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Loch Katrine Cruise (on Sir Walter Scott) – Tips + photos + video

Last updated on October 15, 2019 By Claire, the Travel Planning Geek

Located in the heart of the Trossachs Scotland, the Loch Katrine Cruises on Sir Walter Scott Cruise Steamboat are an institution. It is a great way to soak in the Trossachs scenery. Below is my guide to plan your visit to the Loch Katrine, Scotland.

Loch Katrine Cruises on Scott Walter Scott Boat
Quick Navigation
Sir Walter Scott Loch Katrine Cruise in Video
Planning Tips - Loch Katrine Cruises
Loch Katrine Map
The Sir Walter Scott Boat
Views from the Sir Walter Scott Cruise
From the Porthole
Loch Katrine Lady of the Lake - other cruise boat
Stronachlachar Pier on Loch Katrine
Loch Katrine Hiking and other activities

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Sir Walter Scott Loch Katrine Cruise in Video

Loch Katrine is the heart of the Trossachs National Park. A lake niched in the mountains. It is a beautiful and long lake surrounded by greenery.
Because of the steamboat Sir Walter cruising it, it is one of the most famous lochs in Scotland.
Let's start with a short video of my experience on the Sir Walter Scott boat:

About Loch Katrine

  • Its Gaelic name is ​Loch Ceiteirein
  • It is a freshwater lake
  • It is one of the highlights of the Trossachs National Park
  • It is 13km long (8,1mi) and at its widest point it reaches 1km (0,62mi)
  • It is the setting of a poem from Walter's Scott: The Lady of the lake
  • It is used as a fresh water reservoir for Glasgow (and has been for 150 years)
  • It was used as a set or a season 2 episode of Outlander
  • It has several small islands including Ellen's Isle and the Black Isle

I am sharing more about the Sir Walter Scott boat further in the article.


Planning Tips - Loch Katrine Cruises

How to get to Loch Katrine Trossachs

  • Located on A821, North of Glasgow in the  Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park
  • 1h15 drive from Glasgow
  • 1h40 drive from Edinburgh
  • 50min drive from Balloch at the South End of Loch Lomond
  • Some day trips from Glasgow include this cruise

The GPS coordinates and location on a practical map are available on my travel guide eBooks. They facilitate the planning of your Scotland road trip:

Be overwhelmed by the beauty, not the planning!

small Scotland Road Trip Guide ebook cover

15 Maps, 150+ locations, 170+ photos
LEARN MORE

Cover Road Trip Edinburgh to Skye

8 Maps, 60 Features locations, 115+ photos
LEARN MORE

About the Loch Katrine Cruises

  • Loch Katrine Cruises Price and Timetable can be found on the Loch Katrine website
  • Normally there is one in the morning and 2 to 3 in the Afternoon
  • The boats are either the Sir Walter Scott or the Lady of the Lake. The Steamboat does most of the scenic tour while the lady of the Lake goes from one pier to the pier at Stronachlachar
  • Your Loch Katrine Cruise can be booked online
  • You can find a café at the Trossachs pier near the visitor center
  • Toilets on board
  • If gets really cold on the boat. They provide blankets but make sure to take layers and a hat.

Accommodations in the Trossachs

  • You can find accommodations around the Trossachs National park
  • Close to Loch Katrine, you can only find rentals
  • For more options head to Loch Lomond especially around Balloch 
  • See the best rated accommodations in the Trossachs National Park

Loch Katrine Map

On the side of the Visitor center, you can find a Loch Katrine map.

Loch Katrine Map

Loch Katrine Map - with cruise paths

You arrive via road on the right side of the Lake at the You Are Here square at the Trossachs Pier
As you can see is is close to Loch Lomond at the West end, but there are no roads along the loch. You have to take the water bus to Stronachlachar.
This map of Loch Katrine identifies the different loch Katrine cruise.

The red line is the cruise on the Sir Walter Scott boat. It is 1h and turns around in the middle.

The Trossachs Pier

The cruises start at the Trossachs Pier.

You can find the Loch Katrine Café and a visitor center about the National Park (but I forgot to take a picture, sorry).

As you wait for the boat you can walk along the Loch Katrine pier and discover the displays with historical photos and a lot of information:

Loch Katrine Cruises Trossachs Pier

Trossachs pier at Loch Katrine, Scotland

This is the famous Sir Water Scott steamship which take visitors on the main Loch Katrine Cruises:

Sir Water Scott Boat

Sir Walter Scott boat (steamship)


The Sir Walter Scott Boat

The Steamship Sir Walter Scott has been sailing for over 100 years. It is 33m (110ft) long and 5.8m (19ft) wide.

Imagine how it came to Loch Katrine! It had to be dismantled, transported (for a portion via horse drawn cart) and then reassembled on the shores of Loch Katrine.

Sir Water Scott Boat 2

Its maiden voyage occurred in 1900.
She still has here original steam engine, which you can admire as they open its cover during the trip:

Sir Water Scott Boat engine
Sir Water Scott Boat 3

At the back of the boat they have set up benches and a covered area (Scottish rain happens...)

Sir Water Scott Boat 4

You can also go to the lower deck to get warmer and see the views from the porthole at water level.

Sir Water Scott Boat 5

Views from the Sir Walter Scott Cruise

Wandering what you will see on a loch Katrine Cruise ?
Below are some pictures from my own tour on the Sir Walter Scott boat. The summits around this loch as not very high but remain mostly wild.

The cruise is really peaceful and relaxing. It offers a lot of greenery and interesting hills.
The advantage is that the loch is quite narrow (1km at the widest) so there is always something to look at quite close.

Loch Katrine Cruises 1
Loch Katrine Cruises 2
Loch Katrine Cruises 3
Loch Katrine Cruises 4

The Sir Walter shop only cruise on the first half of the loch, but it  offers already a lot of views of the landscape.

Loch Katrine Cruises 5
Loch Katrine Cruises 6
Loch Katrine Cruises 7

Below is a picture of the return to the Trossachs Pier:

Loch Katrine Cruises 8

From the Porthole

If you get cold upstairs, get down to the lower deck and admire the views through the Porthole. Imagine the people in the 1900s who were doing the same!

Loch Katrine Cruises 10
Loch Katrine Cruises 11

Loch Katrine Lady of the Lake - other cruise boat

The other boat used for Loch Katrine Cruises is the Lady of the Lake. Less history but the same beautiful views...

Other Loch Katrine Cruises - Lady of the Lake

Lady of the Lake Boat on Loch Katrine


Stronachlachar Pier on Loch Katrine

You can reach the other end of the loch by 2 way :

  • Taking the cruise via Lady of the Lake
  • driving on B829 along Loch Ard, loch Chon and Loch Arklet - a beautiful drive - see my pictures
Stronachlachar Pier on Loch Katrine

Stronachlachar Pier on Loch Katrine


Loch Katrine Hiking and other activities

Loch Katrine hike

There is no road along the lake, but there is a walking path.
You can do only one way between the piers (5h) and take the water bus the other way around.
Here is more information about the shore hike

And you can find more hikes in the Trossachs National Park - see the list

Loch Katrine Fishing

You can find, among others, brown trouts in the the lake. It is quite deep.
You can rend boats at the Loch Katrine fisheries.


Want to see more of SCOTLAND?

PREVIOUS: 

LOCH ARKLET, LOCH CHON, LOCH ARD

NEXT: 

FALLS OF FALLOCH SCOTLAND

Travel Scotland Destination Guide

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