All Aboard for 125th Anniversary Year Cruises

Steamship Sir Walter Scott, one of Scotland’s most famous maritime heritage icons, has sailed on Loch Katrine since 1900 and this Saturday she begins her 125th season and is gearing up to carry thousands of passengers on scenic loch cruises in the heart of the National Park.

Named after the renowned Scottish author whose works helped shape the nation, this milestone marks the Steamship’s remarkable history and role sailing on one of Scotland’s most beautiful lochs.

Loch Katrine’s rich heritage and dramatic landscapes have captivated visitors for centuries. Immortalised in Sir Walter Scott’s celebrated poem The Lady of the Lake which has resulted in the loch being credited as the Birthplace of Scottish tourism. Loch Katrine’s combination of outstanding natural beauty and unrivalled cultural significance is home for the vessel that has become a national treasure.

Steamship Sir Walter Scott was built in 1899 by shipbuilders William Denny and Brothers in Dumbarton on the River Clyde. Commissioned to replace the ageing Rob Roy II, it embodied the elegance of the Edwardian era with sleek lines and a powerful engine. However, getting the vessel to the landlocked Loch Katrine presented a unique engineering challenge, and Denny’s lost money on the project due to the high cost of transporting her to Loch Katrine.

Once constructed and tested, she had to be broken and transported to the land-locked loch in sections by barge along the River Leven and up Loch Lomond to Inversnaid. From there, the pieces were hauled overland to Stronachlachar by horse-drawn wagons, navigating rugged and steep terrain. Once reassembled by the loch, the Steamship was launched in 1900, a massive moment in the 180-year history of Steamships at Loch Katrine. 

“Little did the Steamship’s builders at the end of the 1800s think that she would still be in service in 2025,”said James Fraser, CEO of the Steamship Sir Walter Scott Trust. “What they couldn’t have foreseen was just how special this Steamer would become and that, ultimately, she would be owned by a charitable trust set up to protect her unique heritage for the nation.

She is cruising during this special anniversary year thanks to the generous donations from the public and grant funding support for the recent 2023 restoration appeal. We are delighted to welcome visitors from all over the world to Loch Katrine, and their support is vital, as all income generated is reinvested to preserve this national maritime treasure for the enjoyment of the public.

There are daily cruises at Loch Katrine year-round, and from this Saturday (29th March), the Steamship will be scheduled for two-hour return sailings between Trossachs and Stronachlachar Piers daily at 10.30 am and 2.30 pm. There will also be a one-hour cruise at 1 pm.

From June 6th-8th we will be hosting a Steamboat Festival, a weekend packed with activities to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the Steamship Sir Walter Scott. There will also be a series of Steamship Live music events and in early October we will be hosting some bands on the steamship as part of Callander’s annual Jazz and Blues Festival.”

Passengers aboard the Steamship enjoy live commentary telling the captivating story of the vessel’s construction, history, and role in shaping Scottish tourism, as well as the nature and wonders of this unique loch. They can also view the engine room during a voyage.

At the pier, where passengers depart for a cruise, there is an immersive exhibition showcasing the history of Loch Katrine’s steamships. The exhibition includes the human stories of the captains, crew and key people over the 125 years, whose dedication contributed to the Steamship’s success and ensured her safety through two World Wars before the challenges of ownership around her 100th anniversary, thankfully resulting in the transfer to a dedicated and independent charitable trust in 2007.

The latest addition to the popular Trossachs attraction is a newly opened tower overlooking the pier. This spectacular vantage point, which inspired Sir Walter Scott during his visit to Loch Katrine in 1809 to write The Lady of the Lake, offers panoramic views of the loch’s dramatic glens, mountains and tranquil waters, with iconic landmarks like Ellen’s Isle, all described so vividly in his romantic story. Published in 1810 to great acclaim, visitors flocked to see the landscapes for themselves, and tourists have been coming ever since to admire these unspoilt views, now part of Scotland’s first National Park and a Natural Nature Reserve the size of Glasgow, Scotland’s largest city.  

The Steamship Sir Walter Scott is fully accessible to wheelchair users, ensuring passengers with reduced mobility can experience Loch Katrine’s dramatic mountain skyline whilst cruising into the Scottish Highlands. Many passengers opt to combine a cruise with walking and cycling routes, allowing them to explore the area’s natural beauty in an environmentally conscious way.