Introduction of Paid Parking at Loch Lomond Shores

Introduction of Paid Parking at Loch Lomond Shores

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Introduction of Paid Parking at Loch Lomond Shores

New charges set to be reinvested in popular Loch Lomond visitor attraction

On Wednesday, 28th January, Loch Lomond Shores will introduce a paid parking scheme for visitors at a minimal rate, managed by Wise Parking, with the revenue reinvested in the visitor attraction’s facilities in the coming years.

This means that, based on past usage analysis, around 75% of our visitors will pay £1.50 for parking onsite.
And while there is no doubt that the change will initially be unpopular with visitors who previously benefited from free parking, it is set to make a positive impact on our visitor experience going forward, with our first investment being the introduction of eight supercharger EV points sometime this summer.
In addition, we intend to use some of the revenue generated to support local community groups, which will be announced once the scheme has been up and running for several months.

Commenting on the introduction of paid parking, a Loch Lomond Shores spokesperson explains:

“Providing our visitors free parking has become unsustainable with rising costs throughout our unique site. From land management to internal infrastructure maintenance, all costs have risen significantly in recent years and, without taking this step, we would not be able to maintain our standards, let alone increase investment in new initiatives that will benefit visitors.
“And while we’ve kept the parking charges to a minimum, they will have a significantly positive impact on what Loch Lomond Shores offers its visitors going forward.”

Partnering with Wise Parking, we will work hard to ensure the introduction is as smooth as possible, with personnel on hand to advise visitors and answer any queries they may have. And, with the latest ticketless technology, the process for visitors is simple:

  • After they have parked their car, they should head to one of three pay stations (two card-only and one that offers both cash and card options. There will be lots of signage to direct visitors to these, which are located near the island at our main entrance and at the bottom of the main central pathway from the car parks near the Churros cabin
  • They then enter their registration number at the pay station, select the length of time they intend to visit, and pre-pay their parking. However, if they misjudge and stay longer, they can simply enter their registration and pay any outstanding balance
  • The system is ticketless, so the barrier will automatically lift on exit when they leave, provided they have paid the correct amount for their time at Loch Lomond Shores

More information on the introduction of paid parking is available on our Parking page, which includes a list of frequently asked questions with answers.

 

The full list of the parking charges introduced on 28th January below:

Parking Charges at Loch Lomond Shores from 28th January 2026

For full details of what’s on and when, keep an eye on our Social Media accounts for the latest updates.

New – Accessible Site Guide

New – Accessible Site Guide

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Making Your Visit Even Easier: Discover Our New Accessible Site Guide!<br />

Making Your Visit Even Easier: Discover Our New Accessible Site Guide!

At Loch Lomond Shores, we believe everyone should be able to enjoy the beauty and excitement of our unique destination. That’s why we’re incredibly proud to announce the launch of our brand new Accessible Site Guide, now available on our website!

We’ve been working closely with AccessAble, the leading provider of detailed accessibility information, to create a comprehensive guide that will help you plan your visit with confidence. This new resource provides in-depth, factual information about the accessibility of our facilities, attractions, shops, and eateries, so you know exactly what to expect before you arrive.

Our commitment to accessibility means we’ve considered everything from parking and pathways to toilet facilities and entrance points for all our businesses. Whether you’re a wheelchair user, a family with a buggy, or have other access needs, this guide is designed to empower you to explore Loch Lomond Shores to the fullest.

What you’ll find in the new Accessible Site Guide:

  • Detailed access information for all areas of Loch Lomond Shores.
  • Photos and measurements to give you a clear picture of our facilities.
  • Insights into specific accessibility features at attractions like SEA LIFE Loch Lomond Aquarium and our Jurassic Grill Restaurant (upstairs in our Mall).
  • Information on accessible toilets, parking, and routes around the site.

We’re constantly striving to make Loch Lomond Shores welcoming for everyone, and this new guide is a significant step in that journey. We encourage you to explore it before your next visit and discover how easy it is to enjoy a fantastic day out on the bonnie banks of Loch Lomond.

We look forward to welcoming you soon!

Making Your Visit Even Easier: Discover Our New Accessible Site Guide!

Find our new Accessible Site Guide here

One Stop Shop for Great Summer Days Out!

One Stop Shop for Great Summer Days Out!

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One Stop Shop for Great Summer Days Out!

It’s summer and we’ve got lots going on so you can ‘Shop, Eat and Play – all day’ here at Loch Lomond Shores…

CHILDREN’S RIDES

From 28th June until 10th August, our small children’s rides, small Family Rollercoaster and the Loch Lomond Express Land Train, and Adventure Golf will all be open daily!

HOT FOOD TAKEAWAY

Daily From 1st – 31st July
Our street food gang will be back daily for the summer holidays!
As well as our on-site options, Cafe Zest, Jurassic Grill and Caffe on the Shores, we will have a selection of takeaway/street food options available daily, including burgers, hotdogs and desserts, throughout the school holidays, and during markets and event weekends.

SUMMERFEST ’25

Sat 5th & Sun 6th July – 10am-5pm
Our Summerfest Festival is back on the 5th & 6th July with loads of live entertainment, children’s activities, rides and much more!
Keep an eye on our social media channels for full details.

WATER SAFETY OPEN DAY

Friday 25th July – 11am-4pm
­On 25th July, we’re welcoming back the Water Safety Open Day. Come along and find out all you need to know about keeping safe this summer while enjoying water fun. With stalls, demos and more, including the popular Newfoundland Dogs Rescue Demo!

