Wild Swimming
Loch Venachar
Venachar is the easternmost of the Trossachs lochs — gentler and more pastoral than Lubnaig, with a tree-lined south shore and views north to Ben Venue and Ben A'an. The shallower profile means the water warms faster than most Scottish lochs, making it a reliable warm-weather swim from late June. The gravel-and-grass entry near Invertrossachs is sheltered and scenic.
Quick facts
- Type
- Loch
- Region
- Loch Lomond & The Trossachs
- Grid ref
- NN 578 049
- Entry
- Gravel / pebble
- Depth
- Medium (chest-deep)
- Summer water temp
- 11–18°C
- Midges
- Moderate
- Dogs
- Off-lead OK
Key hazards
- cold water shock
- water storage reservoir — check SEPA algae alerts in late summer
Getting there
Limited roadside parking near Invertrossachs (FK17 8EZ) on the B8034. Forestry track gives access to the north shore from the Trossachs Pier direction. SOAC rights apply — this is a water-supply reservoir for Stirling; some seasonal closures near the intake can occur.
Parking postcode: FK17 8EZ
Safety
Blue-green algae blooms can occur in late summer on warm, still days — check SEPA's Bloomin' Algae alert before swimming. Do not swim near the water-intake infrastructure at the eastern end.
Best for
- warmer-water swimming
- family splash
- Trossachs circuit day
Nearby
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:29
- Sunset
- 22:10
- Civil dawn
- 03:25
- Civil dusk
- 23:13
NOAA Solar Calculator · 23 June 2026
Common questions
- Is Loch Venachar a reservoir?
- Yes — it supplies drinking water to Stirling. SOAC rights still apply for swimming, but check for any seasonal advisory notices near the eastern intake, and always check for algae alerts in late summer.
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More on Loch Venachar
TripSCOT covers the loch in full — travel context, things to do, where to stay.