The Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park contains 22 lochs with some of them offering a large variety of watersports. For more detailed information about the lochs in the park visit the lochs pages. No matter if you prefer more adventurous activities such as waterskiing or quieter ones such as fishing, you will find the right activity for you somewhere in The National Park. While fishing and kayaking/canoeing are possible throughout almost the whole park, other watersports activities can be only done on certain lochs. Our favourite loch for Watersports has The Gareloch and Rosneath Castle.
Loch Lomond and Loch Earn are two of the lochs with a large choice of water sports and both have watersports centres. On Loch Lubnaig, Loch Ard and Loch Venacher sailing is permitted. On Loch Katrine, only fishing from boats is permitted. In the Trossachs you can find many quieter lochs perfect for kayaking and canoeing such as Loch Drunkie, Loch Achray, Loch Ard and Loch Katrine.
Loch Lomond
One of Loch Lomond’s most popular activities is sailing and cruising allowing you to see the National Park from a different perspective and visit the 38 islands of the loch. For those who want to use their own boat, it is necessary to register the boat with the National Park Authority before entering Loch Lomond unless it doesn’t have an engine. This can be done in the villages of Balloch, Balmaha and Ardlui. Other great watersports activities on Loch Lomond are sailing, windsurfing, wakeboarding, waterskiing, canoeing and kayaking. For relaxed sailing or windsurfing, Milarrochy Bay on the east shore is one of the most popular spots. In the north of Milarrochy you can find Loch Lomond Sailing Club.
Loch Earn
Loch Earn in the north-east of the Park is perfect for a great day out. No matter if you want to rent a boat or launch your own one, Loch Earn makes both possible. After your exciting day out you can relax in one of the cafes or restaurants around the Loch. Unfortunately, The Loch Earn Watersports Centre is now closed after a fire in 2014.
Loch Katrine
Even though watersports are very limited on Loch Katrine, there is the possibility to rent boats with small engines and after many years the loch has become open for fishing again. Loch Katrine is mainly known for its brown trout but also pike can be caught. The most popular attraction on Loch Katrine is a cruise on the SS Sir Walter Scott,one of the first steam and last steam ships in Scotland. A day cruise on the SS Sir Walter Scott provide the perfect opportunity for visitors to explore this tranquil wooded loch under Ben Venue, the dominant mountain at its easterly end.
Loch Venachar
For those interested in sailing, Loch Lomond and Loch Earn are not the only places in the National Park where this activity is permitted. Even though the variety of watersports offered on Loch Lomond and Loch Earn is much larger than on Loch Venachar, sailing is possible on the loch. The Loch Venachar Sailing Club offers certified sailing courses and organizes races. Motor Boats can be rented from Venachar Lochside. For those who enjoy more quiet and relaxing places surrounded by beautiful scenery, Loch Venachar is a good choice with The Harbour Cafe next door to the sailing club serving food all day in the summer.
Loch Lubnaig
Another exciting loch for sailing is Loch Lubnaig where small boats with engines up to 10 hp are allowed, but speed boats and waterskiing are not permitted. This loch is more suitable for a relaxed and quiet day out for those who want to go fishing, have a picnic, or those who like windsurfing. New visitor facilities have been added in 2014 which allow for more parking and picnic sites along the shore.
Loch Long
A completely different activity is possible at Loch Long in the west of the National Park. This sea loch has an interesting under water world of anemones, peacock worms and reefs with lobsters and crabs. No matter if you go diving in the summer or winter, thanks to the Gulf Stream the water usually doesn’t get much colder than 10 degrees celsius. You can also snorkel in Loch Long’s caves and see colourful reefs. There is a proposal for a major leisure development to take place on Loch Long in 2014 on the site of the torpedo range that was used in the pst for testing purposes. The development will add some new berth for visiting boats and a new hotel.
Loch Goil
At Loch Goil you can hire boats for a boat trip or angling. Loch Goil has a Watersports Club and there are a few organisations where you can rent boats. Loch Goil is a great sea loch where fishing is permitted obviously without a permit. The roads leading into Lochgoilhead are very narrow but also very scenic with names like “Hells Glen” and “The Rest and be Thankful”, the roads are sometimes closed in winter due to the weather. Loch Goil is a lovely quiet loch but it also has a large Holiday Park Complex at Drimsynie where chalets, caravans and lodges can be rented.