Name: Loch Katrine Cruises
Rating: 5.0

Loch Katrine Cruises

Trossachs Pier, Callander, Stirling, Stirling and Falkirk, FK17 8HZ, Scotland

1-90 Years

Paid

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Description

Loch Katrine Cruises offers unforgettable boat trips in the heart of the Trossachs, within Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park. For over 180 years, visitors have enjoyed cruising on this stunning freshwater loch, known as the birthplace of Scottish tourism. Surrounded by dramatic mountains and forests, it’s a perfect destination for nature lovers and families alike.

Visitors can sail on the historic Steamship Sir Walter Scott, which has been operating since 1900, or cruise on other vessels such as Lady of the Lake. Cruises run between Trossachs Pier and Stronachlachar Pier, with options to combine a boat journey with cycling along the scenic 14-mile lochside road. Highlights include live commentary, views of Royal Cottage, wildlife spotting such as ospreys, engine room viewing on the steamship, and connections to literary history including Sir Walter Scott and Rob Roy. Facilities include cafés at both piers, a gift shop, eco-lodges, cycle hire, motorhome pitches and onboard licensed bars.

Cruise prices vary by experience. Autumn/Winter Wonderland Cruises on Lady of the Lake cost £15.00, while Natural Wonders Cruises are £16.00. Classic Steamship return cruises from Trossachs Pier on Steamship Sir Walter Scott cost £28.50, with one-way sailings priced at £20.00. Freedom Return (split return) cruises are also £28.50.

With its rich history, spectacular Highland scenery and variety of cruise options, Loch Katrine Cruises provides a relaxing and memorable Scottish day out. Whether you’re sailing on a historic steamship, cycling along the loch, or staying overnight in an eco-lodge, it’s a unique way to experience the beauty of the Trossachs.

Features

Paid
Host birthday parties: Yes

Features

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.
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. 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.
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.
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.
Roderick Dhu Viewpoint: Roderick Dhu watch tower is a viewpoint at Loch Katrine used in the 1700s to warn notorious outlaw and clan chief Rob Roy MacGregor of advancing Redcoats seeking his capture. This viewpoint, just above Trossachs Pier, was later visited by literary giants such as Samuel Taylor Coleridge and the Wordsworths, who stayed in wicker huts at this jutting headland, built for 'the accommodation of strangers to admire and sketch this wild and picturesque landscape' and were made accessible by a new road blasted out of the rock in the 1790s.
Fishing: Loch Katrine is one of Scotland's best pike and wild brown trout fisheries. It is 11 miles long, up to one mile wide, and over 500 feet deep at its deepest point. Since 1859, Loch Katrine has served as the freshwater reservoir for Glasgow and much of West and Central Scotland; therefore, no petrol engines are allowed on the loch due to the risk of pollution. Loch Katrine fisheries use environmentally friendly 5hp propane outboard engines with biodegradable lubricants.

Facilities

Parking: Parking available.
Wi-Fi: There is free 30-minute visitor Wi-Fi access at Trossachs Pier and Stronachlachar Pier.
Food & Drinks: Enjoying good Scottish food and drink is an essential part of your Loch Katrine experience. We have two licensed cafes at Trossachs Pier and Stronachlachar Pier. Takeaway drinks, ice creams, and snacks are also available from our Gift Shop at Trossachs Pier and on our cruise boats.
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.

What to see

Loch Katrine Cruise Highlights

Wildlife: Look out for swooping Osprey; they nest at Loch Katrine from April to September.
Scenery: Take in the dramatic and beautiful scenery that makes Loch Katrine so special.
Royal Cottage: Sail past Royal Cottage which was built for Queen Victoria’s Loch Katrine visit in 1859.
Licensed Bar/Kiosk: Enjoy snacks, tea, coffee, soft drinks or something stronger on-board.
Photographs: Take lots of photographs of the stunning scenery that is part of The Great Trossachs Forest.
Choice of Seating: We have seating both inside and on deck so you can enjoy the views, whatever the weather.
Outlander: All cruises sail past Brenachoile Point, which featured in an episode of the TV programme Outlander.
Steamship Boilers: View into the engine room of Steamship Sir Walter Scott to see the boilers in action.
Commentary: Enjoy live commentary about Loch Katrine from our knowledgeable captains.
Water Supply: Loch Katrine is the water supply for Glasgow and much of west and central Scotland.
Rob Roy: Hear stories of the legend Rob Roy, the clan chief and outlaw born at Loch Katrine.
Stronachlachar: Disembark at Stronachlachar for a walk, cycle, or something to eat at the Pier Cafe.

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Price

Price: Paid

Price Details

Autumn/Winter Wonderland Cruises on The Lady of the Lake: £15.00
Classic Steamship Cruise from Trossachs Pier on Steamship Sir Walter Scott (Return): £28.50
Classic Steamship Cruise on Steamship Sir Walter Scott (One Way): £20.00
Classic Steamship Freedom Return Cruise on Steamship Sir Walter Scott (Split Return): £28.50
Classic Steamship Cruise on Steamship Sir Walter Scott: £20.00
Natural Wonders Cruises on The Lady of the Lake: £16.00

Pricing URL: http://steamshipsirwalterscott.rezgo.com/

Birthday Parties

Offer Birthday Parties: Yes

Birthday Party Details

We regularly host private charters, weddings, parties, corporate events, school trips, and other functions and events. Whatever the size of the event, we can arrange the perfect occasion using our cruise boats, cafes and other facilities.
Choose between the iconic Steamship Sir Walter Scott (capacity 210 passengers), which began sailing in 1900, or our other two other large cruise boats, Lady of the Lake and Rob Roy III, and Osprey, a smaller boat for charters of up to 10.
There are kiosks onboard the Steamship, Rob Roy III, and Lady of the Lake, with a licensed bar serving cold/hot drinks and snacks. Steamship Sir Walter Scott is wheelchair accessible. All of our cruises feature live commentary from our knowledgeable captains.

Contact the venue for timing information.

Address: Trossachs Pier, Callander, Stirling, Stirling and Falkirk, FK17 8HZ, Scotland

Post Code: FK17 8HZ

Council: Stirling

County: Stirling and Falkirk

Loch Katrine is in the Trossachs, at the heart of Scotland, within Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park. Here are instructions for finding us.

There are two locations on Loch Katrine you can reach by car, Trossachs Pier and Stronachlachar Pier:

Trossachs Pier is the main centre where all cruises depart, including ones on Steamship Sir Walter Scott; there is also a café, gift shop, car park, cycle hire, motorhome and campervan hard-standing pitches and ten eco-lodges.
Stronachlachar has two daily cruise departures in the summer months, and there is a café, car park, and loch view motorhome and campervan serviced hard-standing pitches.

Directions from Glasgow (60 minutes), Edinburgh (75 minutes), Perth (70 minutes) and Stirling (45 minutes)

From Stirling, Glasgow, Perth, or Edinburgh, leave the M9 at junction 10, follow the A84 and go through Callander, turning left one mile later onto the A821 at Kilmahog; follow this scenic road for around 9 miles. Loch Katrine's entrance is signed.
For an alternative route from Glasgow, follow signs to Milngavie and join the A81 towards Aberfoyle. At Aberfoyle, the road bends right (just after a Co-op on the left), follow the dramatic Duke’s Pass road, pass Loch Achray (on your right) and turn left into the Loch Katrine entrance.

Directions to Stronachlachar Pier, Loch Katrine