Location: Vale of
Leven, West Dunbartonshire
Map: 0S Landranger 63 ( 56 includes parking )
Distance: 10miles ( 16km )
Time: 4hours 30minutes
Terrain: tracks and paths If snow or bad
weather is keeping you off the high hills, this is an excellent
lower-level walk offering fine views across Loch
Lomond and over the Vale of Leven to the Clyde. A word of warning,
though: it is quite long and
the descent from the trig point to the Stoneymullan
track is very marshy in places. Walking boots and gaiters or
wellies are highly recommended.
From the large car park at Lomond Shores at the southern end of Loch Lomond, easily accessed
from Balloch station, skirt the
loch shore past shops and Drumkinnon Bay. Continue straight ahead over
an access road to the
tarmac cyclepath alongside the River Leven and follow it south.
The cycle route is surprisingly rural — the banks of the broad
fast-flowing River Leven are flanked by trees and surrounded by
wildlife. A short distance before Renton,
just after the route cuts inland to avoid a loop in the river, a
signpost points right to Renton and the railway
station.
Don't turn here, but continue past the houses and ascend a path to a
footbridge over the river. Continue rightwards to the main road, cross
over and left. then right into Station Road Before the station, turn
left down
Back Street past Renton Primary, then right over the railway. Keep
right, signposted Cardross, and
ascend to a footbridge over the A82. After this, turn right past houses
then left, signposted again, up a track to a path through a tree-lined
corridor between fields and a stile leading to
Carman Muir. The moor is boggy in places, but avoid the worst by
sticking to
embedded rocks and a turfed wall on the left. Follow the path round
Carman reservoir and turn left ( Cardross ) at the signpost, ascending
to lone trees on the skyline with pylons beyond. The path sticks to the
high ground then turns right and descends to the main road and an
access road, the Right of Way to Cardross. A short distance along, head
off right on a track to the back of the disused sandstone quarry and
ascend the open hillside to the rocky hill topped by Carman fort, a
Dark Ages citadel with 12 stone houses.
From the top follow the grassy track down then up over Overton Muir,
veering left to a fence and gate, from where a more distinct track
leads to the trig point above Bromley Muir. You can avoid the worst of
the marsh as
you descend the Stoneymullan track to an access road
and footbridge over the A82. Continue down to Balloch
and follow the main road left, then right to the car park.
