Paths r

Beinn Mhor e t

741 n 00.51.01. 5 2.0 kilometres a r b

n 00.51.0 mile e l G

The representation of features or boundaries in which LLTNPA or others L o ha ve a n in ter est do es not n ec es sarily i m ply th eir tr ue p o si tions. F or further O T inf orma tio n pleas e c ontac t the appropriate authority. The map is based C upon Ordnance Survey Land-Line.Plus® and Land-Form Profile TM digital

Argyll H data with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the Controller Forest of Her Majesty's Stationery Office © Crown copyright.

Park E Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown copyright and may lead to C prosecution or civil proceedings. K loch lomond & the trossachs national Park authority 100031883 2011

The maps in this leaflet are for illustrative purposes only. Always equip yourself with the appropriate map.

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Clach Bheinn 643 C

C Beinn Ruadh 664 Shepherd’s Point

Argyll Forest Park C

Glenmassan Sports

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C Argyll Stonefield Cottage Forest C Park n Bur R pel R E iv cha iv c e er e h r Inv r M a C ig as s an

Massan

Falls C Benmore

Gardens

RiveR e achaig & Massan c iRcuit heRitage Path

Sports Kilmun Benmore E ckford Ho use Church F Gardens

Benmore House

Sports

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Kilmun Pier Golden Gates H

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HC Hillside House C R iv Heritage e C r Arboretum n Park sa as M C Graham’s Point

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RIVER ECHA IG & M ASSAN LOOP BLAIRMORE BEINN MHOR C

KILMUN HERITAGE Sports C Blairmore Pier

STRONE HILL F

KILMUN Roads Parkin g Paths Sports

Forest Tracks C Toilets Cafe F Graham’s Point Rivers/Lochs Dunselma STRONE Sports Picn ic Area Restaurant Castle Plantation

F Woodland Telephone Ferry

Mixed Post Office Gardens Sports Residential Lazarretto Point HO Church LY L Sports F O Strone Point CH

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Sports

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RiveR eachaig & Massan ciRcuit stRone hill

BenMoRe & KilMun Paths

The routes described in this leaflet are just a taster of the many and varied walks available in the area. Forestry Distance: 3km Commission provides a wealth of way-marked Distance: 5km + 1km loop time: 3 hours trails - a leaflet describing these is available from their This route takes you from Turn left and follow the forest road for a few metres Strone Hill overlooks the a national PaRK 1 type of route: visitor centre at Ardgartan and the tourist Information time: 1 /2 -2 hours and then take the first track to the right. The track village of Strone and offers Strenuous. Steep foR eveRYone Centres in and Ardgartan. We hope the along the banks of the Rivers type of route: passes a locked gate and through a disused gravel superb views over the Firth of in places, walking on selection will provide something for everyone from the Massan and Eachaig on Easy/moderate. pit, continuing through a small mature forest Clyde and its sea lochs. On a experienced hill walkers to those who want a stroll with Mostly on even flat clear day it is possible to see open hill. woodland paths and the plantation. It’s the nation’s park. To discover, to explore, family and friends. old road. ground, but with over to Arran, the Arrochar Possible users: short stretch on On rejoining the Glen Alps and down the Clyde to Walkers to enjoy. It’s all about finding your own space. Those of you who choose to follow some of the routes The route starts from the car narrow/uneven Massan road, you have the . The route follows And then choosing what you do with it... described will be rewarded with dramatic scenery of wild park at Benmore Botanic ground. option of a delightful loop forest paths and roads before There is so much to enjoy in Loch Lomond & The and rugged hilltops; fantastic rock formations; views Garden. Cross the A815 and Possible users: down and along the River it becomes a faint path onto the Trossachs National Park – woods and forests, wild from the Isle of Mull to Ailsa Craig. We have forests, follow the old road just past Eachaig (join the loop by open hill. flowers and wildlife watching, watersports, climbing or rivers and farmland and a history dating back to the Walkers, cyclists Eckford House. Turn to the walking down the Eachaig The route starts from Graham’s just taking in the view. Vikings with a fascinating heritage from the Victorian right, re-cross the main road road to the right for 200 Point Heritage Park . Departing era and a graveyard containing the mausoleum for the There’s always something to do. Whether you love and follow the track over the using the metres, the loop is from the Monk’s Hut at adventure or prefer more passive pastimes, you’ll find Dukes of Argyll and many historic graves. There is a iron footbridge. To the right is a weir and to the left signposted to the left by Graham’s Point, cross the main wealth of wildlife to be seen – roe and red deer, otters, an activity to suit. an old ford, and on a fine day a great opportunity for Scottish Woodlands, Deargacha Walk). Rejoin the road and take the first left at Johnstone Avenue, turn ! t i badgers, eagles, ravens and even osprey and the a paddle in the warm waters from . Turn left Glen Massan road turning right, and after a kilometre right onto the path immediately behind the row of h t If you would like further information about paths i

occasional humpbacked whale. w and follow the river as far as the junction with the cross over the stone bridge over the Massan. Here houses on the right. Ascend to the forest road and in the National Park please contact: d e

