The Steamship Sir Walter Scott Trust has paid tribute to the many local community groups and individuals whose strong, proactive support helped secure the hard-won planning approval for the Scenic Tower at the viewpoint, long credited as the Birthplace of Scottish Tourism

Loch Katrine has enjoyed a busy year in its history, celebrating the 125th anniversary of the iconic Steamship Sir Walter Scott and its award of ‘Flagship of the Year’, with special events and sailings.

The Steamship Sir Walter Scott at Loch Katrine has been awarded a prestigious 4-star accolade in ASVA’s new Quality Scheme, following its UK Flagship of the Year Award earlier this summer.

A family visiting Scotland from France this week, took the overall visitor numbers to the stunning historic scenic tower at Loch Katrine to over 30,000, which has been achieved within its first year.

Over the weekend at Loch Katrine, bumper crowds attended the Loch Katrine Steamboat Festival, to celebrate the remarkable milestone of 125 years sailing of The Steamship Sir Walter Scott, Scotland's oldest operating passenger Steamer.

Today Steamship Sir Walter Scott set sail exactly 125 years since her first passenger sailing on June 6th, 1900, marking a huge milestone in over 180 years of steamship heritage at Loch Katrine.

A warm and sunny spring has brought a welcome surge in visitors to Loch Katrine, in the heart of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, as plans are being finalised for a landmark celebration to mark the 125th anniversary of Steamship Sir Walter Scott which has sailed on the loch since 1900.

The historic Steamship Sir Walter Scott has been named Flagship of the Year 2025 by National Historic Ships UK, a prestigious accolade recognising excellence in maritime conservation.

Steamship Sir Walter Scott, one of Scotland’s most famous maritime heritage icons, has sailed on Loch Katrine since 1900 and this Saturday she begins her 125^th season and is gearing up to carry thousands of passengers on scenic loch cruises in the heart of the National Park.

Hundreds of visitors and locals flocked to Loch Katrine to enjoy special New Year Festive Cruises on the historic Steamship Sir Walter Scott, kicking off her 125th anniversary year celebrations. 

Loch Katrine launches its winter sailing schedule and festive events, including 45-minute Winter Wonderland cruises, special Spirit of Christmas sailings, and the popular Sail with Santa experience. Toast the new year aboard Steamship Sir Walter Scott.

Since it opened to the public two months ago, over 8,000 people have taken the short climb to the dramatic new scenic tower and lookouts on the headland above Trossachs Pier which is credited with being where Scottish Tourism began.

Visitors following the popular Trossachs Trail scenic drive in the heart of the Trossachs are being advised to take care. Beavers are busy chewing their way through tree trunks, felling trees along the roadside and creating temporary and unexpected blockades.

Stephen Leckie, Chair of VisitScotland, has officially opened an impressive three-storey scenic tower and lookouts on the site, which is credited with being the Birthplace of Scottish Tourism in the early 1800s.

Large steel segments and the timber skin of a new scenic tower were airlifted by helicopter and carefully lowered into place on the site credited with being the ‘Birthplace of Scottish Tourism.’

Staff and trustees of Steamship Sir Walter Scott have paid tribute to Managing Director Gordon Allan, who is celebrating a four-decade association with Loch Katrine.

The curtain is being raised on Loch Katrine's main tourist season with the reintroduction of three daily sailings of the 124-year-old Steamship Sir Walter Scott, back for her first complete season in five years. 

The Trust that preserves the iconic 124-year-old Steamship Sir Walter Scott has recently secured a building warrant to start constructing a scenic tower and lookouts.

Over 2,000 visitors and locals celebrated the festive season at Loch Katrine by joining Santa Sailings and New Year Steamship cruises.

New stories reveal the role of Captain John MacKinnon and his family on the early years of the operation of the 123-year-old Steamship Sir Walter Scott.