The following is a brief summary of the key details for Cycle Routes in Scotland : West Loch Lomond Cycle Path.
DISTANCE : 34 mls. linear
TERRAIN : Flat, with several inclines
ASCENT : 1,742 ft.
START / FINISH : Car park at Lomond Shores centre, Balloch
This route is one of the cycle routes in Scotland that I have cycled over the years. Some of the other routes I have cycled over the years are listed in the page “Cycle Routes in Scotland”. (Click here to go to this page.)
Route Map
This route is a very straightforward cycle up and down the side of the loch and it is well signposted and way marked. It is within the Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park and in the website of the park authorities there is a section for this cycle path that includes a map, as well as route information. You can access this section here.
Route details –
Cycle Routes in Scotland : West Loch Lomond Cycle Path
Start Point
This route starts at the large, free car park at Lomond Shores retail and leisure centre in Balloch, which is well signposted.
Lomond Shores – Duck Bay
From the car park head away from the loch along the path that runs past the Bird of Prey centre. Turn right onto a road at the end of the path, which is the start of the cycle route. Cycle up the small hill to the end of this road. Join the cycle path on the right hand side of the road.
Shortly after leaving Balloch the popular Duck Bay is reached. Here there is a hotel, marina, car park and large grassy area with picnic tables. This is a fine location that provides excellent views over Loch Lomond towards Ben Lomond.
Duck Bay – Aldochlay
From Duck Bay the cycle path continues mostly alongside the A82. For the next 5 or 6 miles the path, although paved, is quite bumpy and narrow in places. After this section the path leads onto a quiet road that is the cut-off from the A82 to the conservation village of Luss. Before reaching Luss a little hamlet called Aldochlay is reached. This hamlet is at a small bay with a lay-by and is popular for sailing. It also has a few cottages, one of which is awash with an abundant display of colourful flowers.
Aldochlay – Luss
A few miles further on the very popular conservation village of Luss is reached. The village itself consists of rows of quaint little cottages which are very picturesque. At the village there is a hotel, a small pier and a stony beach. Next to the village there is a large car park for tourist buses and cars. Here there is a shop, a fast food outlet, toilets and a 24 hour unmanned petrol station.
Luss – Inverbeg
The route from Luss up to Inverbeg mostly hugs the side of the loch, although at times it has the A82 at it’s side. It thus affords great views of the loch and of Ben Lomond on the other side of the loch. At Inverbeg there is a hotel, a gallery and a holiday park.
Inverbeg – Tarbet
From Inverbeg the route continues beside the A82 and along the side of the loch and ends on the pavement leading into Tarbet. At Tarbet there is a hotel, a pier and public toilets.
Cafe / toilet stops –
Cycle Routes in Scotland : West Loch Lomond Cycle Path
At Lomond Shores there are shops and several cafes and restaurants. There are also public toilets in the shopping mall. Also, Lomond Shores is only a short distance from Balloch Main Street. There are many shops, cafes, restaurants, a hotel and public toilets in the Main Street.
At Duck Bay there is a hotel with a restaurant.
In the village of Luss there is a shop, a snack bar, public toilets and a hotel with a restaurant.
At Inverbeg there is a hotel with a restaurant.
At Tarbet there is a hotel with a restaurant and there are public toilets.
Alternative start and end points –
Cycle Routes in Scotland : West Loch Lomond Cycle Path
This is effectively a self-contained route, although to lengthen the route at the start you could pick up the NCN 7 cycle path at any point either towards Drymen or beyond, or towards Glasgow or beyond and then cycle into Balloch where you can access the start of this route (for my route details for Glasgow – Loch Lomond click here).
To lengthen the route at the end you would have to cycle either on the very busy A82 road or on the A83 road that winds round to the left at Tarbet.
For a very short route you could cycle to Duck Bay and back to give a round trip of 4 miles. Alternatively you could return from Luss which would give a round trip of 18 miles. Or you could cycle to Inverbeg and back for a round trip of 26 miles.
Train options –
Cycle Routes in Scotland : West Loch Lomond Cycle Path
If you want to access the start of the route by train you can do so from the train station in Balloch, which is just off the main road in Balloch and which is only a short distance away from the start point at Lomond Shores. There is a path from the car park at the Tourist Information office on the main road in Balloch that leads to Lomond Shores.
Your options to get to Balloch by train will of course depend on where you live and what train lines are nearby and where they run to, which each person will need to investigate for themselves. Click on the following website address for a website that can help with this : https://www.thetrainline.com.
If you want to return to Balloch by train at the end of the route this can be done but it is not straightforward as there is no train station actually in Tarbet. To get back by train you would have to cycle for a mile or so on the A83 Arrrochar road, where you will find the Arrochar & Tarbet Station.
There are no direct trains to Balloch from this station. Instead you will need to change at Dumbarton Central to get a train to Balloch. There are not too many trains each day and the overall journey time is between 1hour 5 minutes and 1 hour 26 minutes, with stops at Garelochhead and Helensburgh Upper.