Wild Camping Near Loch Lomond: Rules, Regulations, and the Best Spots to Pitch Up

Loch Lomond is one of the most iconic stretches of water in the British Isles. At roughly 39 kilometres long and covering an area of 71 square kilometres, it sits at the heart of the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park — Scotland’s first national park, established in 2002. For wild campers, it represents something of a pilgrimage destination: a landscape of ancient oak woodland, scattered islands, and mountain ridges that feels genuinely remote even when you’re less than an hour’s drive from Glasgow. But camping here is not as straightforward as pitching a tent wherever you fancy. There are rules, byelaws, and a permit system that any responsible camper must understand before heading out.

This guide covers the legal framework that governs wild camping near Loch Lomond, the seasonal permit zones, the best wild camping spots across the loch and its surroundings, and practical advice on how to camp without damaging a landscape that millions of visitors rely on each year.

Understanding the Legal Framework: The Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003

Scotland’s approach to access land is fundamentally different from that of England and Wales. Under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003, the public has a statutory right of responsible access to most land and inland water in Scotland. This right is commonly referred to as the “right to roam,” and it is one of the most progressive access frameworks in Europe. Crucially, it includes the right to wild camp — to pitch a tent on unenclosed land without needing the permission of the landowner, provided you do so responsibly and in accordance with the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, published by NatureScot (formerly Scottish Natural Heritage).

This right is not unconditional. The Scottish Outdoor Access Code makes clear that campers must:

• Leave no trace — removing all litter, food waste, and equipment when they leave
• Use a stove rather than an open fire where possible, or follow strict guidelines when lighting fires
• Camp in small numbers and for short periods (no more than two to three nights in one spot is the general guidance)
• Respect the privacy of others and avoid camping too close to houses or farm buildings
• Manage human waste carefully, burying solid waste at least 70 metres from any water source, path, or building, and carrying out any sanitary waste

So far, so clear. The complication arises within the boundaries of the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, where additional byelaws apply to specific areas of the loch’s eastern and western shores.

The Camping Management Zones and Permit System

In 2017, following years of pressure from rangers, local residents, and conservation bodies, the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority introduced the UK’s first statutory camping management byelaws. These byelaws created designated Camping Management Zones along the most popular sections of the loch’s shoreline, covering approximately 36 kilometres of the eastern and western banks.

Within these zones, between 1 March and 30 September each year (the main camping season), you must either:

1. Camp at a designated Camping Management Zone site using a permit, or
2. Stay in formal, managed camping facilities such as official campsites

Outside this season — from 1 October to the end of February — the byelaws do not apply, and the general rights under the Land Reform Act are restored in these areas. However, October to February also brings colder temperatures, shorter days, and the very real risk of storms sweeping in from the Atlantic, so this window requires considerably more experience and preparation.

How to Book a Camping Permit

Permits for the Camping Management Zones are booked online through the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority’s official booking system at lochlomond.net. Permits are free of charge — you are paying nothing to camp; you are simply registering your presence. Each permit covers a maximum of five people and up to two tents per booking. Permits can be booked up to four weeks in advance, and availability can disappear quickly during peak summer weekends, particularly around late July and August when school holidays coincide with the best weather.

Camping Management Zones are divided into smaller numbered areas. On the eastern shore, these run from Balmaha northward past Milarrochy Bay, Cashel, and Sallochy, continuing up through Rowardennan to Ptarmigan. On the western shore, zones stretch from Luss northward toward Inveruglas. Rangers patrol these zones regularly, and failure to hold a valid permit can result in a fine. The National Park Authority’s ranger service takes enforcement seriously — this is not a system that operates on the honour principle alone.

Where Wild Camping Is Still Unrestricted Near Loch Lomond

The Camping Management Zones do not cover the entire loch or the wider national park. Large sections of the surrounding hills, glens, and higher ground remain subject only to the standard Scottish Outdoor Access Code, which means genuinely free wild camping with no permit required at any time of year.

