If you’re planning a trip to Loch Lomond and the Trossachs and looking for a place to base yourself, here are 20 options. They consist of towns and villages all across the National Park. For each one, a brief introduction, map and photograph. All of them have numerous accommodation options nearby.

I’ve also suggested a few places to visit nearby that are within a 30-minute drive. Please click on any of the links to read more details in our other guides. We like to keep our guides updated, so if you have any suggestions for this one, please get in touch. (Note the 20 places listed aren’t ranked in any way).

If you plan to visit Loch Lomond & The Trossachs, consider ordering our book ‘101 things to do in Loch Lomond & The Trossachs’, a photo guidebook of things to do and places to explore. Click here to purchase.

1) Gartocharn, Loch Lomond

This small village is home to one of the two RSPB reserves in Loch Lomond. There is an excellent Visitor Centre on the reserve with some new trails. See more of the Gartocharn Reserve by walking along Aber Shore.

Looking away from the loch, you will see a small hill rising; this is The Dumpling. The short walk to the top of it rewards you with excellent views of Loch Lomond. Nearby, Balloch is home to the iconic paddle-steamer Maid of the Loch, Loch Lomond Shores and Balloch Castle Country Park.

Take a cruise on Loch Lomond from Balloch with Sweeney’s Cruises.

Around 10-15 minutes away is the village of Drymen, with access to the eastern shores of Loch Lomond; visit Balmaha, The Tom Weir Statue, Milarrochy Bay, Rowardennan and of course, Ben Lomond.

2) Balloch, Loch Lomond

Balloch is the gateway to the National Park, home to the last serving steamship on Loch Lomond the Maid of the Loch, also Loch Lomond Shores with its shopping and experiences, including mini-golf, water sports and a Bird of Prey centre. Balloch Castle Country Park is the only country park in Loch Lomond & the Trossachs.

Luss can be accessed by road along the A82, by bike on the West Lomond Cycle Path and by boat with Sweeney’s Cruises. Long established Sweeney’s Cruises have cruise services from Balloch, narrated by TV historian Neil Oliver.

It’s around 30 minutes to the RSPB reserve at Gartocharn with its new Visitor Centre. Walk from the village to Aber Shore and get a good view of Loch Lomond from The Dumpling.

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3) Luss, Loch Lomond

Luss, a beautiful conservation village, is on the western shores of Loch Lomond. There are many places to eat and a collection of cute gift shops. In July, the annual Luss Highland Games takes place. Kids will enjoy the new Loch Lomond Fairie Trail.

From Luss Pier, take a boat to Balloch, Rowardennan, Balmaha or Inchcailloch Island. Drive north on the A82 to see more places of interest, including Tarbet, Firkin Point, Ardlui and Inverugulas.

4) Arrochar & Tarbet - Argyll Forest/Loch Lomond

Arrochar on Loch Long and nearby Tarbet on Loch Lomond are ideal places to base yourself for a Loch Lomond break. Pretty villages with a good community spirit and plenty of places to eat and drink. The Cobbler, part of the Arrochar Alps, is a Corbett and renowned for a distinctive summit with excellent views.

There are boat trips from Tarbet, by Cruise Loch Lomond, including the weekly cruise to the RSPB reserve at Inversnaid. A bit further up the A82 (or by boat) is Inveruglas and the Falls of Falloch.

5) Lochgoilhead, Argyll Forest

Beautifully tucked away at the head of Loch Goil, Lochgoilhead has a good holiday atmosphere thanks to the Drimsynie Estate Holiday Village. Hire a boat from Loch Goil Cruisers, or call in at their excellent new Boat Shed Cafe. Visit Cormonachan Woodlands to see beautiful red squirrels from a hide. At the end of the road, you’ll find Carrick Castle where you can venture on by foot to Ardentinny.

Heading away from Loch Goil, take time to visit the Lauder Memorial at Invernoaden. Further on towards Dunoon is Benmore Botanical Garden and Puck’s Glen.

6) Ardentinny, Argyll Forest

Ardentinny is in the Argyll Forest on the Cowal Peninsula. There are facilities for camping by the beach here, nearby is the renovated Victorian Glenfinart Walled Garden. Other places to visit nearby include Blairmore, Benmore Botanic Garden, Puck’s Glen and Kilmun Arboretum.

7) Blairmore, Argyll Forest

On the banks of Loch Long, the small community of Blairmore there is a Victorian Pier, with a wonderful community garden opposite it. A short drive along the lochside is Ardentinny, where you will find Glenfinart Walled Garden. Other places to visit nearby include Benmore Botanic Garden, Puck’s Glen and Kilmun Arboretum.

8) Kilmun, Argyll Forest

Right on the edge of the National Park, close to Dunoon, is the village of Kilmun, with its excellent Arboretum. Close by and well worth a visit is Blairmore and at Ardentinny the Glenfinart Walled Garden. Other places to visit nearby include Benmore Botanic Garden and Puck’s Glen.

9) Drymen, Loch Lomond

Drymen is a popular first night stop on the West Highland Way. The heart of the village is its pretty Square, with pubs serving good food and drink. On Thursdays during the summer, enjoy Piping in the Square, organised by the local community.

