Helensburgh to Balloch

Click to Install our FREE APP
Download our route guides and use offline with free GPS mapping

The John Muir Way leaves the pier at Helensburgh to climb up through leafy streets. It passes Charles Rennie Mackintosh's Hill House before picking up a forestry track which climbs to glimpses of Loch Lomond. The route then descends to Loch Lomond Shores (cafes) and follows the waterside to the centre of Balloch where there are all facilities and train station.

Terrain

Pavements, shared cycle path, track, moorland path, an alternative, flatter route for cyclists.

Public Transport

Buses and trains at Helensburgh and Balloch.

Start

Helensburgh Pier. Open start point in Google Maps for directions.

Users' reports

Read about the experiences of our users on this route.
There are 7 reports from this walk - click to read them.

Write your own walk report on Walkhighlands to share your experience. £150 of gear to be won from Highlander for the best reports each month.

Currently 3.00/521

User Rating
Log in to vote

Grade (key)

Bog Factor (key)

Walk Description

Stage 1

The John Muir Way starts from the sea front in Helensburgh, by the pier; there is car parking alongside. Begin by heading up Colquhoun Street which heads uphill opposite the pier. Continue straight ahead until this is blocked by the railway line; at this point turn right then left to cross the railway on the main Sinclair Street, before turning left and then right again onto Upper Colquhoun Street.

Stage 2

Eventually this leads up past the Hill House - regarded by many as the finest of Charles' Rennie MacIntosh's domestic commissions. Run by the National Trust for Scotland, it is open to visitors on summer afternoons. Pass the house and head through the parking area to reach a footpath signpost. Go ahead here to reach a path - signed 'John Muir Way' - which passes through the trees, aiming to the right, until it emerges on the main road.

Stage 3

Cross and turn left to pick up the cycle path that runs beside the main A818 road and follow this for around 2km until a waymarked (JMW) track heads to the right (the cycle route version of the JMW continues ahead). Climb the stile next to the gate to follow the track as it climbs gently uphill. As the track climbs there are glimpses across to Loch Lomond. An indistinct path leaves to the right which can be taken for an optional short, steep 'out and back' detour to the summit of Ben Bowie which has good views over the Firth of Clyde. Returning to the route, the track undulates through thicker plantation.

Stage 4

Now in more open ground the track bends left where the route of the Three Lochs Way leaves to the right (a detour down this path leads to excellent views over Helensburgh), otherwise continue on the track and very soon a reddish path just to the left offers another optional short detour to the highest point of Gouk Hill, a good viewpoint for Loch Lomond. The main route continues ahead and very soon branches right at a signed fork. After passing a small pond the end of the forestry track is soon reached and the signed path plunges into the trees to descend Killoeter escarpment.

Stage 5

What was once a very boggy and steep pathless section was upgraded in 2014 and you can now follow the path down to the the edge of the forestry where the path runs straight ahead with a ditch on the right. There are views to Loch Lomond over the open ground on the left. When the edge of the forestry on the right is reached turn right to follow a track, soon turning left at a signed junction. This crosses open ground before turning left at a crossroads onto an ancient route - this junction is easy to miss in this direction.

Stage 6

Soon go through a gate onto Stoneymollan Muir and there are lovely views to Loch Lomond as the route descends on a grassy track towards the southern end of the Loch. A line of trees marks the approach to the end of the Stoneymollan road where there is a small parking area, go through the gate and descend the road which is steep in places but usually quiet.

Stage 7

Eventually the road bends sharp right - go straight ahead here, taking a path leading over a footbridge over the A82. On the far side pick up the track which keeps to the left edge of a caravan park. Bear left when a road junction is reached, then right at the next junction to head along the left hand side of a vast area of car parks. Continue along this edge to reach Lomond Shores, passing to the right of the Gateway centre to reach the loch. Here bear right along the back of the curving row of shops and cafes. Pass the cylindrical aquarium tower to continue round a short section of the loch shore.

Stage 8

Follow the main path as it curves away right, and go straight across at a road. The path eventually bears right and continues through woodland by a river to emerge in a small car park beside the tourist information centre. The railway station is opposite; the next stage of the route lies over the road bridge to the left.

Next stage: Balloch to Strathblane

Can you help support Walkhighlands?

Please consider setting up a direct debit donation to help support the continued maintenance and updates to Walkhighlands.

Helensburgh to Balloch

Click to Install our FREE APP
Download our route guides and use offline with free GPS mapping

Terrain

Public Transport

Start

Users' reports

Walk Statistics

Mapping and GPS

Does your firm want to sponsor this route?

Accommodation

WARNING