Cycling and Walking Loch Lomond Itinerary

Whether you like hiking or biking, Loch Lomond offers loads of opportunities for a packed itinerary of outdoor activities, with breath-taking scenery waiting for you around each corner. 

This mystic part of Scotland is rich with ancient tales of Vikings, Clans and the outlaw Rob Roy.  As the largest loch in Scotland, walking Loch Lomond can involve some epic hikes but you don’t have to be an experienced mountaineer to enjoy its charm.  There are options to suit all abilities.  The Loch Lomond itinerary below is based on four days.  However, if you’ve only got time for a Loch Lomond day trip you could pick one or two things to do and still have a wonderful time.  

I can’t say enough about how gorgeous Loch Lomond is.  It’s a place to lose your heart and soul to. At times wild and savage, then calm and serene.  It will thrill you with its heart-stopping hilltops and comfort you as you come back down to the ethereal beauty of the loch.  So take your time to explore this magnificent part of Scotland.  Use the suggestions below to help plan your own Loch Lomond itinerary. 

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Cycling and Walking Loch Lomond Itinerary: Quick List of Places to Visit

If you’re in a hurry, here are the main attractions listed in this Loch Lomond Itinerary:

• Ardgartan
• Arrochar village and Loch Long
• Helensburgh and Gare Loch
• Inversnaid and Loch Katrine
• Luss and Loch Lomond 
• The Cobbler, Arrochar
• The Rest and Be Thankful
• Inveraray – due to a landslide we couldn’t make this part of the trip but it’s a great place to go if you want to visit a Loch Lomond castle.

Getting to and Around Loch Lomond

Buses and trains run from Glasgow to Loch Lomond, making it a great destination for independent travellers. Whilst there are lots of great walks and plenty of options for cycling around Loch Lomond, it can be convenient to combine these with public transport.

Buses to Loch Lomond from Glasgow

• Local buses to Loch Lomond from Glasgow are regular but only run at certain times of the day.  Spend some time planning your trip so you can make the most of your time at the loch.
• Two routes stop at Arrochar on Loch Long, part of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park:
  • #926, Glasgow – Campbeltown
  • #976, Glasgow – Oban
• These routes run alongside the west side of Loch Lomond. So you can also use them to get to all of the places to visit listed above, with the exception of Helensburgh and Gare Loch (for these you could hire a bike or get the train from Arrochar & Tarbet instead).
• An advance return ticket from Glasgow – Arrochar costs £11.70.  Journey time is 1.25 hours. 
• Check out Scottish Citylink for up to date bus timetables and tickets.
• Book in advance if you can, as places are limited on the buses.
• Advance return tickets are cheaper than two singles.

trains to Loch Lomond from Glasgow

• Train stations near Loch Lomond include Arrochar &Tarbet, Balloch, Ardlui, Garelochhead, Helensburgh on Gare Loch, and Crianlarich.
• Frequent trains run from Glasgow to Balloch, at the foot of Loch Lomond, journey time is 50 minutes. 
• The scenic West Highland Line goes from Glasgow to Arrochar &Tarbet on the loch. 
• Harry Potter fans might be tempted to stay on the train until it crosses the Glenfinnan viaduct further north. The viaduct featured in the films.

Loch Lomond Bike Hire

• If you’re not bringing your own, bike hire in Loch Lomond is available from Loch Lomond Leisure.
• An alternative option is to check whether your accommodation in Loch Lomond offers the option to hire bikes, the Loch Lomond B&B we stayed in included bike hire in the price.
• If you are planning on hiring a bike, check out this article on 10 Important Checks To Make Before You Hire A Bike.

Taxis to Loch Lomond

You can take a taxi or even order an Uber in Glasgow to take you to Loch Lomond.

Cycling and Walking Loch Lomond: Where to Stay

Arrochar is a great village to base yourself in for cycling and walking Loch Lomond.  It might be small but there is plenty of accommodation and there are lots of sights within easy reach, plus buses and trains stop here. 

Ideally situated right by the side of Loch Long this unassuming village has got…it.  The wow factor.  As the sun goes down and the mist rises above the water, the reflections of the majestic Scottish mountains are spectacular.  It has a mysterious, otherworldly quality.  One of the best things to do in Arrochar is to step out onto the jetty at the centre of the village to soak it all in then fill up on pub grub at the Village Inn. 

Places to Eat in Arrochar

Crucially, there are several places to eat in Arrochar.  The last thing I want to do after a day spent walking Loch Lomond is hike in the dark to my evening meal.   Options include:

• Ben Arthur’s Bothy
• Arrochar Chippy
• The Village Inn
• Slanj, Tarbet (approx. 30-minute walk)
• Picnic supplies are available at the local shop, Braeside Stores, handily located next to the bus stop

Oh and if you’re wondering how to pronounce the name Arrochar, it’s something close to a-rock-arghh.

Accommodation

I frequently use booking.com to book accommodation, as it offers good prices and lots of photos to help with researching options.

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To send post to Glasgow and the surrounding areas, check out this guide to Glasgow postal codes.

