If you’re looking for somewhere cheap and peaceful to stay overnight in your campervan in the Trossachs, Three Lochs Forest Drive is a lovely place to consider. With beautiful lochs, forest tracks and designated overnight campervan parking, it’s a great alternative to staying on a traditional campsite.
We discovered Three Lochs Forest Drive on our way home from the NC500. We wanted somewhere cheap and quiet to spend the night, but also fancied the experience of staying overnight in the forest rather than on a campsite.
We booked one of the designated overnight campervan spaces and spent the night surrounded by trees, with beautiful lochs nearby and plenty of places to explore.
Three Lochs Forest Drive is near Aberfoyle in Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park. The scenic forest route takes you past Lochan Reòidhte, Loch Drunkie and Loch Achray, with picnic areas, walking trails and beautiful views along the way.
I’ve since returned to the area on a cycling trip from Callander, which reminded me just how much there is to see around Three Lochs Forest Drive and Loch Katrine.
There are also overnight campervan stops at Trossachs Pier and Stronachlachar Pier on Loch Katrine. I’ve visited the loch but haven’t stayed overnight at either pier yet. They’re both on my list for a future campervan trip.
As well as overnight parking, Loch Katrine has boat trips, bike hire, cafés and a beautiful lochside cycling route.
In this guide, I’ll share our experience of staying overnight at Three Lochs Forest Drive, along with useful information about Loch Katrine campervan stopovers, facilities, prices, boat trips and where to book.
Our Overnight Campervan Stay at Three Lochs Forest Drive
We stopped at Three Lochs Forest Drive on our way home from the NC500. After spending time travelling around Scotland, we wanted somewhere quiet and reasonably priced to spend the night.
We also fancied something a little different from a traditional campsite, and staying overnight in the forest sounded like a lovely experience.
We booked one of the designated campervan overnight spaces, parked up and enjoyed being surrounded by the forest.
The forest drive takes you past three beautiful lochs, with plenty of places to stop and enjoy the views.
It was exactly the sort of overnight stop we were looking for. Somewhere peaceful where we could relax after travelling, without having to pay for a full campsite.
I’d happily stay here again, especially if we were travelling through the Trossachs on another campervan trip.
Three Lochs Forest Drive – What to Expect
Three Lochs Forest Drive is a scenic forest route near Aberfoyle, taking you through woodland and past three lochs.
The route is approximately 7 miles long, with viewpoints, picnic areas and walking trails along the way.
The three lochs are:
- Lochan Reòidhte
- Loch Drunkie
- Loch Achray
There are toilets at Loch Drunkie, along with picnic areas where you can stop and enjoy the surroundings.
It’s worth allowing plenty of time to explore rather than just driving straight through.
The forest drive has seasonal opening times and vehicle restrictions, so check the latest information before visiting.Three Lochs Forest Drive – Official Visitor Information
How to Book Overnight Campervan Parking at Three Lochs Forest Drive
You can stay overnight in your campervan at designated permit locations within the Three Lochs Forest Drive area.
You’ll need to book a motorhome or campervan permit in advance and park in your allocated location.
These are basic overnight stops rather than traditional campsites, so you’ll need to be self-sufficient in your campervan.
It’s worth checking the current permit price, vehicle restrictions and facilities before travelling.
You can find the designated overnight parking locations and book your permit through Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park.Book a Three Lochs Forest Drive Overnight Campervan Permit
Staying Overnight at Loch Katrine – Trossachs Pier
Another option for an overnight campervan stay in the Trossachs is Trossachs Pier at Loch Katrine.
I’ve visited Loch Katrine but haven’t stayed overnight at the pier yet. It’s definitely on my list for a future campervan trip, especially as there’s so much to do without having to move the van.
Trossachs Pier is the main visitor area at Loch Katrine, with a large car park, the Steamship Café, a gift shop, bike hire and boat trips across the loch.
There are dedicated hardstanding campervan and motorhome pitches which you can book in advance.
Serviced pitches include electricity, water and Wi-Fi, while non-serviced pitches are also available.
There are toilets and showers, although additional charges may apply.
I think this would make a lovely overnight stop, especially if you wanted to enjoy a boat trip or cycle along the loch the following morning.
