The loch’s southern end is almost a suburb of Glasgow by train. Beyond Balloch, public transport thins out quickly: the west shore has coaches and a few trains, the Trossachs are best with a car, and boats fill some of the gaps in summer.
Routes at a glance
| From | How | Time | Rough cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glasgow | ScotRail train, Queen Street (low level) to Balloch | 50 min | around £6–8 |
| Glasgow | Car on the A82 to Luss | about 45 min | fuel plus parking |
| Glasgow | Citylink coach to Luss or Tarbet | about 50 min – 1 hr 10 min | around £10–12 |
| Glasgow | West Highland Line train to Arrochar & Tarbet | about 1¼ hours | around £12–18 |
| Edinburgh | Car by the M9 and A811, or a guided day tour | about 1½ hours / a full day | tours roughly €55–70 |
| Stirling | Car or bus to Callander (for the Trossachs) | 30 min / about 45 min | bus around £5–8 |
Times and prices are approximate and change with season and booking date — check operators for current timetables and fares.
By train
Trains from Glasgow Queen Street low-level platforms (also calling at Charing Cross and Partick) run to Balloch twice an hour. From Edinburgh, change in Glasgow; allow about 1¾ hours in all. The West Highland Line to Oban and Fort William runs high above the northern half of the loch, stopping at Arrochar & Tarbet and Ardlui — a scenic way in, with only a few trains a day.
By car
The A82 follows the whole west shore: dual carriageway to Balloch, a good road to Tarbet, then narrow, twisting and slow to Ardlui — large vehicles squeeze past each other and patience is required. For the east shore, turn off at Drymen for Balmaha and Rowardennan, where the road ends. For the Trossachs, take the A84 from Stirling to Callander or the A81 from Glasgow to Aberfoyle. Car parks at Luss, Balmaha and Rowardennan fill early on sunny days; arrive before 10 am.
By coach and local bus
Citylink coaches from Glasgow to Fort William, Skye, Oban and Campbeltown stop at Luss, Inverbeg and Tarbet. Local buses link Balloch with Luss, Drymen and Balmaha, and Stirling with Callander and Aberfoyle. Services to Loch Katrine are limited or seasonal — check the national park’s travel pages before relying on them.
Getting around on the water
From roughly April to October a waterbus network links piers around the loch — Balloch, Luss, Balmaha, Tarbet, Inversnaid and Rowardennan among them — letting you combine a boat with a walk on the West Highland Way. Timetables vary by day and season. Canoes, kayaks and paddleboards can be hired at Balloch, Luss and Balmaha.
