Loch Lomond by Motorhome

Loch Lomond is the largest freshwater loch in Britain - 24 miles long, dotted with over 30 islands, and wide enough at its southern end that the far shore disappears on a misty morning. Motorhome hire to Loch Lomond from our Pontefract depot takes around four and a half hours up the M6 and M74, making it the closest truly wild Scottish landscape you can reach from Yorkshire in a comfortable day's drive. The loch sits within the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, surrounded by ancient woodland, 21 Munros, and some of the finest hillwalking in the country. Three to five days is enough to do it justice, and it works perfectly as the first stop on a longer Scottish tour.

Getting to Loch Lomond from Pontefract

The drive is straightforward - north on the M6 through Lancashire and Cumbria, cross the border, and continue on the M74 to Glasgow, then the A82 to Balloch on the southern shore. The total distance is around 250 miles. Balloch has a Loch Lomond Shores visitor centre with shops, restaurants and a Sea Life centre, making it a good arrival point. The A82 continues up the west shore past Luss and Tarbet toward the Highlands, while the quieter east shore road runs through Balmaha into the heart of the national park.

The Loch, the Villages and the Trossachs

Luss, on the west shore, is a conservation village of stone cottages with direct loch access and mountain views behind. It is one of the most photographed villages in Scotland. Balmaha, on the east shore, is the starting point for Conic Hill and the ferry to Inchcailloch island, a nature reserve with woodland trails and a sandy beach. The village has a good general store, a pub with loch views, and a large car park that works well as a day base for motorhomes.

The Trossachs, the eastern part of the national park, are sometimes called the Highlands in miniature. Loch Katrine has had a Victorian steamship cruise running since 1900 - a genuine highlight that is worth building a day around. Callander, on the park's eastern edge, is a popular base with shops, restaurants and access to walking trails along the River Teith and into the wooded gorge at Bracklinn Falls.

Walking - Ben Lomond, Conic Hill and the West Highland Way

Ben Lomond, on the east shore, is one of the most popular Munros in Scotland. The summit stands at 3,196 feet and the walk takes around five to six hours return via the Ptarmigan Ridge route. The views from the top sweep across the loch, the Arrochar Alps and on clear days as far as Ben Nevis. For something shorter, Conic Hill above Balmaha takes two to three hours and gives a panoramic view over the loch and its islands - one of the best viewpoints in the national park.

The West Highland Way passes along the east shore through Rowardennan and Inversnaid, so you can walk sections of this famous 96-mile trail without doing the whole thing. The lochside paths between Rowardennan and Inversnaid wind through oak woodland beside the water and are particularly beautiful.

Where to Stay - Campsites, Permits and the Byelaws

Luss Campsite on the west shore has hardstanding pitches with electric hook-ups right beside the village and the loch. Lomond Woods Holiday Park at Balloch offers fully serviced motorhome pitches with a drive-over dump station and is walking distance from Loch Lomond Shores. Sallochy, a Forestry and Land Scotland campsite on the east shore, has woodland pitches beside the loch and the West Highland Way - a quieter, more atmospheric option that fills quickly in summer.

The national park operates camping management byelaws between 1 March and 30 September, and understanding them is important if you are planning motorhome hire to Loch Lomond during this period. Within the designated management zones, you cannot park a motorhome overnight without a campsite booking or a permit. The park runs motorhome permit areas at Firkin Point and Inveruglas on the west side of Loch Lomond, and at Three Lochs Forest Drive in the Trossachs near Aberfoyle. Permits cost 4.50 pounds per motorhome per night (plus a 3 pound vehicle access charge at Three Lochs) and can be booked online up to four weeks in advance. You can stay at the same permit area for up to three nights. These are basic stopping places with no hook-ups, but the locations are beautiful. Outside the byelaw season, restrictions are less strict, but official sites are still recommended.

Your Motorhome for Loch Lomond

Our fleet includes 2-berth, 4-berth and 6-berth Elddis motorhomes. All handle the A82 and lochside roads without difficulty, though the west shore road north of Tarbet narrows and can be tight alongside coaches and lorries - the east shore road is quieter if you prefer a more relaxed drive. Several vehicles are dog-friendly, and the national park has excellent walking for dogs. Prices start from 135 pounds per night. Whether you are in a Loch Lomond campervan or a full-size motorhome, the park's campsites and permit areas cater for all sizes.

Pack midge repellent and a head net for evenings from late June through August. For a full list, our motorhome packing checklist covers everything you need for a Scottish trip.

Loch Lomond sits perfectly for a wider Scottish tour. From the north end, continue to Crianlarich and head west to Oban, or north to Fort William and the Scottish Highlands and NC500. Many of our customers use Loch Lomond as a first or last stop, breaking the drive with a lochside night before heading deeper into Scotland. For more, see our Scotland destination guide.

From Pontefract, a Loch Lomond motorhome holiday is the quickest route to proper Scottish scenery. The loch, the mountains, and the national park deliver everything the Highlands promise, just four and a half hours from our depot.