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Built by A&J Inglis at Pointhouse, Glasgow, Maid of the Loch was the last paddle steamer built in Britain and the last in a long line of paddle steamers which have plied Loch Lomond since 1818.

She has a two cylinder compound diagonal steam engine by Rankin & Blackmore of Greenock which is capable of 13.75 knots with 1000 passengers.

At 191 feet long and weighing 555 Gross Tonnes, she is much larger than the previous steamers which had been sailed up the River Leven from the Clyde to Loch Lomond. She was originally launched into the Clyde and then dismantled and taken to Balloch in sections to be reconstructed on the slipway there before being launched again, this time into Loch Lomond, in 1953.

In 2004, she was officially designated a historic ship and was placed on the UK “Designated Vessels List” which recognises vessels of “substantial heritage merit with regional and local significance”.

She is now owned by The Loch Lomond Steamship Company who are working to return her to service. A key milestone in this aim was the £620,000 rebuild and restoration of the 1902 Balloch steam slipway complex which is open to the public and well worth a visit.

Although not currently under sail, visitors are welcome and there is a tearoom offering light snacks. Details can be found on the Maid's web site Link .