For the shores of East Loch Lomond, head to Balmaha, home to theTom Weir Statue, travel further for Milarrochy Bay, Rowardennan and of course Ben Lomond. If you’re walking, enjoy the incredible trip over Conic Hill.

10) Balmaha, Loch Lomond

Balmaha is one of the most beautiful villages in the National Park, home to the much-photographed Tom Weir Statue. There is also the Millennium Walk and pathway of the West Highland Way. If you’re walking or driving, your journey will take you to Milarrochy Bay and, ultimately, Rowardennan where you can climb Ben Lomond.

The car park at Balmaha has an excellent National Park Visitor Centre. At the back of the car park is the path to walk up Conic Hill. Enjoy beautiful views of Loch Lomond and its islands from the hill. The closest island is Inchcailloch; you can get there by water taxi from Balmaha Boatyard (not running at present). Cruise Loch Lomond have cruises from Balmaha around the islands. Along with Sweeney’s Cruises, they also have a water bus service connecting Balmaha with Luss.

11) Rowardennan, Loch Lomond

At Rowardennan, visit the memorial to those that lost their lives during the two world wars. The whole park is intact dedicated to honouring their sacrifice. Climb Ben Lomond or walk along the West Highland Way, alternatively take a Cruise Loch Lomond water bus to Luss or Tarbet from the Youth Hostel.

Close by is Balmaha with the Tom Weir Statue and Conic Hill. You can visit one of Loch Lomond’s prettiest islands, Inchcailloch, with a water taxi from Balmaha Boatyard.

12) Aberfoyle, Trossachs

This village is the gateway to the Trossachs and has enjoyed a recent resurgence with new shops and cafes, an ideal base to stay on the National Number 7 Cycle Route.

Just outside of the village is the Lodge Visitor Centre, with Go Ape! The road alongside Loch Ard and Loch Chon takes you through some beautiful scenery. Continue along the road to visit Inversnaid or Stronachlachar.

The Duke’s Pass has a delightful detour onto the Three Lochs Drive. There more camping pitches here with a campsite at Loch Achray. At Loch Katrine, take a cruise, or cycle alongside the loch.

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13) Stronachlachar, Trossachs

There are a few holiday homes at Stronachlachar, on Loch Katrine, close to the birthplace of Rob Roy MacGregor. A mention of the excellent cafe at the Pier in Stronachlachar, which serves excellent food.

14) Callander, Trossachs

There are some excellent festivals in Callander, including Summerfest each year. Visit the beautiful Bracklinn Falls, just off of the main street.

Visit Loch Katrine and sail on a cruise. Head north by bike or car to Loch Lubnaig, where you will find the start of the award-winning BLiSS Trail. Download the app to help guide you to the points of interest along the trail.

15) Strathyre, Trossachs

Head south to visit Callander, Loch Lubnaig and Loch Katrine, or continue north along the BLiSS Trail. Download the app to help guide you to the points of interest along the trail.

The National Number 7 Cycle route also goes through the village of Strathyre. At Balquhidder, you can see Rob Roy’s Grave.

16) Balquhidder, Breadalbane

At Balquhidder Church, you can see Rob Roy’s Grave. The famous Monachyle Mhor boutique hotel is further down the road that runs alongside Loch Voil. Between Loch Voil and Loch Doine, there is the mirror box viewing platform.

If you stay at Balquhidder, you can easily visit Lochearnhead, Strathyre, Killin and St Fillans.

17) Lochearnhead, Breadalbane

The road alongside Loch Earn continues towards Perthshire and out of the National Park at the pretty village of St. Fillans, with more features of the BLiSS trail along the route. The National Number 7 Cycle route goes across the Glen Ogle Viaduct; if you’re cycling on it, you can’t see the wonder of its construction.

There are Highland games each year at Lochearnhead and nearby Killin. Also at Killin are the Falls of Dochart, which run through the village.

18) Killin - Breadalbane

The highlight of Killin is the Falls of Dochart that dramatically run through the village. There are also Highland Games held each year. Loch Tay is close to Killin, along with the Ben Lawers National Nature Reserve.

19) Crianlarich & Tyndrum - Breadalbane

At Crianlarich, the A82 meets the A85. You are in an ideal position to access Killin, Oban, Fort William and Loch Lomond. There are also train stations at Crianlarich and Tyndrum, both on the West Highland Way. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can climb Ben More.

20) Ardlui

Loch Lomond Wakeboard is based at The Ardlui Hotel. There is also a marina at this northern end of Loch Lomond. On the other side of the loch is the West Highland Way path connected to Ardlui by a ferry. The A82 runs through Ardlui completing its journey alongside the western shores of Loch Lomond before heading on towards Glencoe.

We haven’t listed any accommodation providers/options on this page; please go to our Stay page for those details.

This article covered every part of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs, showing that each has many nearby places of interest (there are many more not listed!). It proves that you could pick any of these 20 as an ideal place to base yourself to explore the National Park.

Thanks for reading

Words and photography by Paul Saunders. Visit Paul’s Marketing and Photography websites for details of his services in Scotland.

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