Loch Katrine Pier Complex

Loch Katrine sits at the centre of the Trossachs, and the pier complex at its eastern end, Trossachs Pier, reached from Callander or Aberfoyle, is the embarkation point for cruises on the loch. The water itself has supplied Glasgow since 1859 through the Victorian aqueduct system, which is why its shores have stayed free of development and the single lochside road is closed to private traffic.

The headline vessel is the steamship Sir Walter Scott, in service since 1900 and one of the last screw-driven steamers of her kind still working in regular passenger service; she was named Flagship of the Year for 2025 by National Historic Ships UK. A second, smaller boat, the Lady of the Lake, runs shorter scenic sailings. Cruises range from forty-five-minute circular trips to the two-hour run west to Stronachlachar at the head of the loch, close to Glengyle where Rob Roy MacGregor was born. The loch and the surrounding country are the setting for Sir Walter Scott’s 1810 poem The Lady of the Lake, which gave the area much of its early tourist fame.

The pier complex carries a cafe, a gift shop and bike hire, with the lochside road doubling as a level, traffic-free cycling and walking route along the northern shore. Trossachs Pier, by Callander, FK17 8HZ. Sailings run daily through most of the year on a seasonal timetable; check current departures, fares and any event sailings via the Loch Katrine website.