Luss Heritage Trail

This easy walking trail takes in the model village of Luss, with its pretty stone cottages and pier on Loch Lomond as well as riverside and woodland sections.

Terrain

Very good paths with some steps but mainly level.

Public Transport

Regular buses from Glasgow and Crianlarich as well as Citylink coaches which stop on the A82.

Start

Luss car park. Open start point in Google Maps for directions.

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Walk Statistics

Distance: 2.5km / 1.5 miles
Time: 1 hour
Ascent: 18m (Profile)
Start Grid Ref: NS359930

Maps / GPS

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Walk Description

Stage 1

Start from the main car park in Luss (charge). Luss was orginally known as Clachan Dhu, the dark village, due to its position in the shadow of the hills. However approximately 1,500 years ago St Kessog brought Christianity to the area; he was martyred and his body embalmed in sweet herbs. Local legend suggests that the herbs grew and covered his grave and gave the village its new name derived from the Gaelic word lus meaning herb. Head away from the lochside to follow the road towards the village from the car park. Almost immediately turn right towards the tiny primary school (old road sign for Glen Road), following the pathway up the slope and then up steps to head across the footbridge over the A82. The pathway emerges next to a large house, keep straight on through a gate onto a path signed for the Quarry Walk.

Stage 2

Cross the minor road and go through the gate to follow a path through the woodland. Keep on the main path when smaller paths head off to the right and soon you start descending steps to a wooden bridge. Here the spoil heaps from the slate quarry can be seen. Many of the villagers worked in the slate quarry and would have been too poor to clad their turf-thatched cottages in slate, much of which was sold for the roofs of the Glasgow tenements. However in 1850 the laird who was also the local clan chief replaced the hovels with the new model village that can be seen today. Cross the bridge and turn left to walk downstream passing the small weir. Keep following the path which passes under the busy A82 and then alongside grazing land before crossing a small wooden bridge and heading up to the village road.

Stage 3

Climb the steps up to the road and cross over. Turn left and follow the pavement very briefly before turning right down steps and onto a path signed River Path. Turn right on the path and follow it as follows the river downstream, eventually reaching some benches at a sharp bend in the water. The path passes a water treatment works before it reaches the first houses of Luss. Here there is the option to turn right over the wooden bridge to visit the Glebe where there is a celtic-cross sculpture and a circular path.

Stage 4

If not exploring the Glebe keep straight on to pass the church which was built in 1875. The graveyard is much older with some of the earliest stones dating from the 7th and 8th century. It is worth exploring the graveyard to find the 11th century Viking hogback grave. Bear round to the right through the gate past the church to reach the shores of Loch Lomond. Follow the lochside to the left, soon reaching Luss pier where boat trips run on the Loch in the summer months. There are stunning views across the loch to Ben Lomond.

Stage 5

From the pier head straight up the main street, where the neat cottages of the model village can be admired. The laird built the village to provide housing for the workers who worked in his slate quarry and mills which included a cotton mill, saw mill and corn mill. Turn right alongside a whitewashed cottage onto a one-way lane, then go right again to return to the car park.

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