Kilpatrick Hills

9 miles / 15 km

A very hard walk to the highest point in the Kilpatrick Hills and West Dunbartonshire. The climb up to Loch Humphrey is steep on a gravel road. The roundtrip up to Duncolm and the return over Greenside Reservoir is on a boggy path but still pretty flat. The climb up to Duncolm is very steep. Ditto for the descent down again in the direction of Greenside Reservoir.

Very Hard

The walk is mostly on a grassy path. Most of the path is boggy and requires a lot of both attention and stamina. The walk is also very exposed to the weather. Due to the boggy path, this is a walk only recommended after 3-4 days of sun. Proper hill walking shoes and walking poles are a must here. Ditto for plenty of water and food too.




Train from Glasgow/Partick/Dumbarton to Kilpatrick on the Balloch line 2 times an hour.

The walk starts from the Kilpatrick train stop. Unfortunately, with the steep staircase up and over the railway line if you arrive from Glasgow/Partick/Dalmuir. Head for the Mount Pleasant Drive over the bridge crossing Station Road and then follow that road to the signposts for Loch Humphrey. Follow these signposts.
The route follows first a good small tarmac road and then gradually rises to a cattle grid and the gravel road.

The gravel road steadily rises up along the hillside until it ends up at the foot of the infamous..... drum roll, please.... Cardiac Hill. This feels like the Hilary Step just before the top of Mount Everest. It is indeed the key to climbing The Slacks... Well, it feels like it. Cardiac Hill, which deserves it's name, is fiendishly steep, made a lot worse by the scorching sun and the loose gravel. The secret here is to follow the well-used grass verge on the left of this hill as this grass verge is not as loose as the gravel.
There is a helipad-like plateau at the top of Cardiac Hill where you can rest, admire the view and regain your composure. Well, that is what I do. There is a short, fiendishly sharp climb just above this helipad-like plateau which is actually steeper than the Cardiac Hill. But the road is more compact and does not have loose gravel. This hill is therefore easier than Cardiac Hill.
Congratulations is due here as you have now entered a flat bit in the canyon. A left turn at the end of the canyon follows and the road is climbing again until you reaches the top here and Loch Humprey is straight ahead. Continue on the gravel road down the hill to the dam.




The gravel gives way to a grassy, muddy path through a red deer fence and onto the path proper to Duncolm. The walking poles is useful here past some watery muddy parts of the path.



The two lesser Duncolm hills are bypassed before the proper hill, Duncolm comes into view for the first time. It is hiding well and out of view from Loch Humprey, indeed.



The climb up Duncolm is desperately steep. It also comes in two stages where the first climb is the steepest and the worst. But finally... You are there at 1300 feet/401 meters above sea level.



Enjoy the 360-degree round views ! The views are really superb towards the rest of the Kilpatrick Hills, Ben Lomond and The Highlands, Campsie Fells and Loch Lomond. Your next target, Greenside Reservoir, can also be seen in the far distance towards Glasgow. You have a long walk ahead of you...



Now, the return starts. Head straight for Greenside Reservoir down the rather vertical descent to the moor below. Using the nice heather as a brake is a good way of descending down the hill. Not to mention safe.



The path over this boggy moor follows the fence and is surprisingly good. A small canyon has to be crossed and both sides of this canyon are pretty vertical. There is also a small burn to be crossed just before Greenside Reservoir. The path along Greenside Reservoir is a bit dodgy on tired legs.



But finally, you arrive at the dam, hopefully safe and well. Take the road down the valley. Stop at the river 200 down the gravel road and fill up your flasks or take a cooling-down dip there. The gravel road ends up in Cochno Road which you follow down to Glasgow Road and a bus stop 200 meters to the right... Or you can stop the bus when it is going up the lower part of Cochno Road. The same bus will pick you up at the bus stop at Glasgow Road 5 minutes later.

Bus (40 minutes long) to Maryhill and Glasgow Central Station past Bearsden train stop 4-5 times an hour.

Enjoy the walk !!