Loch Lomond Itinerary Day 1: Cycle Lake Loch Lomond + Two Extra Lochs

Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park actually includes a magnificent 22 lochs.  Visiting all of them in a day might be a stretch but taking in the namesake lake Loch Lomond and a couple more on a day’s bike ride is absolutely doable. 

We set out to visit just the shores of Loch Lomond but a chance meeting with a keen cyclist convinced us we could cover three lochs in one day.  I’ll admit it was a foolhardy mission for two city-cyclists more used to the flatlands of East Anglia.  Had I known what it involved at the start, I might not have been so willing.  But then I would have missed out on an exhilarating experience and the massive grin on my face after completing it. 

Here’s the cycle route around the three lochs and the time it took to complete each leg.

Arrochar – Tarbet, Loch Lomond (10 mins)

• Pretty flat, on a cycle lane separate from the road.

Tarbet – Luss (40 mins)

• Flat, starts off with a five-minute ride on the cycle path alongside the busy A82 then drops left, down on to the West Loch Lomond cycle path, which runs lochside away from the traffic. 
• Stop at the small Loch Lomond beaches along the way for absolutely stunning views across the loch.
• Take a break to spend some time enjoying Luss village, details below.

Luss – Helensburgh, Gare Loch (50 mins)

• After Luss, continue on for about 15 minutes, turn right off the A82 on to the B832 to Blairglas and Helensburgh.  This is where it starts to get hilly folks.  Climb slowly upwards next to rolling fields and lots of sheep.
• Once you get into the town of Helensburgh the descent gets very steep very fast.  It’s a little bit hairy but a fun reward for all those hard uphill miles, enjoy freewheeling towards the coast.
• Stop for a portion of fish and chips at one of the takeaways on Clyde Street, eat them as you stretch your legs along the promenade.

Helensburgh – Arrochar, Loch Long (90 mins)

• The ride over to Helensburgh is really just a warm-up.  The hills in this last section are insane.  Mi Amor is a trained athlete and even he had to get off as we attempted to climb one of them.  Although that could have been the double sausage and chips we ate earlier. 
• This route takes you past Faslane naval base and an oil depot for large tankers.  After the abundance of nature, they stand out in bizarre contrast; a military-industrial beast amongst the beauty of the lochs. 
• Until Garelochead this route is on a cycle path, after that it’s cycling on A and B roads.  There was very little traffic at the time of our visit but that may have been due to the closure of the Rest and Be Thankful road further along the same key route. 
• A quieter option is to pick up the Three Lochs Way route outside of Garelochead, from the Glen Fruin road, and cycle high above the lochs, returning via Tarbet.  Although at this point it was getting late and we wanted to take what seemed like the most direct route, so we didn’t get up there.  I hope to return to walk or cycle the three lochs route in this part as it does look beautiful.
• Although this section is tough going, the views you get as you bike alongside Loch Long and back to Arrochar are worth it.  I had to stop several times to take it all in.
• Back at base, relax with a well-earned dram of local whisky and revel in your sense of achievement at ‘collecting’ three lochs in one day.

Total distance covered: 60 km

Total time on the bike: 3hr 10 minutes

plus plenty of time spent stopping at sights along the way

Visit the Beautiful Cottages at Luss Village

If you get the impression the village of Luss is a bit like a toy town, that’s probably because it was designed as a model village.  Created in the 1800s to house workers at the nearby slate quarry, it’s beautifully kept, earning conservation village status.  It might also feel familiar to you if you were a Take the High Road fan.  The Scottish soap opera was filmed here.

Tourists flock to the village to wander the petite lanes and take photos of the Luss cottages so it’s likely to be busy in peak season.   If you want to get away from the crowds there are several local Luss walks to do.

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Hire a Speedboat Across Loch Lomond at Luss

Much as I loved walking around Loch Lomond, one of my favourite things to do on our Loch Lomond Itinerary was hiring a speedboat at Luss.  There isn’t much of a guide to accompany your trip (it can be hard to hear anything at speed), so spend the time imagining you’re zipping around to save the world like James Bond instead. 

A Loch Lomond speedboat is a fantastic way to experience the loch, fresh air, clear water and the chance to get up close to some of the intriguing Loch Lomond islands.  It costs £70 per boat for 30 minutes, so if there’s a few of you it’s a great way to get your ‘007’ kicks. For a less adrenalin-fuelled and more economical option, take a Loch Lomond cruise from Luss pier instead.

The stretch of sandy beach at Luss offers alternative water-based fun; stand up paddleboarding, water-skiing and kayaking Loch Lomond are all possible.  However, if you feel like something less energetic you can grab an ice cream and a snack from one of the cute places to eat in Luss and park yourself on the beach for a picnic with a view.

Loch Lomond Itinerary Day 3: Visit Tarbet, Inversnaid Falls & Loch Katrine

Tarbet, a short bike ride or walk from Arrochar, is the departure point for the Loch Lomond ferry north across the loch to Inversnaid.  Take a bike on the ferry and you can visit lochs Arklet and Katrine. Alternatively, go by foot and take a hike along a stretch of the West Highland Way (a 145 km hiking route from Milngavie to Fort William). 

