomond Day Trip from Glasgow Without a Car

Morning: Take the Train from Glasgow to Balloch 

Start your day trip with a morning train from Glasgow Queen Street to Balloch, West Dunbartonshire. There are roughly two trains an hour, and the journey to Loch Lomond from Glasgow takes around 50 minutes, making it one of the easiest places to visit in Scotland without a car.

You can book your ticket online at ScotRail or at the machines at the station, and a return will be around £7.40 for an adult. Fares fluctuate slightly depending on the time of day, but it’s usually around this price. I suggest aiming for the 08:43 train to make the most of your day on the loch. 

Once you arrive in Balloch, grab a tea or coffee and relax while you wait for your boat trip. Monkey Island Cafe Bar is right next to where your cruise departs. Otherwise, Lomond Shores, Tullie Inn and Balloch House are all good options nearby.

Boat Cruise on Loch Lomond

No visit to Loch Lomond is complete without a cruise on the loch, and it’s one of the best things to do in Balloch. Running since 1880, Sweeney’s Cruises is one of the oldest family cruise operators on Loch Lomond. 

They offer four cruise itineraries departing from Balloch, including this one-hour circular tour of the loch’s southwest side. The boat sails up to Inchmurrin Island, the largest of the loch’s 37 islands and islets. There, you’ll see the remains of Lennox Castle, built in 1393.  

You’ll also get to enjoy views of Ben Lomond and various impressive stately homes along the shoreline, including Balloch Castle, Auchendennan House, Lomond Castle and the Cameron House Spa. Most of them are now fancy hotels…

The boat has toilets and a bar onboard, as well as indoor and outdoor seating. There’s also the option for a two-hour cruise, but I don’t recommend it, as it goes past Luss, which is where this day trip goes next anyway!

💡Editor’s tip: Tickets for the one-hour Experience Cruise cost £18.00 for adults. Book them in advance as they tend to sell out. 

Hop on the Bus to Luss

If you booked the 10:15 cruise, you’ll finish at 11:15, which means you can get the 305 bus from Balloch to Luss departing at 12:08. If your cruise finishes later, you could also get the 975 or 915, but they take a little longer. 

The 305 Balloch to Luss bus takes just 15 minutes, and you buy your ticket on board with contactless payment. Once you’ve arrived, it’s time to explore and get some lunch. 

Midday: Explore Luss and Have Lunch  

The designated Conservation Village of Luss is one of the prettiest villages on Loch Lomond, and the most visited, so expect crowds in summer.

It’s famous for its stone cottages, which were built in the 19th century to house the people working in the slate quarry and cotton mill nearby. 

The cottages can be found on Luss Pier Road leading down to Luss Pier. You get a lovely view of them with the Glen Striddle hills behind when standing on the pier. 

There’s a short promenade along the waterfront which leads you to Luss Parish Church. It was built in the 19th century, but the churchyard has stones dating back to the 7th and 8th centuries, plus an 11th-century Viking Hogback burial stone. 

You can get around Luss pretty quickly, so once you’ve seen the pier and churchyard, it’s a good time to stop for lunch. 

There’s the Coach House Coffee Shop and the Village Rest, but both were very busy when I was there. I ended up picking up a sandwich and cake from the Village Shop, as it was right by the Beinn Dubh trailhead.

Afternoon: Admire the View from Beinn Dubh 

Beinn Dubh is the hill which looms behind Luss. Part of the Glen Striddle horseshoe, it’s one of the classic Loch Lomond hill walks. It stands 642m tall and offers a jaw-dropping view of Loch Lomond to rival the famous Conic Hill in Balmaha. 

Side note: I fully intended to do Conic Hill on my day trip, but it was closed for maintenance. After some frantic last-minute research, I found Beinn Dubh and was pleasantly surprised. The views are phenomenal, and it’s much, much quieter! 

The entire walk takes about three hours out and back, but you don’t need to do it all to be rewarded with a stunning panorama. I climbed for just about an hour before sitting down to enjoy my picnic with the loch stretching out below me, dotted with islands. 

The walk is easy to follow with a well-marked path, but it does get steep as you start to ascend, which just gives you more of an excuse to stop and take in the view 😉. I followed the Walkhighlands route up to the third stage. 

