Greenock — Loch Lomond And Stirling Castle In One Call

The Route That Works

Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park begins about 45 minutes from Greenock. The efficient shape is a loop rather than an out and back: north to Luss, the postcard village on the west shore with its conservation cottages and pier view, then across to Callander or Aberfoyle through the Trossachs, then down to Stirling for the castle and the Wallace Monument view, then back to the ship on the motorway which is fast. That loop is roughly four hours of driving spread across the day with three real stops. If the call is short we cut Stirling and simply do Luss, Balloch and a loch cruise if the timing lines up.

Stirling Castle Versus Edinburgh Castle

Guests often ask why we suggest Stirling when Edinburgh Castle is more famous. Three reasons for a cruise day from Greenock. Stirling is one hour from the port while Edinburgh is 90 minutes plus city traffic. Stirling has better preserved and more vividly presented interiors, particularly the restored Royal Palace with its painted ceiling heads. And Stirling is where Scottish independence was actually decided, at Stirling Bridge and Bannockburn, which makes the history land better than a queue on the Royal Mile. If your group specifically wants Edinburgh, we will do it, but we tell you honestly what the day costs in driving time.