📌 Kilpatrick Hills, West Dunbartonshire
★★
Love is a strong word, especially when the Kilpatrick Hills are involved. This expansive plateau has a reputation for bog and featureless grassland; the interior feels a desolate place despite being just a stone’s throw from Glasgow. But a scattering of reservoirs here and there add variety amongst the open hillsides, with a decent network of (soggy) paths trampled by centuries of Glaswegian day-trippers; we enjoyed our mid February visit. Duncolm is the highest of the range with great views of the Campsie Fells and Loch Lomond on a clear day, but this circuit also takes in Greenside Reservoir and the summit of The Slacks, with a fine outlook over city and Clyde on descent.
📷 Chronological photo guide
Track up Kilpatrick Braes 
Erskine Bridge from the ascent 
Kilpatrick Braes 
Hill of Dun from above Haw Craig 
Track to Loch Humphrey 
Loch Humphrey 
Track towards Little Duncolm 
Duncolm seen from Middle Duncolm 
Duncolm summit, looking northeast 
Lily Loch (near left), Burncrooks Reservoir (distant left) & Kilmannan Reservoir (right) 
View back to Duncolm from Burnellans 
Duncolm (right) & Middle Duncolm from the return 
Dirty Leven 
Greenside Reservoir 
Greenside Reservoir 
Greenside Reservoir 
View back to the dam from the ascent of The Slacks 
The Slacks 
Greenside Reservoir 
View towards Glasgow from The Slacks 
River Clyde from The Slacks 
Waterfall on the south side of The Slacks 
Descent through fields towards Old Kilpatrick 
Erskine Bridge is well seen from the descent
🌍 Location
📌 Start / finish at Kilpatrick Hills car park, off Mount Pleasant Drive, Old Kilpatrick
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NS 469729
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 55.924433,-4.451457
🚆 Kilpatrick | 🚌 Bus to Old Kilpatrick
🚗 Car park
📝 Key info
▶ 13 km / 8 mi | ▲ 620 m | ⌛ 4.5-5.5 hr
Features: 💧 Loch Humphrey; △ Duncolm (401 m, sub-2000′ Marilyn); 💧 Greenside Reservoir; △ The Slacks (365 m)
⬤ Tough | Good track to Loch Humphrey, then clear path to Duncolm with some boggy sections. Path from here to Greenside Reservoir is narrower and wet in places, then becomes clearer again beyond. Occasional steep sections around the Duncolms.
Download file for GPS➡️ Clockwise circuit: start – pass under A82 – Kilpatrick Braes – Loch Humphrey outflow – west side of Little Duncolm – Middle Duncolm – Duncolm – east side of Greenside Reservoir – cross outflow – The Slacks – waterfall at 🧭 NS 473741 – start
🥾 On our last visit
Wildlife: Sheep, horses, a highland cow and loads of jackdaws on Kilpatrick Braes; a few grouse on the open hill.
Weather: Unbroken, hazy sunshine but a strong, cold east wind. Melting snow patches towards the summits.
February 2017
