Loch Lomond Islands (South)
Chris Scott-Park, Portnellan Farm
All of our See Loch Lomond guides are based entirely on our own experiences to ensure that we’re providing authentic and accurate reviews whilst allowing us the opportunity to capture video and photography to illustrate them.
A policy that gives us the excuse (if one is needed) to be regularly out experiencing the best things to see and do in Loch Lomond & The Trossachs. Of all the fantastic experiences that we have enjoyed, this island adventure has to be the best.
Portnellan Farm
Portnellan Farm
I enjoy seeing social media posts from Chris Scott-Park of Portnellan Farm, Gartocharn. Chris operates speedboat tours from the family farm, and his posts attract a lot of interest, thanks to his excellent photography of the views he sees out on the water.
I’d met Chris and his family a few years ago on one of my photography courses and have followed his progress with interest. When I launched this See Loch Lomond website, I wanted to provide more information about seeing the Loch Lomond islands. There are 22 official (charted) islands, and I was keen to discover more about them.
Speedboat Tours, Loch Lomond
On a glorious Tuesday in May, I boarded Chris’s speedboat to visit some of the islands at the southern end of Loch Lomond. We had decided to arrange a separate tour of the northern islands for another day.
Like many farms, Portnellan has diversified to react to the changes in farming life, moving away from being a dairy farm. Today Portnellan combines its roles as an organic farm with tourism and leisure. The family has made good use of its enviable lochside location to add a self-catering cottage, glamping, and water-based activities with facilities including moorings, kayak & paddleboard hire, and of course, speedboat tours.
Speedboat Tours - Loch Lomond
Chris is flexible on the content and duration of each speedboat tour, providing options from a short one-hour trip on the water to a more extended island exploring tour that includes time for a pub lunch. The boat can take up to 8 passengers, and you pay by trip rather than by each person.
In future guides, we will be going into more detail about some of the islands. This guide shows how a speedboat tour gets access to some of Loch Lomond’s islands. Many of the names of the islands start with ‘Inch’, from the Gaelic word ‘innis’ meaning island.
Creinch Island
Creinch Island
Directly across from Portnellan is Inchmurrin, Loch Lomond’s largest island, which will be our lunch stop. However, there’s a lot to see before then. First, we set off in the direction of the group of islands that sit close to the western banks of Loch Lomond, passing the tiny island of Creinch along the way. This is one of the islands that is part of the Loch Lomond National Nature Reserve.
Inchgalbraith Island
On our way to the first stop, we passed Inchgalbraith, thought to be man-made in the iron age. By this point of the year, the ruined castle on the tiny island is not visible as trees and bushes cover.
Loch Lomond Golf Course
Loch Lomond Golf Course
On the shore, the prestigious Loch Lomond Golf Club with its magnificent main building is visible. By now, Chris had significantly decreased the boat's speed to allow us a smooth entrance to the narrow strait that runs between the islands of Inchmoan, Inchtavannach and Inchconnachan.
Inchmoan Island
Inchmoan Island
We pull into the bay at our first stop Inchmoan and leave the boat to explore this beautiful island that Luss Estates own. This island, like others, was used for hunting, and there are the ruins of an old hunting lodge. The island has some excellent sandy beaches, a good one to visit.
Old hunting lodge, Inchmoan Island
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Ospreys
There are some Osprey nests around the loch's southern end, so keep your eyes peeled for one of these magnificent birds fishing on the loch. They’ll just swoop down and effortlessly catch a fish.
Inchtavannach Island
Back into the boat, with the wooded Inchtavannach Island to our left, we took the short trip to Inchconnachan.
Inchconachan Island
Inchconnachan Island
I was looking forward to exploring Inchconnachan and hoping to see the famous wallabies. A wallaby colony was introduced to the island by Lady Arran Colquhoun, a record-breaking powerboat racer. Her family had a holiday home here built in the 1920s that is now in ruins.
We didn’t see any wallabies; Chris only sees them very occasionally, usually early in the morning when it is quiet. We did see some good views towards Luss and the bluebells on the hills behind the village. (See above.)
Inchloanaig Island
Inchloanaig island
Away from the cluster of islands, we were able to pick up speed and go around Inchloanaig. This island was chosen by Robert the Bruce in the 14th century to plant yew trees that would provide the wood for the bows for his archers.
Bucinch Island
Along now to the eastern shores of Loch Lomond and past Bucinch, which means ‘wild male goat’, this island is now owned by the National Trust for Scotland.
Ben Lomond
Ben Lomond has dominated just about all of the views that we have seen on the islands and boat.
View of Ben Lomond
Conic Hill
Closer by is Conic Hill, with the well-used pathway visible. From the Conic, you get a great view of the islands and see the impact of the Highland Boundary Fault, which cuts through the loch and across the islands of Inchmurrin, Creinch, Torrinch and Inchcailloch.
Balmaha Whisky, inspired by Inchfad Island
Inchfad Island
We go by Inchfad next, an island that I have visited by kayak from nearby Milarrochy Bay. This island stands out as being long and flat. Illegal distilleries are part of the local history. Whisky was produced here and brought ashore into Balmaha and sold in Glasgow. This story inspired Balmaha businessman Sandy Fraser to introduce a Balmaha whisky for sales at his family’s popular pub and restaurant, the Oak Tree Inn at Balmaha.
Deer on approach to Inchcailloch Island
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Inchcailloch Island
Heading around Inchcailloch Island, we startle some deer as we approach the sandy beach with a jetty at Port Bawn on the island's southern end. Our trip had been timed to visit during Bluebell season, a time when this beautiful island is at its best.
Bluebells on Inchcailloch Island
A good chance for me to walk around the island and get some bluebell pictures to add to the collection! Please read our guide for how to get a ferry to Inchcailloch Island.
Chris will drop you here for around an hour to give you time to explore the beach, graveyard and to climb to the island’s highest point for some incredible views.
View from Inchcailloch Island
Clairinsh, Torrinch & Creinch Islands
Back into the boat and time to visit Inchmurrin, Loch Lomond’s largest island. Past Clairinsh and Torrinch, then Creinch rounding off a full circuit of the southern islands.
Inchmurrin Hotel
Inchmurrin Island
Mooring up at Inchmurrin, we enjoyed some lunch in the hotel. The hotel is owned by the Scott family, who also have some holiday accommodation and a working farm. An on-demand ferry departs from a jetty located close to the Arden roundabout off the A82.
After lunch, we took the short walk to the other side of the island to see the ruined castle. Like many of the other islands, deer hunting and this castle would have been the hunting lodge.
Ruined castle, Inchmurrin Island
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From Inchmurrin, we returned to Portnellan Farm, having had an incredible time visiting the southern islands of Loch Lomond.
Hopefully, the photographs help to show the beauty of Loch Lomond and its islands. The freedom that the boat provides allows you the chance to explore places and views that you wouldn’t normally see up close.
Portnellan Farm, Speedboat Tours
Chris is passionate about what he does, has a good knowledge of the loch and islands combined with an enthusiastic and friendly nature.
To find out about a speedboat tour contact Chris on 07749 040660, do check out his website, Facebook and Instagram pages.
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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