Conic Hill , Loch Lomond
Description:
This is a relatively short walk but very steep in places with a long series of steps which are heavy going for the less energetic walker.
Starting from Balmaha , walk up to the top of the car park to find a gate into the woods signed for 'white and blue walks'. Go through the entrance to the woods and turn immediately right. Follow this woodland track and watch for the first main track to your left - take this track and follow through mainly conifer forest climbing all the way with a couple of sets of steps (somewhat worn) on the way. At the northern edge of the forest pass through a wishing gate onto the hillside track.
The track now starts to climb steeply and ascends by two very long and uncomfortable flights of steps, eventually gaining the open hill track which forms part of the 'West Highland Way'. Conic hill is now clearly seen and the way obvious passing below the north side of the summit before swinging round for the final leg to the summit.
Facing the loch, you see the chain of islands following the Highland Boundary fault (which also formed Conic Hill) across the loch; Inchcailloch, Torrinch, Creinch and Inchmurrin are seen with Arden visible on the west shore.
Facing north you see Loch Lomond becoming progressively narrower with Ben Lomond on the east shore and Ben Vorlich on the west. The Cobbler (Ben Arthur) can usually be recognised further over to the west behind the Hills on the west shore.
The return trip may be varied by turning right just before the paved path. This now becomes a grassy track following the actual fault line down the ridge. About 200 ft lower down on this track, watch for an opportunity to cross over to the northern part of the ridge where a better defined grassy track leads eventually to a rather mucky path through deciduous woods and to the road.
Turn left on the road - TAKING CARE as there are some idiot drivers who treat this narrow road like a motorway. At the foot of the steep hill get off the road onto the protected path along the lochside into the village and the car park.
| Distance Height Start Approximate time Parking | 3 miles 1200 ft Car park Balmaha 2 hours Car park Balmaha |
This is a relatively short walk but very steep in places with a long series of steps which are heavy going for the less energetic walker.
Starting from Balmaha , walk up to the top of the car park to find a gate into the woods signed for 'white and blue walks'. Go through the entrance to the woods and turn immediately right. Follow this woodland track and watch for the first main track to your left - take this track and follow through mainly conifer forest climbing all the way with a couple of sets of steps (somewhat worn) on the way. At the northern edge of the forest pass through a wishing gate onto the hillside track.
The track now starts to climb steeply and ascends by two very long and uncomfortable flights of steps, eventually gaining the open hill track which forms part of the 'West Highland Way'. Conic hill is now clearly seen and the way obvious passing below the north side of the summit before swinging round for the final leg to the summit.
Facing the loch, you see the chain of islands following the Highland Boundary fault (which also formed Conic Hill) across the loch; Inchcailloch, Torrinch, Creinch and Inchmurrin are seen with Arden visible on the west shore.
Facing north you see Loch Lomond becoming progressively narrower with Ben Lomond on the east shore and Ben Vorlich on the west. The Cobbler (Ben Arthur) can usually be recognised further over to the west behind the Hills on the west shore.
The return trip may be varied by turning right just before the paved path. This now becomes a grassy track following the actual fault line down the ridge. About 200 ft lower down on this track, watch for an opportunity to cross over to the northern part of the ridge where a better defined grassy track leads eventually to a rather mucky path through deciduous woods and to the road.
Turn left on the road - TAKING CARE as there are some idiot drivers who treat this narrow road like a motorway. At the foot of the steep hill get off the road onto the protected path along the lochside into the village and the car park.