Overview: Even though I got mud almost up to my knees, the views of Loch Lomond and the Clyde River Valley were beautiful and well worth the trip. The lovely moorland and plentiful wildlife made up for the sometimes boggy path.


Time: I took me almost an hour longer than the trail description indicated, however I believe most people could complete this in around 4-4.5 hours. It took me a bit longer due to a lunch break, my insistence on going very slow on steep slopes, and that I was slightly sick and about to develop a cold.

Trail Conditions: The beginning of the trail is paved, which soon turns into gravel. The path around the loch is less and less managed and trafficked until it becomes a grass path for the rest of the way. Past the loch there are large areas of mud (practically ponds) that are difficult to avoid. Eventually I resigned myself to getting muddy and a bit wet. Once you pass through the gate leaving the loch behind, the path is mostly dry with a few areas of manageable mud. The path is easy to spot and follow through the moorland, with a few diversions and ways up the smaller hills. The paths up Middle Duncolm and Duncolm can get quite steep, but I did not have to resort to using my hands. I advise taking it slow since some this ground is muddy and not very stable.


People: The beginning of the path had a large number of people (~20 or so). However, everyone seemed to reach the top of the first hill, enjoy the view of the Clyde, and return back down. Once I reached Loch Humphrey I did not see another soul until I circled back around. Due to its popularity, the beginning of the trail has a large amount of litter, but the rest of the trail is unspoiled.


Sightings: This is a great place to go if you're interested in birds and insects. In the marsh and moorland I spotted a large number of birds (even though it was September) including European stonechats, meadow pipits, northern wheatears, and ravens. I also spotted a number of dragonflies, caterpillars, and a red admiral butterfly. I imagine in spring there would be even more creatures to observe.

Supplies: A small boat to combat the mud in? Wellies would be useful to get through the deep mud sections but would be unsuitable for walking the whole distance in. If I were to walk it again I would definitely bring an extra pair of socks or two to avoid hiking with damp feet. A compass would also not be a bad idea, especially when coming back through the moors since the path was a bit hidden at times. I also recommend a wind breaker or warm jacket depending on the season. It was quite windy and cold at the top of Duncolm!

Public Transport: The beginning of the trail is a few minutes walk from the Kilpatrick train station. This line includes Partick station and runs to Dumbarton.