Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park in Scotland, United Kingdom - map and visitor information

Research checked: 2026-10-24. Check linked official notices before travel.

Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park in Scotland includes loch shores, wooded glens, and mountains. Balloch is a useful arrival point by train, while Balmaha and Aberfoyle serve different parts of the park. For an overnight visit, choose your exact location first: seasonal camping management rules apply to designated zones, rather than to the whole park.

Highlights around the lochs and Trossachs

• Balmaha: combine the visitor center with woodland by Loch Lomond. Conic Hill rises above the village and needs a separate route decision.
• Aberfoyle and Duke's Pass: the Lodge Forest Visitor Centre offers forest information, a waterfall walk, and a red squirrel hide.
• The West Highland Way: select a lochside section for a walking visit instead of assuming you must complete the long-distance trail.
• Loch viewpoints and woodland wildlife: lower routes provide alternatives to the northern mountain areas.

Know before you visit Loch Lomond & The Trossachs

Fees, hours, and seasonal access

Cold water and changing conditions

Lochs can become deep close to shore. Cold water shock can affect strong swimmers, even when the air feels warm. Do not swim alone. Check warning signs and identify a safe way out before entering the water. Supervise children closely near the shore.

If someone is in trouble, call 999 or 112. Do not enter the water to attempt a rescue. Look for a throw line or life ring while help is on its way. Use the park's Water Safety Code when planning a visit near water.

Responsible access in Scotland

Follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code when walking or camping. Outside the Camping Management Zones, responsible wild camping follows that code. The end of the seasonal permit period does not grant unrestricted parking or override other site rules. Take your litter home and leave your camping place without damage.

Do not light a fire that could damage a Camping Management Zone. Do not collect firewood there. Follow local fire warnings and site rules. Clean and dry equipment between water bodies to reduce the spread of invasive species.

Choose a campsite or a permit area

During the management season, use the official permit page and zone map to select a permitted location. Book up to four weeks ahead for a maximum of three nights in one area. A permit covers an area, not a reserved pitch. Permit areas have no formal facilities, so arrive prepared to manage water, sanitation, and waste.

Tent permits allow arrival from 1 p.m. and departure by 11 a.m. Motorhome and campervan permits have a different overnight window, 7 p.m.–10 a.m. Choose the correct category and read its terms. A campsite booking is a separate arrangement with that campsite.

The authority's autumn booking message says the camping byelaws are outside their active season. For a spring or summer stay, use the recurring March–September dates above and check the booking page again. For booking help, call +44 1389 722001.

Maps, rail arrivals, and separate park areas

The park lies in Scotland, United Kingdom. Trains from Glasgow serve Balloch. The West Highland Line provides other access points, including Arrochar & Tarbet, Ardlui, Crianlarich, and Tyndrum. The A82 is a main road approach to the Loch Lomond side. Use the official travel guide to plan connections, then verify the operator's current timetable.

Choose a village, visitor center, or trailhead as your navigation destination. A search for the national park name is not an entrance location. The authority's park map helps separate the loch, forest, and mountain areas. Carry a suitable route map for a walk; an overview map does not replace it.

Nearby parks for a road itinerary

For stops toward Glasgow, consider Mugdock Country Park near Milngavie, with its main parking area beside the visitor center, or Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park, approached through Lochwinnoch for Castle Semple and Muirshiel. These are separate parks outside the national park, with their own facilities and access arrangements.

Choose a shore, forest, or hill walk

For a first day, choose one area and build the visit around it. Balmaha provides woodland paths, loch views, and a visitor center. Around Aberfoyle, the Lodge Forest Visitor Centre is a starting point for forest walks and wildlife watching. A longer mountain route is a different undertaking from either visit.

Walking along a section of the West Highland Way can provide a focused lochside outing. Cruises and waterbus trips offer other ways to experience the loch, but their schedules and booking arrangements depend on the operator and season. Confirm a return service before relying on a boat transfer.

Visitor centers and practical facilities

Balmaha Visitor Centre has children's activities, a play area, and toilets with a listed GBP 0.50 charge. The Lodge Forest Visitor Centre on the A821, north of Aberfoyle, has a cafe and public toilets. Facilities at these staffed sites differ from camping permit areas.

Use the visitor center directory to select a useful stop and check current hours. The authority's planning information also provides detailed accessibility guides. Check the specific route or building against your needs before committing to it.

About the national park

Designation and communities

The national park became fully operational on July 19, 2002. Its landscape includes communities, forests, working land, and water, rather than one enclosed visitor property. Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Authority coordinates park responsibilities alongside landowners and service operators.

Woodlands, lochs, and uplands

Habitats support red squirrels, otters, red deer, and birds of prey. Whooper swans and goldeneyes use the lochs in winter. Forests near Aberfoyle offer opportunities to watch red squirrels, while upland and lochside species use different habitats. Sightings depend on conditions and are never assured.

Contact and camping assistance

Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Authority: +44 1389 722600, [email protected]. Its administrative address is Carrochan, Carrochan Road, Balloch, G83 8EG. Send camping booking questions to [email protected].