Balmaha Boatyard runs a small ferry to the North Pier of Inchcailloch every day through the summer, from twenty-five past nine until five, roughly every half hour. The island is a nature reserve a couple of hundred metres offshore; the harder question in late September is how much longer the boat will keep going.
Summer service as described on Balmaha Boatyard's ferry page, which carries no year, read on 24 September 2026. The boatyard says it aims to run until at least the end of September. Balmaha Boatyard — Ferry to Inchcailleach · 2026-09-24
Come in late spring and the woods of Inchcailloch are carpeted with bluebells; come in October and, the boatyard says, you may hear fallow deer rutting in the oaks. The ferry, though, does not follow the island's calendar. It follows the summer. The Macfarlanes' boatyard at Balmaha runs it every day in the warm months and, in its own words, aims to keep going until at least the end of September. This page was written on the 24th of that month, which is exactly when the question matters.
When it does run, it is about as simple as a crossing gets: a boat from the yard to the island's North Pier, a couple of hundred metres across the water, starting at 9.25am and shuttling roughly every half hour until five. Parties of fewer than ten need no booking. Campers and larger groups should phone first, because space for baggage is limited.
This is a crossing to one island, not a Loch Lomond cruise. The island belongs to the Loch Lomond National Nature Reserve, in the care of the National Park Authority, and the Authority runs no boats of its own: visitors who ask in Balmaha are sent to the boatyard. Walkers on the West Highland Way come through Balmaha and over Conic Hill, and the island is a short detour from the village for anyone with an hour or two to spare.
Two prices, both returns, paid in cash or by contactless. They come from the boatyard's own page, which gives no year, and no second official source publishes them, so treat them as the current figure rather than a guaranteed one.
Older figures for a cheaper camper's fare still circulate online. The boatyard's page no longer shows one: campers are simply asked to call ahead to discuss baggage and ferry times.
| Adult return | £ 10 |
| Under 16, return | £ 5 |
Fares on the boatyard's ferry page, undated, read on 24 September 2026 Balmaha Boatyard — Ferry to Inchcailleach · 2026-09-24
Inchcailloch lies just off Balmaha, and the North Pier is only about 240 metres from the village pier as the crow flies. The island's other landing, the beach at Port Bawn on the south shore, is about 1.2 km from Balmaha. The whole island is 52 hectares of oak woodland according to the boatyard, rising to 85 metres at the top of the Summit Path. It is one of the shortest hops among the Scottish crossings we list.
The boat leaves from the Macfarlane family's boatyard on the east shore of Loch Lomond. The yard says the village car park is only 20 metres away, and the National Park's visitor centre, recycling bins and bus stop are in Balmaha too. If you are camping, fill your water containers here: the park says the boatyard lets campers do so, and there is no drinking water on the island. The map pin marks the Department for Transport's Balmaha Pier stop, the nearest officially mapped landing to the yard.
The ferry lands at the jetty on the island's east side, which the boatyard calls the North Pier and the park calls the North Jetty. From here a short stair climb leads to the paths: the Summit Path starts close by, and the Central Path reaches the beach and campsite at Port Bawn, on the south shore, in about twenty minutes. There is nothing to buy on the island and no bins, so everything you bring over goes back with you.
The Low Path loops clockwise round the island through the woods and past the old burial ground; the Summit Path climbs steeply to the viewpoint; the Central Path links the North Pier with Port Bawn in about 20 minutes. The park reckons 30 to 45 minutes for each.
There is no running water on Inchcailloch and no refuse collection. Composting toilets and first-come picnic tables are all there is. Barbecues are allowed only if you bring your own and leave the area clean.
The small campsite on the island's southern tip is open from 1 March to 30 September and must be booked with the National Park. Pitches are available from 12.30pm and must be vacated by 11am. From the North Jetty it is about a kilometre on foot, carrying everything.
Groups of fewer than ten can simply turn up. Groups of eleven or more, and every camper, should contact the boatyard in advance so it can plan baggage and crossing times.
The park suggests the train from Glasgow Queen Street to Balloch, about 50 minutes, then McGills bus 309 to Balmaha, about 30 minutes more. Allow roughly two hours from Glasgow to the island.
Cruise Loch Lomond sells a one-way Luss to Inchcailloch waterbus, 35 minutes across the loch, bookable from 27 March to 1 November 2026. Dogs travel free on its boats.
The name, according to the National Park, means island of the old or cowled woman, and the story behind it is Saint Kentigerna, an Irish missionary who settled here in the early eighth century and died on the island in 734. A church dedicated to her was built in the thirteenth century; the boatyard says it was in use until 1770 and the burial ground until 1947, and that the grave of a MacGregor clan chief is among those there. The park describes the church and graveyard as the only Scheduled Ancient Monument in or around the Loch Lomond area.
The boatyard that carries visitors to it has its own long history. Its home page says it was established in 1863, and the family says it was founded by Sandy Macfarlane's great-grandfather, John. The spelling differs too: the yard writes Inchcailleach, the park Inchcailloch, and the Department for Transport lists both piers under the second.
The boatyard's page says only that it aims to run until at least the end of September, and it publishes nothing beyond that. Phone 01360 870 214 before travelling in October. The Luss waterbus from the west shore is advertised as bookable until 1 November 2026.
Not if there are fewer than ten of you: just turn up at the boatyard. Groups of eleven or more should contact the yard in advance, and so should anyone camping, whatever the size of the party.
Yes, at the National Park's small site at Port Bawn, open from 1 March to 30 September and booked through the park at £11.20 per adult per night. The ferry lands at the North Jetty, about a kilometre's walk from the pitches, and baggage space on the boat is limited, so ring the boatyard beforehand.
None of those. There are composting toilets and picnic tables, but no drinking water, no bins and nothing for sale. Campers can fill their own containers at the boatyard in Balmaha before crossing.
Yes, by the Cruise Loch Lomond waterbus, a separate operator. It is a one-way 35-minute sailing across the loch, bookable online from 27 March to 1 November 2026, with a £5.00 charge each way for camping equipment.
Each of the three paths takes 30 to 45 minutes, according to the park. The Central Path from the North Pier to the beach at Port Bawn is the quickest, at about 20 minutes; the Summit Path is the steep one, to the viewpoint at 85 metres.
The National Park translates Inchcailloch as the island of the old or cowled woman, linked to Saint Kentigerna, who died here in 734. The ruins of the church dedicated to her and its burial ground are a Scheduled Ancient Monument.