Loch Katrine steamship and cycle adventure, Scotland
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Bikes on the Loch Katrine steamship Sir Walter Scott
Over the years, I’ve realised that I enjoy walks and cycle rides all the more when there’s a bit of adventure involved. Load up my bike with kit and I’ll happily spend the day pedalling across the Outer Hebrides or exploring the vineyards of northern Portugal. A simple bike ride is fine, but it doesn’t quite give me that same sense of excitement.
So, on a recent trip to Scotland, I jumped at the chance to take my bike on a 125 year old steamship, followed by a 13 mile ride back along the side of Loch Katrine. Oh, and there was a rather fab cafe involved too!
Loch Katrine, the birthplace of Scottish tourism
Loch Katrine sits in the heart of the Trossachs and is often described as the birthplace of Scottish tourism. In Victorian times, visitors travelled from Glasgow by train and charabanc (an early bus replacing horse-drawn carriages) to admire the loch made famous by Sir Walter Scott’s poem The Lady of the Lake.
Today, the same 125 year old steamship, the Sir Walter Scott, still carries passengers up the loch. It’s a brilliant and easy way to reach one of the more remote corners of the national park. If you simply fancy a leisurely cruise with a cafe stop, you can book a return trip from Trossachs Pier that includes a four hour break at Stronachlachar.
This tiny community is surrounded by hills and home to the amazing Pier Cafe. There’s a little history here too. Scottish outlaw Rob Roy was born nearby, and a cottage was built for Queen Victoria’s visit in 1859 when she came to open the Loch Katrine Aqueduct.
For me though, I loved that I could take my bike on board, cruise up to Stronachlachar, enjoy tea and cake at the cafe, and then pedal back to the start. It was the perfect blend of relaxation, stunning scenery, and adventure.
The Sir Walter Scott steamship at Trossachs Pier
All aboard the Sir Walter Scott
Boarding the Sir Walter Scott immediately took me back in time. The old steamship still has polished wood decks and brass fittings - and you can look down into the engine bay watching it gently chug away.
Interestingly, it was built in sections on the River Clyde, then taken by barge up the River Leven to Loch Lomond. From there, horse-drawn wagons carried the parts overland from Inversnaid to Stronachlachar for reassembly. Knowing how remote the area is, I remember thinking it was quite an operation for the late 1800s!
Cruising up Loch Katrine from Trossachs Pier, the views just kept getting better. We passed Ellen’s Island, said to have inspired the setting for The Lady of the Lake, and the remains of crofting houses abandoned during the Highland Clearances when families were forced to leave and make way for sheep farming. Just before reaching Stronachlacher, we passed the small cottage built for Queen Victoria to stay during her 1859 visit. In the distance were the mighty mountains of Ben Lomond and Beinn a Choin.
I loved the journey. It was so peaceful and unhurried. There’s indoor seating and hot drinks on board, but I stayed out on deck, enjoying the gentle chug of the engine and feeling in awe of the scenery.
Stronlachachar and the start of the road back to Trossachs Pier
Arriving at Stronachlachar
Wheeling our bikes off the Sir Walter Scott at Stronachlachar, we headed straight for the Pier Cafe - partly to warm up after sitting on deck, but mostly because the cakes looked too good to resist. The cafe is in a fantastic location, right beside the water, with a glass-fronted extension that gives incredible views across Loch Katrine.
The cakes were amazing and, if we’d had more time, I would have happily lingered there a while. But we’d taken the afternoon ferry and low cloud meant the light was fading faster than usual.
Leaving the village, a sign warned us of what lay ahead: “Beware. Cars and pedestrians use this road. Steep hills and blind bends.” A fair warning!
The route itself was easy to follow - stay on the private tarmac road, keeping the loch on our right. We wound along the shoreline towards the head of the loch, then looped back along the opposite side. Crossing the bridge at the loch head, a helpful sign showed Trossachs Pier 10 miles in one direction, Stronachlachar Pier 2.5 miles in the other. Someone had correctly scribbled 3.25 miles next to it - definitely more accurate!
The sense of remoteness on this part of the ride was wonderful. Just the loch, the mountains, and the most amazing scenery. The tarmac surface made for smooth cycling but there were a few punchy climbs to keep things interesting.
We found ourselves stopping often, not because we had to but because the views were just too good to rush past!
Back to Trossachs Pier
By the time we returned to Trossachs Pier, the light was starting to fade. I took a few photos of the mirror smooth loch and the reflection of trees and mountains, but they came out too dark to share.
This bike ride was the perfect adventure - a little history, a scenic boat trip, a cafe stop with amazing cakes, and plenty of time on the bike surrounded by some of Scotland’s most incredible scenery. Loch Katrine is one of those rides that I’ll remember for years to come.
If you’re planning a trip, check the Sir Walter Scott steamship schedule in advance as it only runs seasonally. That way, you can make the most of the boat ride and cycling route without any surprises!
Useful information:
Distance: 13 miles (21 km)
Time taken: Boat trip around 45 mins to 1 hour, cycling 2.5 hours (allow around 4 hours in total)
Parking: Available at Trossachs Pier and Stronachlacher (charges apply)
Steamship booking: Book in advance to ensure there’s space for you and the boat is running https://steamshipsirwalterscott.rezgo.com/
Cycle hire: Available at Katrine Wheelz, Trossachs Pier (including e-bike hire)
Refreshments: On board the Sir Walter Scott, at Trossachs Pier, and at Stronachlacher Pier Cafe
Toilets: Trossachs Pier, onboard the steamship, and at Stronachlacher Pier
Route: Private tarmac road around the loch
Map: OL46 The Trossachs * (for most of Loch Katrine) and OL49 Loch Lomond North * (for the far end of Loch Katrine)
Loch Katrine cycling
You may also be interested in reading:
Bikepacking in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland
Cycling holiday in the vineyards of the Douro Valley, northern Portugal
20 of the UK’s best long-distance cycling routes for bikepacking
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What do the links with an * mean?
Links with an * by them are affiliated which means if you get a product via this link, a contribution may be made to the Outdoor Girl website, helping it stay free to use.
You shouldn’t notice any difference in the product or cost. Importantly, the content I write is NEVER impacted by these links. For more details, please read my policy on affiliate links, including Amazon Affiliate links.
As I believe transparency is important, I’m sharing the un-affiliated links too, but note this version does not help the Outdoor Girl website.
Unaffiliated web addresses for the * links in this blog post:
OL46 Trossachs Map
OL39 Loch Lomond North Map