The route leads you from Luss car park along a bridge above the A82, past a pretty farmhouse and uphill to the ridge. More of the island-peppered loch emerges the higher you climb. Wear sturdy shoes as it can get muddy after heavy rain.

Return to Balloch and Explore 

Once you make it down from Beinn Dubh, it’s time to get the bus back to Balloch. The bus stop is just across the road from the Loch Lomond Arms. Buses from Luss to Balloch run roughly every 30–60 minutes, depending on the day and season.

Depending on your energy levels, you may prefer to take it easy when you get to Balloch and find a nice pub to wait for your train. In that case, I recommend Balloch House. It has a cosy country pub vibe, and it’s very close to the bus stop and train station. 

If you’re still up for seeing more of Balloch, you could visit Loch Lomond Shores, but I think your time is better spent exploring Balloch Castle & Country Park. It’s closer to the station, pub and bus stop too. 

Balloch Castle & Country Park 

Balloch Country Park is one of the easiest scenic walks near Balloch. I should mention that Balloch Castle is sadly derelict inside, but you can still admire it from the outside. 

It sits on a slope overlooking the loch and is surrounded by 200 acres of semi-natural woodland, parklands, meadows and gardens. 

You can go for a lovely stroll along the path up the River Leven towards the loch and walk along the tree-covered waterfront to the castle. Within the country park, there’s also a walled secret garden, a Chinese garden and a quarry pond. 

Look out for the Fairy Trail marked by the stumps of felled trees. Alternatively, find a peaceful spot to sit on the water’s edge and watch the evening light on the loch. The sunsets are gorgeous here. 

💡Editor’s tip: If you’re feeling peckish, I recommend picking up some fish ‘n’ chips from Blue Lagoon or some snacks from the Co-Op in Balloch, then have an evening picnic in the park. 

Catch the Train Back to Glasgow 

Head to Balloch Station in time for your train back to Glasgow Queen Street. If you get the 18:38 train, you’ll be back in Glasgow at 19:26 in time for dinner. There are also trains at 18:07 and 19:08. 

And that’s my Loch Lomond day trip itinerary! Keep reading to find alternative things to do around Loch Lomond and where to stay if you have more time. 

More Things to Do in Loch Lomond & the Trossachs

Have more time or fancy doing something different? Here are some extra things to do in Loch Lomond. 

They are all in or near Balloch and reachable by public transport, so you could potentially swap them into your day trip itinerary or add on an extra day to do them. 

Climb Conic Hill 

Located on the eastern shores, Conic Hill overlooks Loch Lomond’s chain of islands aligned along the Highland Boundary Fault. 

It’s probably the most popular walk in the Loch Lomond area. Short but steep, it stands 361m high, and the views from the top make it worth your while. 

The view is arguably a little better than the one from Beinn Dubh, but it’s much busier, so it’s a matter of picking your battles. I’ve also noticed the walk is closed a lot. Make sure you check it’s open before you get there. 

If you would prefer to climb Conic Hill (and it’s open!) rather than visit Luss, you can get the 309 bus from Balloch to Balmaha. It takes about 20 minutes to get there. 

Explore Inchcailloch Island 

Inchcailloch is a tiny island that’s part of the Loch Lomond Nature Reserve off the coast of Balmaha, and you can visit it on a day trip or even camp. I visited in April and had the entire island to myself, which was a bit spooky!

Its name means ‘island of the cowled [hooded] woman’ in Gaelic. It takes about an hour to walk around it, and with a hill 85m tall, it also has an incredible view of the surrounding loch and Conic Hill. 

The island has a small campsite (with compost toilets) and several well-marked walks across the whole island. There’s an abandoned church with the remains of a churchyard and gravestones still standing today. 

You can get to Inchcailloch by waterbus from Luss or Balloch, or get the five-minute water taxi from Balmaha, which runs from May to September.  

Visit Loch Lomond Shores 

Loch Lomond Shores is Balloch’s main waterfront complex, with a retail centre and leisure park. You’ll find shops and cafes with views of the water as well as a sea life centre, a bird of prey centre and a dinosaur-themed restaurant. 

There is also a farmer’s market on the first and third Sunday of every month. 

I would personally give the shops and aquarium a miss and go kayaking on the loch instead. There’s a rental place behind the aquarium. 

