📌 Paddle steamer in Balloch, West Dunbartonshire
★★
The Maid of the Loch is Loch Lomond‘s last surviving paddle steamer. The last ever to be built in the United Kingdom, she sailed between Balloch, Ardlui and Inversnaid for three decades until 1981, before ceasing service due to financial issues. Gradual deterioration followed, until 1992 when a major restoration project was launched with the ultimate aim of making the vessel seaworthy (or “loch”-worthy) again. This goal still seems a long way off, but extensive modernisation has so far been carried out to the interiors and engine. The boat currently sits on a steam-operated slipway (interesting in itself) at Balloch Pier next to Loch Lomond Shores while her hull is repaired; the exterior is viewable at close quarters on summer weekends along with the slipway winch house, while hard hat tours also allow visits inside the ship itself.
🌍 Location
📌 Balloch Pier, Pier Road, 0.5 mi northwest of Balloch town centre
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NS 385825
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 56.007861,-4.591249
🚌 Loch Lomond Shores | 🚆 Balloch (0.5 mi via River Leven)
🚗 Car park
📝 Key info
⌚ Weekends, 30 March to October 2024
🎫 Free – charge for hard hat tours
