Lochs in the Trossachs

Camping on Loch Sides

If you are planning to wild camp, seasonal byelaws will affect how and where you can camp between March and September. During this time, you need a permit to camp or (in some locations) to stay overnight in your motorhome. 

Click HERE for more details from the National Park.

Fishing in Lochs and Rivers

Lochs and rivers in the Trossachs offer some of the finest angling in Scotland, for salmon, sea trout, brown trout and coarse fish. Rules vary depending on where you are and what you are fishing for but you will need a permit for most situations. Details of good practice and list of places to buy a permit available by clicking HERE.

 Lake of Menteith

Enjoy the serenity of Scotland’s only lake (rather than a loch) from a small picnic area and car park on the eastern shore. Watch winter wildfowl or spot summer visiting ospreys swooping down to feed. Take a dip in the clear water or board a small ferry (from March to September) to the island of Inchmahome to visit its historic ruined priory and tranquil grounds, home to unique ancient trees. The lake is famous for the bonspiel, an outdoor curling competition that happens only in the most severe winters. It is also the main venue for the National Fly-fishing Championships and the Lake of Monteith Fisheries offer some of the finest fly-fishing experiences in Scotland, including all-ability access on wheelie-boats.  More details HERE.

Loch Ard

A sheltered loch close to the town of Aberfoyle and surrounded by Loch Ard Forest with stunning views across the loch to Ben Lomond and beyond and is the source of the River Forth, which flows down through Stirling and on to the North Sea. It is popular for angling and for many water sports, such as kayaking, canoeing, paddle-boarding and swimming, although parking is limited. The forest is criss-crossed with trails, suitable for walking, horse riding and cycling, many of them way-marked and family-friendly, such as the Loch Ard Family Sculpture Trail, Lochan Spling Trail and Gravelfoyle bike tracks.

Loch Chon

Located between Kinlochard and Inversnaid on the B829, Loch Chon is surrounded by forest and mountain views and is said to be inhabited by kelpies, or water spirits. It feels remote and sheltered and is popular for angling, kayaking, canoeing, swimming and camping. A seasonal camp site run by the National Park has the feel of wild camping with the convenience of parking, toilets and washing facilities. 

Loch Arklet

A small loch between Loch Chon and Inversnaid, accessed from Aberfoyle on the B829 or on foot or bike on forest tracks and the Old Statute Road, or from Loch Katrine on The Great Trossachs Path. Loch Arklet is a reservoir, part of the Loch Katrine water works that supply the City of Glasgow. The stunning views of the mountains west of Loch Lomond known as the Arrochar Alps are best enjoyed by walking or cycling as there are no car parks on the lochside and much of the road is single track. Look out for black grouse, osprey in the summer and the feral goats that roam this area.

Loch Lomond

Loch Lomond, made famous around the world by the song The Bonnie Banks o’ Loch Lomond, is the largest inland stretch of water in Britain at 24 miles long. The B829 meets its eastern shore near its northern end at Inversnaid. Views across the water take in the Arrochar Alps – Beinn Narnain, Ben Vane and Ben Vorlich - and Sloy Power Station that harnesses energy from water dropping down huge pipes from Loch Sloy high above in the hills. Here you can enjoy a short walk to Rob Roy’s viewpoint, join the West Highland Way long-distance route, marvel at the Dramatic Arklet Falls, take a loch cruise, visit an RSPB nature reserve, or enjoy the Inversnaid Hotel’s hospitality. 

Loch Katrine

Loch Katrine, at the heart of the Trossachs and Rob Roy MacGregor country, was Sir Walter Scott’s inspiration for his epic 19th century poem The Lady of the Lake. Visitors flocked to see the romantic Highland landscapes for themselves and the Trossachs Tour was born. Queen Victoria visited in 1869 to open the waterworks, built to take clean safe water from the loch to the City of Glasgow. 

Today, you can follow Victoria’s footsteps on a cruise on the 120-year-old Steamship Sir Walter Scott or one of the smaller vessels. The Great Trossachs Path follows a private road along the shore from Trossachs Pier to Stronachlachar, so you can combine a walk or cycle in one direction with a boat trip in the other. You will have stunning views of the loch and of the mountains for the whole journey. Visitor facilities at Trossachs Pier include a gift shop, café, bike hire, toilets and eco-camp glamping pods and at Stronachlachar a car park, toilets and café. Fishing by permit, with day boat hire.

Glen Finglas Reservoir

A reservoir surrounded by the Woodland Trust’s Glen Finglas Estate, a mile north of Brig O’ Turk. The dam was built across the River Turk in the 1960s as the last phase of the Loch Katrine waterworks supplying water to Glasgow, to keep Loch Katrine topped up. The dam, now a listed building, contains a small hydro-electric power station. 

Loch Achray

A small sheltered loch in the heart of the Trossachs, close to the A821 with two small car parks, one giving access to Ben Venue and one to Ben A’an. The grand Trossachs Hotel, Tigh Mor Trossachs (Gaelic for ‘the big house’) built for Victorian travellers, now converted into holiday self catering apartments, dominates the northern shore and the Three Loch Forest Drive runs along its tranquil southern shore. Loch Achray is popular for swimming and angling. From March to September, camping is by permit from the National Park Authority at several designated wild camping sites and at a site with facilities close to the shore. Look out for woodland and water-based wildlife, such as roe deer, red squirrels, pine martens, red kite flying above or an osprey fishing on the loch.

Loch Venachar

A few miles from Callander, Loch Venachar is popular for picnicking, swimming, paddle-boarding, angling and sailing. It is easy to access from small car parks on both shores but these fill quickly on busy days. The National Cycle Network Route 7 follows the south shore on private road and forest track linking Callander, Aberfoyle and Brig O’Turk, where a link to the The Great Trossachs Path makes a superb circular route around the loch of about 16 miles (24km). From the loch shores you can see Ben Venue rising majestically to the west. It may look big, but its name in Gaelic is A’Beinn Mheanbh, meaning little mountain. Although it looks natural the water level has been raised, dammed by a Victorian sluice now a listed building. This is was to compensate for water diverted by the Loch Katrine waterworks to Glasgow in the 1860s. 

Loch Lubnaig

Emerging from the Pass of Leny into the Highlands, Loch Lubnaig (from the Gaelic for crooked) stretches northwards between high mountains – Ben Ledi in the south west and Ben Vorlich in the north east. By the side of the loch are several laybys and car parks on the A84 where you can enjoy unrestricted views of the loch, including one with a café, toilets and small campsite. It is popular for swimming. paddle-boarding, kayaking, canoeing and angling (by permit). The National Cycle Network Route 7, running along the eastern shore on the former Callander and Oban Railway, is perfect for a scenic walk or cycle ride from Callander to Strathyre and beyond. Look out for the scenic viewpoint sculpture, Sloc nan Sìtheanach or Faeire Hollow, at the most southerly car park.

Loch Voil and Loch Doine

Loch Voil and the smaller Loch Doine nestle in steep-sided Balquhidder Glen that feels remote and peaceful. From Balquhidder, a single-track road on the northern shores winds its way to the remote Inverlochlarig, starting point for mountain walks and last home to Rob Roy Macgregor, the 18th century outlaw made famous by Sir Walter Scott. Angling for salmon and brown trout is permitted in season, and watch for wildlife, including deer, red squirrels and golden eagles high on the hillsides. Look Out is a mirrored ‘lookout’ pavilion on the small piece of land between the two lochs, opposite Monachyle Mhor, which simultaneously frame and reflect the surrounding landscapes.