Or, continue past the shops and you’ll come to the Promontory, a woodland walk and picnic area with some of the best views of Loch Lomond in Balloch. On a clear day, you can see Ben Lomond. 

A nice little pedestrian route to Loch Lomond Shores from the centre of Balloch takes you up the River Leven and along the waterfront. It leads you past Maid of the Loch, too.

See Maid of the Loch 

Maid of the Loch is the last paddle steamer built in the UK and the last to operate on Loch Lomond. She was launched in 1953 at the tail-end of the golden age of steam. Decommissioned in 1981, she fell into neglect until Dunbarton County Council bought her in 1992. 

In 2022, restoration work began, and now you can visit her and climb aboard. She’s currently undergoing phased restoration with the hope of returning to cruising in the future.

You’ll find her on a pier just before you get to Loch Lomond Shores. I didn’t go inside, but it was still impressive to see from the outside. 

Do a Tour of Loch Lomond 

If you’re not driving and don’t fancy worrying about train and bus schedules, I recommend doing a group tour of Loch Lomond. All the complicated logistics are done for you. 

I’ve done a couple of tours, which include Loch Lomond as part of a wider day trip itinerary. They run year-round, though some operate reduced schedules in winter. My favourites are:

Loch Lomond, Stirling Castle and the Kelpies Tour from Edinburgh

This Loch Lomond tour includes the boat trip on the loch in Balloch (at an extra cost). You also get to see more of the Trossachs National Park as well as Loch Lomond with a drive to Aberfoyle and Callander, where we fed some Highland Cows (hairy coos)!

It also includes Stirling Castle and Falkirk. The guide was hilarious, and I had such a great time!

From Glasgow: Oban, Glencoe, Highland Lochs & Castles Tour

Probably one of the best organised day tours of Scotland I’ve done, but it’s more of a brief stop at Loch Lomond. I still rate this West Highlands tour a lot and would recommend it for any Scotland itinerary. It’s perfect if you want to see more of the Arrochar Alps.

We stopped for coffee at Tarbet on the northwest shores before driving to some stunning places on Scotland’s west coast, including Inveraray Castle, Kilchurn Castle, Oban and Glencoe. We stopped again on the loch to see Inveruglas Pyramid on the way back. 

Some other top-rated tours include: 

• Loch Lomond, the Trossachs and Stirling Castle from Glasgow 
• Stirling Castle, Loch Lomond Walk & Whisky Distillery Tour from Glasgow

💡Editor’s tip: Not sure if a tour is right for you? Read my review of Rabbie’s Tours here to help you decide.

FAQs about Visiting Loch Lomond on a Day Trip 

Where to Stay in Loch Lomond

Feel like staying longer than a day in Loch Lomond? I don’t blame you, there’s lots to see! I stayed at Balloch House Hotel by Innkeeper’s Collection. It’s a lovely old-fashioned pub in the centre of Balloch, close to the train station and the waterfront, where you do the cruise. 

The pub has a restaurant, and I had breakfast included in my stay. All rooms have en-suites, and it was very comfortable. It’s reasonably priced, too!

Final Thoughts on This Day Trip to Loch Lomond

As one of the country’s biggest and most beautiful lochs, Loch Lomond should be on everyone’s Scotland itinerary. 

The vast waters are dotted with emerald islands, and the landscape rolls from the lowlands in the south to the rugged highland mountains in the north, Ben Lomond standing the tallest among them. 

Along the loch’s bonnie banks are quaint villages, scenic walking trails and forests teeming with wildlife. The loch sits within the wider Trossachs, the UK’s first national park, with 22 large lochs spread across a wild area of 1,865 km2. It’s the perfect playground for nature enthusiasts. 

Loch Lomond is best enjoyed over two to three days, but if you’re short on time, you can see some of the top highlights on a day trip from Glasgow. 

Balloch is accessible from the city by train in less than an hour, and from there, you can visit Conic Hill and Inchcailloch or Luss and Beinn Dubh. 

Looking for more ideas? Here are my other tried-and-tested car-free day trips from Glasgow.

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Looking for more Scotland Itineraries? Check out these posts!

• The Perfect 10-Day Scotland Itinerary by Train with Epic Views
• Scotland West Coast Itinerary: How to See the Best of the West Coast in 10 Days
• 10 Days in the Scottish Highlands: The Ultimate Itinerary

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