Loch Katrine Cruises Visitor Guide
This Loch Katrine Cruises Visitor Guide will help you plan your trip. Take a classic cruise on the newly restored historic Steamship Sir Walter Scott, stay in one of our Eco-Lodges, enjoy great food in one of our cafes, hire a bike for a unique loch shore cycle, and discover why Loch Katrine is rightly considered the birthplace of Scottish tourism.
In addition to this page, you may wish to read our accessibility guide and see answers to some frequently asked questions.
If we can help you, please call our booking office during opening hours on 01877 376315 (we are open daily from 9am-5pm spring & summer and 9am-4pm autumn/winter).
Thank you to everyone who visits Loch Katrine, as this support helps the charitable trust that preserves Steamship Sir Walter Scott to protect her for current and future generations to enjoy.
What to see and do at Loch Katrine?
Loch Katrine Cruises is a unique experience in the Great Trossachs Forest, part of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park. Cruise on the 124-year-old Steamship Sir Walter Scott or one of our other boats and see the dramatic scenery, full of fascinating nature and heritage.
Trossachs and Stronachlachar Piers
Loch Katrine has two piers, and the busy Trossachs Pier has regular cruises, a cafe, ten eco-lodges for overnight stays, cycle hire, a gift shop, and motorhome overnight pitches.
At the other end of the loch is Stronachlachar Pier, with a cafe and lochside motorhome overnight pitches. Twice a day in spring and summer, we have boat connections between the two piers.
How to get travel to Loch Katrine
Your journey to Loch Katrine is part of the incredible experience. You travel through dramatic scenery up close to lochs, with the nearby hills and mountains towering before you.
Despite its fabulous location in the middle of the forest, Loch Katrine is within easy reach of Glasgow, Stirling, Edinburgh, and Perth. Check our guide on finding us; we have a map and instructions and recommend using What3Words.
The Trossachs Trail
Steamship Sir Walter Scott is the emblem of the Trossachs Trail, a 40-mile tour featuring great adventures by bike, boot, and boat, of which Loch Katrine is an unmissable highlight.
Enjoy Loch Katrine Cruises
For over two centuries, visitors have been enjoying cruises on Loch Katrine; for the last 180 years, those have been on Steamships. We have a full schedule of cruises, running daily and year-round.
Check our timetable and choose a circular cruise from Trossachs Pier or one of our cruises between Trossachs Pier and Stronachlachar Pier. Click to book a cruise.
Daily Cruises on Loch Katrine
Through the spring and summer, there are three daily sailings on the historic Steamship Sir Walter Scott, which has sailed since 1900. There are also special cruises on selected days during the autumn and winter months.
Our captains provide live commentary on all our cruises, and you will find a licensed bar where you can purchase snacks, tea, coffee, soft drinks, or something stronger!
Cycling at Loch Katrine
Cycling at Loch Katrine is very popular, and there is the opportunity to combine a cruise with a cycle between Trossachs Pier and Stronachlachar Pier on the 14-mile quiet, smooth road alongside the loch.
You can take your bike or a hired one on Steamship Sir Walter Scott during one of her two daily spring/summer sailings from Trossachs Pier to Stronachlachar. Cruise one way and cycle the other. There is an extra fee for bikes, and please book in advance as the route can get busy.
Cycle Hire at Loch Katrine
Cycle Hire is available at Trossachs Pier from Katrine Wheelz; they have many bikes, including e-bikes. You can pre-book a hire bike with them via their website.
Food and Drink at Loch Katrine.
Enjoy great Scottish food at the two cafes on Loch Katrine. At Trossachs Pier, there is the Steamship Cafe, which has fantastic views of the loch, with cruise boats arriving and departing below. Eat either inside the cozy cafe or outside on the terrace.
The Pier Cafe at Stronachlachar has panoramic views of the loch, a great place to stop and enjoy a snack or meal.
Loch Katrine Souvenirs
Back at Trossachs Pier, you will also find a Gift Shop packed with unique Steamship Sir Walter Scott and Loch Katrine gifts, plus a wide range of Scottish gifts from whisky to cuddly Highland Cows. You can also pick up one of our illustrated mini-guides, available in 7 languages, which feature the history and nature of Loch Katrine.
Stay at Loch Katrine
We have a collection of ten loch-view Eco-Lodges by Trossachs Pier. The beautiful location enjoys magnificent views of Loch Katrine and Ben A’an.
Range of Eco-Lodges
We have three different types of lodges: Lochs and Bens Glens. Our Steamship Cafe is just a short distance away for lunch and dinner.
Lodge guests enjoy a 10% discount on scheduled cruises and 10% off cycle hire; some lodges are dog-friendly.
Motorhome and Campervan Pitches
We have serviced pitches at both Trossachs Pier and Stronachlachar Pier.
The Birthplace of Scottish Tourism
Our historic Steamship is named after Sir Walter Scott, and another of our cruise boats is named after his famous poem, 'The Lady of the Lake.’ Scott and other writers and artists put Loch Katrine and the Trossachs on the map in the early 1800s with their vivid stories and dramatic paintings of the breathtaking scenery.
New Scenic Tower and Viewpoints
People flocked to Loch Katrine to see the scenery, and tourism began in Scotland. New for 2024, we have reinstated the Rhoderick Dhu footpath to reach the viewpoint that inspired Scott. There is a tower with viewing platforms to celebrate the spot, which is rightly credited as the birthplace of Scottish tourism.