Loch Lomond, the Trossachs and Stirling Castle from Glasgow: Which Day Trip?
4 min read
If you have a full day and want more than the water, book the Loch Lomond, Trossachs and Stirling Castle day tour at €59.76 per person, rated 4.6/5 from 1,591 reviews. If the loch is all you want, skip the coach and book a cruise from Balloch instead.
What the day tour does
The tour is run by Timberbush Tours and lasts 8.5 hours. It leaves from the Royal Scottish National Orchestra at 19 Killermont Street in Glasgow. The itinerary on the booking page runs to Balloch and Loch Lomond Shores, then through Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park to lunch in Aberfoyle, a coffee stop in Callander and a visit to Stirling Castle, before the drive back. The driver tells the stories of William Wallace and Rob Roy on the way.
Two things are optional extras on that booking page: a one-hour cruise on Loch Lomond and the entrance ticket for Stirling Castle. Lunch in Aberfoyle is a stop on the route. Before you book, ask the operator whether food and drinks are in the price and what the two extras cost.
The two cruises on their own
Both cruises leave from Balloch Village Ferry Landing and are run by Sweeney’s Cruise Co.
| Option | Length | From, per person | Rating | Reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scottish Highlands Sightseeing Cruise | 1 hour | €23.31 | 4.6/5 | 2,109 |
| Island Discovery Cruise | 2 hours | €35.86 | 4.7/5 | 1,749 |
| Day tour with Stirling Castle | 8.5 hours | €59.76 | 4.6/5 | 1,591 |
The one-hour cruise crosses the Highland Boundary Fault and looks up at Ben Lomond, with Inchmurrin Island ahead. The two-hour cruise is a circuit through the islands, past Loch Lomond Golf Club and through “The Narrows”, an area the listing says can only be seen by boat, on towards Luss. Both have a bar on board, a free cruise guide in several languages, and infants aged 0 to 4 travel free as long as you select a ticket for them. Well-behaved dogs are allowed. Sweeney’s own timetable runs the two-hour cruise from April to October only, at 12:30pm and 3pm; for the one-hour cruise, check availability for your date before you plan around it.
Getting to Balloch yourself
ScotRail runs direct trains to Balloch from Glasgow Queen Street (Low Level platforms), and its timetable page gives the average journey as 49 minutes. Check the ScotRail planner for your date. The ferry landing is the meeting point, so you can pay for the cruise and skip the coach.
Who it is for, and who should skip it
- First visit, one day, no car: the day tour. You get the loch, the Trossachs and a castle in one trip.
- Half a day, or you dislike coaches: a cruise from Balloch. Choose the two-hour one if you want to see the islands, between April and October.
- Small children and wheelchair users: the day tour does not take children under 4. Wheelchair users are listed as not suitable, but collapsible wheelchairs with removable wheels can be taken if someone comes along to help with boarding. The one-hour cruise says electric wheelchairs cannot be accommodated, and the local partner asks disabled passengers to call ahead.
Be honest about the limits: on a day tour the cruise and the castle ticket cost extra, and the day involves a lot of time on the coach. Compare it with the Highlands tours from Glasgow if you want wilder scenery, and see all options under Loch Lomond and Trossachs tours.
Most visitors should book the day tour and add the cruise only if the weather looks kind.