COMIC CON ’25

Sat 19th & Sun 20th July – 10am-4pm
Our annual Comic Con is back this summer, featuring special guests, amazing merchandise and collectables, and a load of fun vibes!
Dust off your costumes and come along dressed as your favourite Superhero!

CRUISES

Both Sweeney’s and Loch Lomond Leisure offer cruises and boat trips daily throughout the summer, direct from Loch Lomond Shores.

OTHER GOOD STUFF

Combine any of the above with more great things to do, such as Loch Lomond Bird of Prey Centre, watersports & bike hire, SEA LIFE, adventure golf or simply enjoy our beaches, woodland and playpark.
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Both Sweeney’s and Loch Lomond Leisure offer cruises and boat trips daily throughout the summer, direct from Loch Lomond Shores.

FOOD & SHOPPING

For food and drink, you can visit Jurassic Grill to dine with dinosaurs, or enjoy lunch and even a glass of wine or a cold beer at Café Zest or Caffé at the Shores.
Our Stores, including Frasers, Sports Direct, Mountain Warehouse and Hawkshead, are all stocked up with summer goodies from clothing to homewares and gifts, so enjoy some retail therapy while you’re here.

Check out the Events Calendar section for a full list of upcoming events and plan your next great day out!

Food festivals at Loch Lomond Shores

Food festivals at Loch Lomond Shores

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Food Festivals at Loch Lomond Shores

Pre-Coronavirus, Loch Lomond Shores was home to two major food festivals each year – Springfest on the first weekend of April and The Loch Lomond Food and Drink Festival on the first weekend in September.

With September’s festival still in the balance, we thought we’d tell you a bit about the festivals so you can plan for visiting during them in 2022 when we hope they will make a fresh appearance.

Visited by around 30,000-40,000 people over the weekend, the festivals are hugely popular, with visitors travelling from all over Scotland and beyond to attend.

The festivals encompass the whole paved outside areas at Loch Lomond Shores with around 100 vendors on site offering a huge range of foodie treats to takeaway or enjoy on site.

There is also a licenced outside area so you can enjoy a drink overlooking the loch as well as lots of entertainment – from cooking demonstrations to great music, dancing and magic performed on stage throughout the festival.

You can find out more about our food festivals at Loch Lomond Shores by visiting https://lochlomondfoodanddrinkfestival.co.uk/

You can also see the short videos of some of the festivals by visiting our youtube channel…

Being part of The Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park

Being part of The Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park

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Being part of The Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park
We are proud to be part of the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park which welcomes visitors from across the world each year who come to marvel over its natural beauty and diversity.

So here’s some more information and facts about the national park that will allow you to plan to discover more of the park as well as Loch Lomond Shores.

The National Park encompasses around 720 sq miles (1,865 sq km) of some of the finest scenery in Scotland and is split into four distinct areas.

It is a place of contrasts, from rolling lowland landscapes in the south to high mountains in the north, and has many lochs and rivers, forests and woodlands. It is also a living, working landscape which has been influenced by people for generations and is visited and enjoyed by many for its recreational value.

The Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park became fully operational on 19 July 2002 and was officially opened by Princess Anne on 24 July 2002.

Key facts

  • The Park is 1,865 sq km (720 sq miles) and has a boundary length of 350km (220miles).
  • 50% of Scotland’s population lives within an hour’s drive of the National Park.
  • There are 21 Munros (mountains above 3,000ft) in the Park and the highest is Ben More at 1,174m.
  • There are 19 Corbetts (mountains between 2,500ft and 3,000ft).
  • There are 22 larger lochs, with numerous smaller lochs and lochans, and about 50 rivers and large burns.
  • 15,168 people live in the National Park (2011 census).
  • There are two Forest Parks – Queen Elizabeth in the Trossachs and Argyll in Cowal.
  • The National Park contains one of the UK’s largest National Nature Reserves – The Great Trossachs Forest.
  • Ben Lomond National Memorial Park is Scotland’s national memorial to those who have died in conflict.

 

5 star facilities

5 star facilities

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Our site is 5* rated by VisitScotland and we work hard to make sure that our facilities reflect that rating and more.

With 1000s of parking spaces, a large coach park, and priority disabled parking, your visit to Loch Lomond Shores is smooth from arrival if you are travelling by car or coach.  In fact, if you have an electric car, you can even charge your car while you enjoy your time with us at our electric car charging points located in our coach car park. Check out our Parking page for full details.

For those arriving by train, there are numerous and frequent trains to Balloch train station, a short five to ten-minute walk from us.  Balloch also has a bus station around ten minutes from our location so we’re well connected by public transport.  You can find out more about public transport to Loch Lomond Shores by visiting https://www.travelinescotland.com/public-transport.

Our toilet facilities are in our main foyer and within our mall.  The ladies’ and gents toilets in the foyer also have disabled toilets and, within the ladies, there are mother and baby facilities.

If you have mobility issues you can also use one of our free wheelchairs located in our foyer area.  These are free but there are a limited quantity.

Accessibility is a key area that we pride ourselves on and all areas of the site are accessible to those with mobility issues or families with young children in prams and buggies – either through being located on the ground floor or by having an elevator to get to upper floors.

Seating is available throughout the site, both inside and out, where you can enjoy the views, rest, or, in the promontory and on the beach we have picnic benches and metal BBQ holders where you can enjoy dining alfresco.

For those looking to share our amazing views on social media, we have site-wide free Wi-Fi that you can join to keep connected.

Dog lovers are also not left out of our thoughts.  Most of our stores are dog-friendly, including Jenners.  As well as enjoying some exercise, you can also browse our stores.  All we ask is that you check with our smaller mall stores and cafes that they’re happy for you to bring in your four-legged friend.

 

 

 

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