Loch Lomond and Loch Tay both sit within easy reach of Scotland's central belt, both have proper hills behind them, and both can fill a family day from breakfast to teatime. They are not interchangeable, though. Loch Lomond is the busy one, with the facilities, the crowds and the short drive from Glasgow. Loch Tay is quieter, longer and strung out between two villages at either end. Which is better depends on the ages of your children, how much driving you can face, and how much you mind circling a car park looking for a space.
The short answer
If you want everything in one place — parking, toilets, a cafe, a play area, a boat trip and a flat path — aim for Balloch at the south end of Loch Lomond. It is the closest thing either loch has to a one-stop family day out, and you can arrive by train if you would rather not drive.
If you want a slower day, with a shallow beach, a river tumbling over rocks, and room to let children wander without a crowd at your shoulder, head for the Kenmore end of Loch Tay. The trade-off is that Loch Tay's two hubs, Kenmore and Killin, are roughly 20 miles apart by road around the loch, so you pick one for the day rather than trying to see both.
Driving times and what the journey is really like
These are rough figures for a normal weekend with no incidents. Add time in summer, when the popular car parks fill early.
- Glasgow to Balloch: about 40 minutes.
- Stirling to Balloch: around 45 minutes to an hour.
- Edinburgh to Balloch: roughly an hour and a half.
- Glasgow to Killin: about an hour and a half.
- Perth to Kenmore: around an hour.
- Edinburgh to Kenmore: roughly an hour and three quarters.
The A82 through Balloch and up the lochside is slow on summer weekends, and the small car parks at Luss, Balmaha and Rowardennan can be full by mid-morning. Arriving before ten makes a real difference. Loch Tay's roads are noticeably quieter, and the B846 along the south shore between Killin and Kenmore is one of the nicest short drives in Perthshire — worth doing even if you never leave the car.
Picnics: where you can actually spread a blanket
Loch Lomond wins on sheer choice. Balloch Castle Country Park has grass, trees, a ruined castle and plenty of benches. Luss has a shingle beach right by the village, though it gets busy. Further north, Milarrochy Bay, Sallochy and Firkin Point all have picnic tables and loch views, and Cashel Forest on the east side is a good quieter alternative.
Loch Tay has fewer obvious picnic spots because so much of its shoreline is steep woodland or fenced farmland. Kenmore beach at the east end is the best of them: grass, shallow water, a jetty and the crannog centre nearby. Killin's riverside by the Falls of Dochart is lovely for a sandwich, but it is a river, not a loch, and the rocks are slippery.
One rule for both: open fires and disposable barbecues are banned in parts of the national park and at some car parks. Check the signs before you light anything.
Easy walks for short legs
At Loch Lomond, Balloch Castle Country Park has waymarked trails from ten minutes to over an hour, most of them fine for a sturdy pushchair. The Luss heritage trail is a gentle half-hour around the village. From Milarrochy Bay you can follow the shoreline path towards Sallochy — a couple of miles of ups and downs that suit children who can manage a proper walk.
At Loch Tay, the Killin riverside walk and the Falls of Dochart take about twenty minutes and are easy underfoot. From Kenmore, a path leads along the river towards Acharn, where a short climb brings you to a waterfall. Older children with energy to burn can tackle the lower slopes of Ben Lawers on the north side, but that is hill walking, not a stroll — proper shoes and a check on the weather are essential.
Boats, paddling and time on the water
Loch Lomond has the most options. Cruises run from Balloch, Luss and Tarbet, and kayak, canoe and paddleboard hire is available around Balloch and the villages. In July and August, book ahead rather than turning up and hoping.
Loch Tay is smaller scale. Boat trips run from Kenmore pier, and there is kayak and paddleboard hire at the marina end of the village. The east end is the sheltered, shallow part, which suits beginners. Further west the loch is deep and can turn choppy quickly, so keep an eye on the wind. Lifejackets for everyone, no inflatables, and a firm plan for what happens if a child gets cold and wet.
Toilets, food and rainy-day backups
Balloch is the clear winner here. Loch Lomond Shores has toilets, cafes, shops and the aquarium, all within a few minutes of the car park. Luss has public toilets near the village, and there are facilities at several lochside car parks, some of which charge a small fee and close out of season.
On Loch Tay, Killin has public toilets, a small supermarket, cafes and hotels. Kenmore has a hotel with a bar and food, plus toilets by the beach car park. Neither is a big town, so do not arrive expecting endless choice.
For wet weather, Loch Lomond has the aquarium and the shops at Balloch — enough to salvage an afternoon. At Loch Tay your best fallback is a short drive to Aberfeldy, which has a swimming pool and a community cinema.
Which one suits your family?
Choose Loch Lomond if you have very young children, want easy facilities, prefer a short drive from Glasgow, or need a train option. Choose Loch Tay if your children are happy to walk a bit, you want a calmer day with fewer queues, and you do not mind a longer journey. The west coast loch is also wetter on average, so Loch Tay has a slight edge if the forecast is marginal.
Before you set off
- Check the forecast the night before and again in the morning — both lochs can go from calm to grim inside an hour.
- Pack midge repellent from June to August, especially for still evenings near trees.
- Fill the car with fuel beforehand; petrol stations are sparse around Loch Tay.
- Carry coins or a card for car parks and toilets, and check seasonal opening times.
- Take layers, waterproofs and a change of clothes for anyone likely to end up in the water.
- Agree a meeting point before you let older children explore on their own.
Whichever you pick, leave early, keep the day flexible, and plan your food stop before everyone gets hungry. Do that and either loch will do the job nicely.
Photo: Kampus Production / Pexels
