Walk: Tomtain, Laird’s Loup & soggy boots

📌 Kilsyth Hills, North Lanarkshire
★★

Tomtain’s trig pillar marks one of several swellings along the east-west ridge forming the Kilsyth Hills. It’s easily accessed from the Tak-Ma-Doon road by a shortish but boggy path, and gives superb views south across Lanarkshire, west to Meikle Bin and north to Carron Valley Reservoir and the Ochil Hills on a clear day. On a rainy one, the second, much tougher objective might be of more interest: Laird’s Loup waterfall plunges off its rocky prow in a magnificent (and magnificently remote) setting – but can only be reached by a rough hike across pathless ground.

📷 Chronological photo guide

🌍 Location

📌 Start / finish at Tak-Ma-Doon Road viewpoint, 2 mi north of Kilsyth

🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NS 734812

🛰️ GPS coordinates: 56.006530,-4.031546

❌ No public transport within 1 mi

🚗 Car park

📝 Key info

▶ 9 km / 6 mi | ▲ 420 m | ⌛ 3-4 hr

Features: △ Tomtain (453 m); 🌊 Laird’s Loup ★★★★

⬤ Tough | Boggy hill path to Garrel Hill, then pathless but drier going across rough grassy slopes to waterfall.

➡️ Out-and-back walk: start – Tomtain – Garrel Hill – foot of Laird’s Loup – return by outward route

Download file for GPS

🥾 On our last visit

Wildlife: Free ranging cows & sheep, red grouse.

Weather: Dry but overcast with a strong westerly wind, around 13°C.

September 2023

Laird’s Loup ★★★★