You can check the latest prices, facilities and availability on the official Loch Katrine website.Book Overnight Campervan Parking at Trossachs Pier
Staying Overnight at Stronachlachar Pier
At the other end of Loch Katrine is Stronachlachar Pier, another place where you can book an overnight campervan stay.
I haven’t stayed here yet either, but the hardstanding pitches have views across the loch, which sounds like a lovely place to wake up in the morning.
There are serviced and non-serviced campervan pitches, toilets and a café at the pier.
Stronachlachar is a quieter location than the main visitor area at Trossachs Pier, making it an option if you’re looking for somewhere away from the busier parts of the loch.
It’s worth knowing that the two piers are some distance apart by road, so make sure you select the correct location when booking.
I’d love to stay here on a future trip, especially if we were planning to cycle along Loch Katrine or take one of the boats across the water.Book an Overnight Campervan Stay at Stronachlachar Pier
Boat Trips on Loch Katrine
One of the lovely things about visiting Loch Katrine is being able to take a boat trip across the loch and enjoy the scenery from the water.
The historic Steamship Sir Walter Scott operates scenic cruises on Loch Katrine, along with other passenger boats.
There are different boat trips available depending on how much time you have and what you’d like to see.
Scenic Circular Cruises
If you just want to enjoy the views, you can take a circular cruise from Trossachs Pier.
These trips take you out onto the loch, giving you beautiful views of the surrounding mountains and countryside before returning to the same pier.
There are different cruise durations available, so you can choose one to fit around your day.
Trossachs Pier to Stronachlachar Pier
You can also take a boat across Loch Katrine from Trossachs Pier to Stronachlachar Pier.
This is a lovely way to explore more of the loch, with views of the mountains and surrounding countryside along the way.
You could enjoy a coffee at Stronachlachar Pier before returning on a later boat, depending on the sailing timetable.
Boat services are seasonal, so it’s worth checking departure times and availability before travelling.View Loch Katrine Boat Trips, Timetables and Book Tickets
Cycling at Loch Katrine – Boat and Bike Ride
If you enjoy cycling, another lovely option is to combine a boat trip with a cycle ride.
You can take your bike on selected boat services from Trossachs Pier to Stronachlachar Pier and then cycle approximately 14 miles back along the lochside road.
The route is mostly traffic-free, with a well-maintained tarmac surface and beautiful views across the loch.
It’s an undulating route, with a few hills along the way, but it’s a lovely ride on an e-bike.
During our cycle ride along Loch Katrine, the only vehicles we came across were a tarmac van and a post van!
There are plenty of opportunities to stop, take photographs and enjoy the amazing views.
If you haven’t brought your own bikes, you can hire bikes and e-bikes at Trossachs Pier.
It’s worth booking your bike space on the boat in advance, as availability can be limited.Loch Katrine Cycling, Bike Hire and Boat Trip Information
Useful Information for Your Campervan Visit
| Location | Information |
|---|---|
| Three Lochs Forest Drive | Near Aberfoyle, Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park |
| Forest drive length | Approximately 7 miles |
| Overnight forest parking | Designated campervan permit spaces |
| Forest toilets | Loch Drunkie car park |
| Forest facilities | Picnic areas, walking trails and viewpoints |
| Trossachs Pier | Campervan pitches, café, toilets, showers, gift shop, bike hire and boat trips |
| Stronachlachar Pier | Loch-view campervan pitches, café, toilets and boat services |
| Loch Katrine cycling | Approximately 14 miles one way between the two piers |
| Boat trips | Scenic cruises and selected services between the piers |
| Booking | Advance booking recommended for campervan pitches, boat trips and bike spaces |
Prices, facilities and seasonal opening times can change, so check the official websites before travelling.
Would I Stay Here Again?
I really enjoyed our overnight stay at Three Lochs Forest Drive on the way home from the NC500.
We wanted somewhere cheap and quiet where we could enjoy the forest experience, and it was exactly the sort of stopover we were looking for.
I’d happily return, but I’d also love to try one of the overnight campervan stops at Loch Katrine.
Being able to park up beside the loch, enjoy the views and head out for a boat trip or cycle ride the following morning sounds like my sort of campervan trip.
Both Trossachs Pier and Stronachlachar Pier are on my list for a future visit.
Van Miles 
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