Visiting Inchcailloch | Loch Lomond, Scotland

Off the southern shores of Loch Lomond, the small island of Inchcailloch, or Inchcailleach, is rich in history and full of incredible flora and fauna. Due to it’s proximity to the cities of Glasgow (50 mins drive) and Edinburgh (1.5 hour drive), it is a fantastic getaway for a long weekend that feels remote.

Meaning “the island of the old woman” in gaelic, the island was said to be named after the 8th century Irish missionary St Kentigerna who established a nunnery on the island before her passing. There is an ancient cemetery and church ruins (which dates to the early 13th century) on the grounds that can be seen/ accessed from the low route. Although the church was abandoned in the 17th century, the burial ground continued to be in use up until the 20th century, particularly for Clans MacGregor and MacFarlane, whose clan lands occupied the northeast and northwest of Loch Lomond.

A hidden gem, the island is a perfect half day trip from Balmaha or Luss and can even be extended to an overnight trip, with the island offering camping spots at their Port Bawn beach. Inchcailloch also be a great side trip if you’re planning a stopover in Balmaha while hiking through the iconic West Highland Way.

What’s in this post

Getting here
When to go
What to do
Facilities

Getting Here

From Balmaha

The most straightforward way to access the isle is from Balmaha on the loch’s eastern shore. The Balmaha Boatyard (G63 0JQ) offers a ferry in the summer months (from May 1st) that is only a few minutes boat ride from Inchcailloch.

For adults, the return ticket is £7.50 and the ferries typically operate every 30 mins (or by demand) from 9.30 am-5 pm. See more info, including their contact information on their site here.

From Luss

It is also possible to access Inchcailloch via Luss and Cruise Loch Lomond on the loch’s western shores.

Their Island Explorer Cruise (which also only operates during the summer months of April- October), starts at £18 for adults and offers half day and full day tours to Inchcailloch. The Luss- Inchcailloch Waterbus, also run by Cruise Loch Lomond starts at £13 for adults and takes 45 minutes bypassing through the other uninhabited isles of the loch.

 

When to go

April-October. Plan a trip to Inchcailloch in the spring, summer, or early autumn and ensure the ferry company of your choice is open and operating as normal if you’re planning on visiting in April or October to avoid disappointment.

Spring gives you the opportunity to see the entire island covered in bluebells in full bloom (which is very magical and our favourite time of the year to go). In summer, the island is bursting with wildlife, greenery and wildflowers and gives visitors a fantastic chance to see the island’s inhabitants- which include a number of birds and fallow deer (we even spotted Loch Lomond’s famous white fallow deer years ago when visiting in May!).

What to do

Both the low route and high route are well signposted. Stick to the marked paths to help preserve the island’s wildlife.

Inchcailloch makes for a perfect half-day trip. The two walking routes that cover the island, a low route and a high route, will only take a couple of hours, even if you stop to take in the island’s summit viewpoint Tom na Nigheanan (hill of the daughter), and explore the church ruin and burial grounds on the low route.

We recommend packing a picnic with you, and enjoying it at the picnic tables at Port Bawn beach or at the summit viewpoint. In the warmer months, the stretch of sand at Port Bawn may be worth a wild swim, so pack your swimmers (or as you may hear them being called in Scotland, dookers).

Port Bawn beach, which features a few picnic tables and BBQ areas (if you’d like to use the latter, make sure to bring your own bits). If you’ve booked in to camp overnight, the pitches and rangers base is in the same area.

Facilities

Facilities on the island are very basic. The island hosts a few composting toilets near the ranger base near Port Bawn Pier on the west side of the island. They are well kept, and the times we’ve visited have been stocked with loo roll and hand sanitiser. This being said, it’s always best to pack your own just to be safe.

There is no running water (so be sure to pack your own in with you), and no refuse areas/ waste points on the island, so like most hillwalking and backcountry trips in Scotland, bring all of your rubbish home with you. Near the ranger base and camping area at Port Bawn beach, there are a few picnic tables and a BBQ area.

How to book a campsite on the island

Camping on Inchcailloch is a really unique experience. As the island is a Nature Reserve, only 12 people are permitted to pitch up per night and booking in advance is required. Fees, updated as of 2023, are £10 per person, per night, and you can book through their online site (see link below).

Although wild camping is popular around Scotland, it is not allowed in season within the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Nature Reserve, of which this is apart of. This means you will need to secure a campsite booking to spend the night, and you will be asked to pitch up in one of their designated spots.

The camping spot is at the Port Bawn side of the island, so if you are coming from Balmaha, you’ll need to use the Central path to head from the North Jetty to the other side of the island. Be sure to check the return times for the next day when you get dropped off and be at the right jetty the following morning (Port Bawn Jetty for ferries out of Luss, North Jetty for Balmaha).

For more information and booking, see link below.

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Whether you’re looking for a feeling of remoteness on a long weekend staycation, or if you’re coming in from abroad searching for Scotland off the beaten path, Inchcailloch makes for a great side trip if you’re in the Loch Lomond area.

Happy Travels,
Sam

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