The West Highland Way

The West Highland Way, Scotland’s most famous long-distance footpath, runs along the eastern shore of Loch Lomond from Drymen in the south to Rowardennan and then north toward Inverarnan. Sections of this route pass through the Camping Management Zones, so campers on the Way during the managed season need permits for the shoreside pitches. However, the higher ground either side of the path — particularly as you move north of Rowardennan and up toward the ridge above the loch — falls outside the permit zones and offers outstanding wild camping on open hillside with elevated views across the water.

The area around Coire a’ Bhainne and the slopes of Ben Lomond (974 metres, the most southerly Munro in Scotland) provide excellent high camping. Pitching near the summit plateau of Ben Lomond in clear conditions offers a view that stretches from the Highland peaks to the north all the way to the Firth of Clyde in the south. This is exposed camping and should only be attempted with appropriate four-season gear and experience in mountain navigation.

The Arrochar Alps and Loch Long

To the west of Loch Lomond, the Arrochar Alps — a cluster of dramatic peaks including Ben Ime (1,011m), The Cobbler (Ben Arthur, 884m), and Ben Vane (916m) — offer superb wild camping on terrain that sees far fewer visitors than the loch shore itself. The corries and high ridges above Glen Croe and Glen Kinglas are mostly outwith any permit zones and provide genuine highland wild camping experience. Loch Restil, a small loch at the head of the Rest and Be Thankful pass, is a popular and relatively accessible high-level camping spot accessible via the A83.

The Trossachs and Glen Dochart

Moving east from Loch Lomond into the Trossachs section of the national park, the area around Loch Katrine, Loch Voil, and Glen Dochart sits outside the Camping Management Zone system entirely. Loch Voil in particular, accessible via the village of Balquhidder (the burial place of Rob Roy MacGregor), offers excellent lochside camping in a secluded glen with far less footfall than Loch Lomond’s shores. The hills above the glen — including Stob a’Choin (869m) and Meall an t-Seallaidh — give access to remote high camping without any administrative overhead.

Loch Arklet and Inversnaid

On the western shore of Loch Lomond, the hamlet of Inversnaid is accessible by road from the west (via Aberfoyle and Loch Arklet) or by ferry from Inveruglas on the eastern shore. North of Inversnaid, the West Highland Way continues through some of the loch’s most rugged terrain — a rocky, rooted path that snakes between the water’s edge and the steep hillside above. Beyond the Camping Management Zone boundary (which ends near Inversnaid), the ground opens up and wild camping becomes unrestricted. This is one of the finest and most atmospheric sections of shoreside camping in Scotland, with the loch spread out below and total seclusion guaranteed by the difficulty of the path.

The Best Islands of Loch Lomond for Wild Camping

Loch Lomond contains 37 islands, of which a handful are publicly accessible and legally campable under the Land Reform Act. Island camping on Loch Lomond is one of the most sought-after experiences in Scottish wild camping, but it requires a means of getting there — a canoe, kayak, or packraft being the most practical option.

Inchcailloch

Inchcailloch, near Balmaha on the eastern shore, is managed by NatureScot as a national nature reserve. It has a designated campsite with basic facilities (a composting toilet and fire grates), and camping here requires a permit through the National Park’s booking system during the managed season. It is the most accessible of the loch’s islands, and consequently the most popular. The island contains the ruins of a medieval church and a nature trail through ancient sessile oak woodland.

Inchmurrin

Inchmurrin is the largest freshwater island in the British Isles at approximately 2.6 kilometres long. It is privately owned and has a hotel and holiday chalets, so wild camping here is not appropriate. However, it is worth knowing about as part of planning a broader Loch Lomond paddle route.

Inchlonaig and Inchtavannach

Inchlonaig and Inchtavannach are both accessible by canoe or kayak and fall within the Camping Management Zone system during the managed season — permits are required. Outside the season, both are freely campable under the Land Reform Act. Inchtavannach in particular, with its wooded hillside and elevated viewpoint looking south toward Dumbarton and north toward the Highland peaks, is a genuinely memorable place to spend a night.

Moving Forward

Once you have the fundamentals in place, the possibilities open up considerably. The UK offers fantastic opportunities for anyone interested in this hobby, and with the right foundation you will be well placed to make the most of them.