We are the Glasgow Ramblers. If you enjoy walking or want to give it a try come and join us.
Helen S.
PLEASE NOTE – registrations open two weeks in advance of the walk (i.e. Saturday 23rd May). PLEASE DON’T contact the walk leader until then! Please also remember to include a mobile number when you sign up.
Does anyone want to join me on this 17 mile (plus some puffing uphill) linear walk from Kilpatrick to Balloch via the Kilpatrick hills? If the weather’s nice you’ll be rewarded with some great views.
From Kilpatrick Station we’ll take the main hard-surfaced track up to Loch Humphrey – this is most of your climbing (total 2.5 miles; about 1,000 ft ascent). Then it’s the well-trodden grassy (boggy in some places) path to the Duncolms – we’ll climb the main one to our highest point of the day – it’s a short steep ascent but if clear you’ll see Ben Lomond, Dumgoyne and Glasgow in the 360 degree panorama from the top (total now 4.5 miles, 1,250 ft). After retracing our steps down from there we’ll re-join the grassy / boggy path to Burncrooks Reservoir (good paths from there on) and walk over the dam (total by now about 7 miles) before joining the John Muir Way. Next comes a lovely section with views of the Loch Lomond hills and some forestry walking on good, slightly undulating paths (total by the end of this about 11.5 miles). Finally, there’s about 4 miles along very quiet minor roads until we reach the top entrance to Balloch Country Park. The last mile or so cuts down through the park, along the river and over the bridge to (hurrah!) Balloch Station from where trains run to Glasgow Queen Street every 30 minutes or so.
The walk is all on clear paths, most hard surface apart from the wide, grassy section over the top of the hills which is boggy and marked by bike tracks in places and the steep track up (and back down) from Duncolm. Please wear suitable grippy, waterproof boots and bring poles if you use them.
There are toilets at Queen Street (50p) and (hopefully) on the train. Otherwise there isn’t any woodland cover until about 8-9 miles in.
Walkers should carry an "in case of emergency" card with contact details.
We will meet at Glasgow Queen Station – outside the ticket office having bought a return to Balloch, aiming to catch the 9.14 (lower level) train to Kilpatrick.
The walk will start from Kilpatrick Station when the train arrives from Glasgow (scheduled at 09.43).
The walk will end at Balloch Station from where trains run to Glasgow Queen Street every 30 minutes or so.
