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Human settlement in Scotland
Photo: wfmillar, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Balmaha is a village in the county of Stirlingshire and Clackmannanshire in central Scotland. With a population of maybe 60, it's the only village along the scenic east bank of Loch Lomond. A minor road continues north of Balmaha for 7 miles to dead-end at Rowardennan, and facilities there are also described on this page. The main reason to visit is to explore the east side of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, and especially to climb Ben Lomond, walk the West Highland Way, and get out onto the loch.
Balmaha's only inn, with friendly staff and good food. Traditional en suite bedrooms and unique, rustic pub/bar plus B&B accommodation in nearby cottages. Dog-friendly.
Open April-Oct, the bunkhouse has one 6-bedded room, one 4 and two twins; B&B in a double and a twin bedded room; and a self-catering chalet, sleeps 4. No dogs.
Upscale self-catering lodges and chalets with hot tubs, sleep 2-6, dogs welcome in several.
You'll be more than ready for a meal or a bed here if you've scaled the Ben or lumped along the WHW. Also has self-catering lodges, water activities and bike hire.
Open March–October, a handy base for climbing Ben Lomond. Meals if pre-booked, dog-friendly.
McColls Bus 309 runs daily every 90 min or so from Alexandria via Balloch station (for trains from Glasgow) to Drymen and Balmaha (20 min). There are no buses further north to Rowardennan.
Read in the guideYou need your own wheels to get between Balmaha and Rowardennan. There is no parking along this narrow lane until you reach the overflow car park (free) half a mile before Rowardennan.
Read in the guideChoose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Glasgow · International · GLA
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