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Gravel path leads to a lochside cottage with fenced railings and pine trees
Loch Lomond

The Pier Cafe

The family café at Stronachlachar at the far end of Loch Katrine, with one of the finest views of any café in Scotland.

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Welcome

The Pier Café stands at Stronachlachar, at the quiet western end of Loch Katrine, and it calls itself Scotland's most scenic café, and with reason: the windows and tables look straight out over the loch to the hills.

It is a family-run, licensed café of relaxed, informal meals, and it is reached by a beautiful drive over the hills from Aberfoyle, or by walking or cycling along the traffic-free lochside road from Trossachs Pier.

The food is home-cooked, with breakfasts, lunches, soups and home baking, and there are takeaways for a picnic by the water. It is dog-friendly, and walkers and cyclists are welcomed muddy boots and all; the café's own springer spaniel, Lexi, is usually about. In summer it opens every day from 10am to 5pm, and until 6pm at weekends. In winter it opens Friday to Monday. Larger groups can book ahead.

A short drive awayLoch KatrineThe loch of Scott's Lady of the Lake, the birthplace of Scottish tourism and Glasgow's water supply, with a steamer of 1899.9 min by roadSee itLoch Katrine
Before you go

Open daily 10am to 5pm (to 6pm at weekends in summer); winter opening is Friday to Monday.

Stronachlachar, FK8 3TY. Walk-ins welcome; book for large groups.

Hours
Daily 10:00 to 17:00; weekends to 18:00.
Winter
Friday to Monday.
Where
Stronachlachar, FK8 3TY.

Opening hours

Their website
Monday
10am–5pm
Tuesday
10am–5pm
Wednesday
10am–5pm
Thursday
10am–5pm
Friday
10am–5pm
Saturday
10am–6pm
Sunday
10am–6pm

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Where it is

Stronachlachar, Loch Katrine.

Close byAt Loch Katrine.
  1. Loch Arklet with the Arrochar Alps rising beyond.Loch ArkletA remote reservoir between Loch Katrine and Loch Lomond, dammed in 1914 to water Glasgow, with the Arrochar Alps beyond.2 miles 3 min by road
  2. Boats moored at a wooden jetty on a tree-lined Highland lochLoch Katrine and the SS Sir Walter Scott2 miles 9 min by road
  3. Loch Chon among autumn woods, a white house on the far shore.Loch ChonA quiet wooded loch on the Inversnaid road, with a campsite, a seven-mile circuit and a kelpie of legend.4 miles 6 min by road
  4. The Inversnaid falls pouring through green woods into Loch Lomond.Inversnaid WaterfallThe falls of the Arklet Water tumbling into Loch Lomond at Inversnaid, which moved Wordsworth and Hopkins.5 miles 7 min by road
  5. The steamship Sir Walter Scott at the pier on Loch Katrine.Steamship CaféThe café on Trossachs Pier at Loch Katrine, from breakfast to afternoon tea, by the steamship's berth.18 miles 26 min by road
Directions
Small boat crossing a loch, framed by autumn branches and hillside treesAttractionsLoch Katrine2.2 miles
Loch Ard still as glass, reflecting trees and hills.AttractionsLoch Ard7.6 miles
A wooden footbridge over a burn in the green forest.AttractionsQueen Elizabeth Forest Park8.9 miles
A white cottage reflected in still water among dark trees near Aberfoyle.AttractionsAberfoyle11 miles
Old gravestones in the kirkyard with the hills beyond.AttractionsAberfoyle Old Parish Church12 miles
The Duke's Pass winding through autumn hills, the road curving away below.AttractionsThe Duke's Pass13 miles
A loch winds through forested hills beneath a grey, cloudy skyAttractionsThree Lochs Drive14 miles
The forest drive winding past a loch through the woods, from above.AttractionsThree Lochs Forest Drive14 miles
Autumn woodland reflected in a calm loch, framed by bare branchesAttractionsLoch Achray16 miles

Recommend to a friend

The Daily for 25 October, from Scotland with love. bare tree stumps standing in an autumn loch, forested hills reflected in the still water

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Stay nearby

Places to stay near the café, and when each is next free.

A Highland calf walks across a lawn before a pink harled house, a stone wall and outbuilding visible behind.Monachyle Mhor
  • To stay
  • In Balquhidder
  • 7 miles from the Pier Café
Check datesSuie Hunting Lodge, Loch LomondSuie Hunting Lodge
  • To stay
  • In Luib
  • 12 miles from the Pier Café
Check datesA stone cottage with a slated roof sits nestled among dense woodland, two paddleboards resting on the lawn in front.Red Squirrel Cottage
  • Sleeps 6
  • In Lochgoilhead
  • 15 miles from the Pier Café
Check datesSeal Cabin, Argyll and ButeSeal Cabin
  • Sleeps 2
  • In Lochgoilhead
  • 15 miles from the Pier Café
Check datesPlaces to stayEvery stay in Loch LomondAll our places to stay nearby, to search by date and by who is coming.See them all
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