📌 Balmaha, Stirling
★★★★★
Conic Hill lies right on the Highland Boundary Fault separating the Lowlands from the Highlands, and its broad ridge leading down to the shore of Loch Lomond is one of the rift’s most visible manifestations. The contrast between fertile farmland to the south and bleak moorland to the north is particularly arresting. Viewpoints do not come much better than this, and the summit can be conveniently accessed via the West Highland Way from nearby Balmaha. If you find the steps tiring, spare a thought for the sweaty long-distance trekkers en route from Milngavie to Fort William some 151 kilometres away, having to do the same with huge backpacks. Remember to fork off right to explore the ridge and summit – the WHW passes this by. For hill-bagging purists, the true summit is at 361 metres at the far end of a succession of false summits.
📷 Chronological photo guide
🌍 Location
📌 Start / finish at National Park Visitor Centre, B837 in Balmaha village centre
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NS 421910
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 56.085785,-4.538867
🚌 Bus to Balmaha
🚗 Car park (charge)
📝 Key info
▶ 5 km / 3 mi | ▲ 350 m | ⌛ 2-2.5 hr
Features: △ Conic Hill (361 m, sub-2000′ Marilyn)
⬤ Moderate | Excellent path with some steps. Rougher, rocky sections if the true ridge is followed.
Download file for GPS➡️ Out-and-back walk: start – Conic Hill – return by outward route or similar
🥾 On our last visit
Wildlife: Lots of tits lower down in the woods.
Weather: Is summer here already? Bright sunshine and almost windless – t-shirt weather. Still snow on shady aspects above about 700m.
March 2015
