Inversnaid is a starting or finishing point on Loch Lomond for the Great Trossachs Path. The 30-mile route links several well-known trails; there are also shorter, clearly defined sections. This lets you plan around your preferred route length without confusing the different distance figures.
Woodland and mountain ridges
Inversnaid Nature Reserve covers more than 800 hectares and extends from roughly sea level to the summit of Beinn a’ Choin, which reaches 770 metres. RSPB Scotland Inversnaid is an internationally significant example of rare Atlantic oak woodland, also known as temperate rainforest. Both the size of the reserve and this distinctive woodland type help define the character of the landscape.
Walking trails by distance
The Great Trossachs Path starts or ends in Inversnaid on Loch Lomond. It links the Rob Roy Way with the West Highland Way and is also connected to the Three Lochs Way. The West Highland Way also passes through Inversnaid. These descriptions give you several named routes to plan around, without implying that each follows the same route or has the same starting point.
A clearly defined section of the Great Trossachs Path is 1.2 miles (2 kilometres) between Inversnaid Pier and the RSPB Inversnaid Visitor Gateway. The Upland Trail, by contrast, is described as a one-mile return walk to a reconstructed sheep fank; it starts at the Garrison Farm car park. When comparing them, note what each distance refers to: one is a section between two points, the other a return walk. Distances do not indicate walking times. As trail measurements and conditions can change, check them before your visit.
Getting there and practical information
A water bus operated by Cruise Loch Lomond crosses Loch Lomond to Inversnaid. If you plan to use this service, check departure times before travelling. An accessible toilet is available at the Garrison Farm car park. The RSPB Inversnaid Visitor Gateway provides local information and a public toilet. Check details about these facilities before you travel as well.
The named starting points and access points help you identify each route: the pier, Visitor Gateway and Garrison Farm car park are separate reference points in the route descriptions. So when planning a day’s walk, check which point the distance given for your chosen route refers to. This is especially useful when comparing a section of the Great Trossachs Path with the Upland Trail.
Traces of military history
The Garrison near Inversnaid consists of the remains of rubble-stone walls from a barracks built in 1718–19. The Garrison Memorial Stone commemorates Inversnaid’s history as a significant 18th-century military settlement. The two names point to different historical features: the surviving barracks walls and the memorial stone commemorating the settlement’s history.
The Old Military Road also offers a named route to explore. A route map dated October 2015 describes a 6.2-kilometre route from the car park near Inversnaid, along Loch Arklet to Stronachlachar Pier. The date relates to this route description and helps place it in context.
Discover more destinations: Ardrishaig, Ardfern, Strachur, Kilchoan, Cairndow, Lochgoilhead, Port Charlotte, Arrochar
For the main travel overview: Argyll And Bute.