For the latest Loch Lomond ferry times check the Cruise Loch Lomond website.  The crossing takes around half an hour.  Buy tickets on the website or on the ferry. I struggled a bit to get my bike onto the boat and was very grateful for the help from a kind member of staff who secured it at the end of the boat for me.

On arrival at the opposite side of the loch, you’ll be greeted by the rushing waters of the Inversnaid Falls.  After you’ve tried to get so near you get soaked, set off for the ride to Loch Katrine (approx. 40 mins).  Take the road up the hill past the hotel, which gets very steep. In fact, I began to think it must be perpendicular at some point (the way back is ridiculously fun though).  Continue on this road all the way to Stronachlachar.  Enjoy feeling deliriously happy as you go past Loch Arklet on the way – as this bit is actually flat.   It’s a really peaceful ride with hardly any traffic, or other humans. 

Loch Katrine

In Stronachlachar, head to the loch Katrine café and indulge in a big piece of delicious homemade cake and a cup of hot chocolate.  Because you’ll definitely have earnt it.  This is one heck of a picturesque tea break.  If you feel like a longer stop, the Pier café also does full-on meals.  The steamship Sir Walter Scott offers a tour around the loch here.  Although sadly it wasn’t running when we visited.

Return Journey

After you’ve explored Loch Katrine, head back to the ferry terminal and choose between taking the Loch Lomond part of the West Highland Way north, to discover Rob Roy’s cave (approx. one-mile walk and signposted), or south to search for stags amongst the forest.  Whatever direction you choose, I hope you’re luckier than us, we went south and didn’t see a single stag.

Most importantly, check for the up to date return ferry times on the website before you set out.  It’s also worth mentioning that it gets mighty chilly out on the water. I was, as ever, grateful that Mi Amor is always more prepared than me and had an extra coat to lend so I didn’t freeze.  One day I’ll learn.

Loch Lomond Itinerary Day 4: Explore the Ardgartan Forest Walks

Ardgartan is an area of outstanding beauty perfect for spending the morning exploring by pedal or foot.  It’s only a 15-minute bike ride west around the loch from Arrochar.  Pick one of the Forestry and Land Scotland waymarked Ardgartan walks and you’ll find waterfalls, streams, a rope swing over a beach and hundreds of Christmas trees.  Ok, their official name is Norway spruce, but even in summer, they’re Christmas trees to me. 

During our visit, the Ardgartan weather was extreme. Despite waterproof trousers, jackets, hats and boots we still got utterly soaked after a few hours hiking around here.  Thankfully, at the Ardgartan Forest Holidays campsite there is a gift shop and café serving hot food to warm up with.  It’s also licensed, so if you’re in need of something stronger after all that healthy outdoor activity, look no further.  I’m a bit of a sucker for a gift shop and this one is great.  So you can take back stuffed toy seals, Scottish soaps, and everything else in between as a souvenir. 

An Afternoon View at the Rest and Be Thankful

Named after an inscription on the commemorative stone at the top, this stopping point looks out between Glen Kinglas and Glen Croe and is renowned for its incredible views.  The bus from Arrochar takes you there in 10 minutes, so it’s an easy afternoon trip.   Unfortunately, due to a landslide closing half the road, it turned out to be trickier for us.  

On the way, the driver let us know that the return bus wouldn’t stop because of the half road closure so we’d have to walk back, which was fine with us. But after we’d taken photos and set out on the return, we started to get some funny looks from people in high-vis jackets.  A bit of arm waving and a few stern words later, and it turned out that we weren’t allowed to walk back due to the traffic convoy in operation. 

I had a brief moment of panic as I wasn’t sure how we’d get back.  Perhaps we were going to see out our days foraging on the side of the mountain.  Thankfully, as all this was unfolding, I saw out of the corner of my eye a bus approaching and it did indeed stop. We sprinted towards it and managed to jump on just before it left.  If you travel without a car, public transport can be frustrating and wonderful all in the same breath.

I love, love, loved cycling and walking around Loch Lomond but I thought this viewpoint was a bit overrated.  Maybe I was spoilt by all the other amazing sights on the trip.  Or perhaps the confusion and difficulty at the top put a bit of a ‘Debbie Downer’ on it for me.  In short, if the road is operating normally then make the trip, if not, I’d consider steering clear.

Loch Lomond Weather

The climate deserves a special mention when planning what to do in Loch Lomond.  It can be dramatic and changeable in this area.  Whoever coined that phrase about there being ‘no bad weather, only bad clothing’ had definitely visited this part of Scotland.  Over the summer and early autumn, it can be warm and sunny one minute, then pouring down with rain like you’ve never seen the next.   Prepare by taking a range of layered clothing, waterproofs and good footwear. 

The weather certainly had an impact on our trip. The rain-induced landslide and road closure meant we didn’t make it to Inveraray to see the castle and gardens.  Landslides here are not as rare as you might think but if it happens whilst you’re visiting, as they say in Scotland, ‘nae bother’ – just go to plan B, there’s plenty to see and do around Loch Lomond.

What’s your favourite cycling or walking route around Loch Lomond and the Trossachs? I’d love to hear your tips in the comments below.

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