If you want to explore Loch Lomond and have a few hours to spare, then taking a little road trip along the bonny bonny banks is absolutely the way to do it. Grab some snacks, screens for the kids while driving, a good playlist and off you go.
We did this little road trip in about 5 hours on a crisp, wintry February Sunday and it was such a lovely day out. On the route to Falls of Falloch there are lots of available lochside stops, so you can choose which ones you stop at and how long you spend there. We stopped when we fanced it, we got in & out, picnicked & played, splashed in the loch, and went to see the Falls of Falloch, a waterfall at the top end of Loch Lomond.
Since we live in Glasgow we left from there and headed out to explore. To be completely honest, this whole trip was so I could scope out some more possible paddleboarding locations on Loch Lomond for when the weather gets a bit better which will be compiled in a separate article very soon. In order, we stopped at the following spots:
Duck Bay Beach
This was a quick roadside stop next to Duck Bay Marina. Lots of wild swimmers tend to head here for a wee dook in the water. Excluding Balloch, this is the closest point to Glasgow where you can have a wee splash in Loch Lomond.
If you fancy it, Duck Bay Marina does lovely food for lunch and dinner, and afternoon tea’s too. Book a table in advance as it does get busy at weekends and on holidays.
Auchentullich Farm Shop
This isn’t technically a stop to see Loch Lomond, but this farm shop is located just before Luss and the ice cream they sell in here is delicious. It’s made out the back in their barn/kitchen and it is some of the nicest we’ve tried.
They also have lots of other locally sourced food and drinks in the farm shop too. We got some carrot cake and some farm animal themed iced gingerbread biscuits when we visited last time.
Luss
Luss is one of the busier spots along the banks of Loch Lomond. There is lots of parking though, plus toilets, a few cafes and takeaways, the village shop and a little beach. The beach is one of the more well used, and on a sunny day it tends to be full of picnic blankets, barbecues and people heading in and out of the water. This is one of our favourite spots to go paddleboarding on Loch Lomond. It’s such a picturesque little place.
Parking is metered in Luss so make sure you have either cash or a card to pay with at the machine. (Apple pay on my phone sometimes works and sometimes doesn’t at these machines.)
Falls of Falloch
The Falls of Falloch on the River Falloch are one of just a couple of waterfalls that lead into Loch Lomond. There is a very small car park here and once you’ve parked there is a short walk to get to the viewpoint for the falls.
This was our farthest point of the trip from Glasgow; after which we turned around to head towards home.
Tarbet Pier
The stop at Tarbet Pier has a car park, some picnic benches, a big grassy area overlooking the loch and access to the water down a short path. You can catch a boat trip here with Cruise Loch Lomond, taking in a tour of Loch Lomond, taking the boat across to Inversnaid or even catch the boat here to Rowardennan where you can head up Ben Lomond.
You get the best views of Ben Lomond from here too. That little snowy peak is just poking her head out from behind the hill directly in front of Tarbet Pier.
Firkin Point
Firkin Point was the last place we stopped on our route home. There is a small car park here, a few picnic benches, and access to the water.
We went to falls of Falloch.
Lovely place to visit beautiful scenery, if you want a stop off then go to The Drovers Inn awarded pub of the year 1705 (yes that’s what they say)