Glen Massan road. Crossing the road diagonally to again turn right and rejoin the track following the turn left. After a few yards take the right fork. The h

For the fit and experienced there are the hill walks to the s National Park Ranger Service, i n

the left, cross the road bridge and follow the narrow River Eachaig. Continue along this river track, with walk climbs steadily, emerging from the forest to i f

summit of Beinn Mhor and Strone Hill, to be rewarded

spectacular views of the Ranger Base, Ballochyle e with views to Mull, Arran and beyond. For the less path up the right bank of the River Massan. Some beautiful views of the river to the right and Benmore v a h of the path is uneven, but passable. After about 500 House to the left, passing the old iron bridge and the Clyde estuary and Loch Tel 01389 727736 ambitious the beautiful and gentle walks along river u

Long at the viewpoint. or o metres the path curves away from the river and joins weir. After a further kilometre you reach a second y banks and through woodland. For those with a n

a forest road up Glen Massan. (For wild and more bridge. Cross it to enter the Benmore Garden car Where the road forks Loch Lomond & The Trossachs e fascination for history there is a stroll along h w spectacular mountain scenery, follow the road up park. there is a small path to the National Park Headquarters pavements and footpaths past many of n o

left. Follow this path up the buildings and houses which mark past Corarsik for up to 2 kilometres before 20 Carrochan Road, Balloch, G83 8EG t e

Several other forest walks and cycle l turning back.) Strone Hill. It is rough in f the era when ‘doon the water’ was Tel 01389 722600 a

routes start from this car park. e l

places so take sturdy footwear. You will see Dunselma s the favourite holiday destination email: [email protected] i

Castle on its promontory below the golf course and h t web: www.lochlomond-trossachs.org for wealthy Glaswegians. s

the recently restored Blairmore Pier on . s a p The path follows a dry stone dyke to the hilltop where Large print version of this leaflet e s

there are panoramic views from the hill marker. a

is available on request e l On descending make sure you follow the correct wall P and retrace your steps. At the forest road the lower This leaflet was compiled by the Benmore, Blairmore, Strone left fork takes you to Blairmore, otherwise turn right and Kilmun Paths Group, a group of local residents and path users, for Kilmun. On the walk look out for signs of wildlife, and produced by Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park including red squirrels and pine martens in the forest, Authority on their behalf. red deer and black grouse on the open hill and Photographs have been kindly supplied by: woodland edge and oyster catchers on the shore. Members of the Benmore, Blairmore, Strone and Kilmun Paths Group and Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Authority.

Printed on recycled paper LLTNPA/03/11/CCB25,000

KilMun heRitage Beinn MhoR

cowal Benmore & Distance: 700m + Distance: 12km time: 4-5 hours Kilmun Paths The is fascinating time: 1 hour Around 1825 he bought a strip of land, five miles of which The highest peak in Cowal the track crosses the River Massan and beyond for anyone interested in type of route: now forms the villages of Kilmun, Strone and Blairmore. (741 metres) offers wonderful type of route: the bridge a path is signposted for walkers up Scottish heritage. The Kilmun Level, surfaced views of Loch Eck, the Clyde Strenuous, to the right. This is where the real climb begins. From the church car park turn left and follow the road in heritage walk follows a circular paths & cycleway Estuary and north and west to uneven, boggy The path climbs quite steeply as it passes the direction of the pier and past Napier’s first buildings, route through the village Possible users: the Highlands and islands. ground. A climb of through mature six square houses of Georgian design. These houses, returning through the forest. Wheelchair This walk passes through almost 700m. conifer forest. users (partial known locally because of their shape as the ‘tea caddies’, farmland, forests and Boots essential. Starting as a forest The historic Kilmun Church route) / were built together with the pier, pier buildings and the moorland with the initial walk Possible users: road it slowly changes makes a good starting point. walkers/cyclists pier hotel. Continue past the pier to the small heritage in from the car park area an Experienced to a path and finally leads you A holy site for at least a park at Graham’s Point. This includes a play area for ideal walk for all the family. Walkers to the open moorland above the forest. thousand years, the present children in the shape of a steamship, a monk’s hut and a Why not stop off at the Continue to climb through open somewhat Victorian building has fine stained glass of original monument to Duncan who in the 1870s established what beautiful and spectacular Massan Falls on your way boggy grassland to the ridge in front of you. design and a unique, recently restored, organ driven is now the Benmore Botanic Garden. From this point to the start of this walk. From the ridge are wonderful views from the by mains water. The Campbell’s of Inverary Castle onwards it is unsuitable for wheelchair users, who should Clyde estuary to Ben Cruachan and the islands. Park at the small car park at adopted Kilmun as a holy site and endowed a collegiate return by the road. The ridge continues to the summit. The most church, the 15th century tower of which still stands, as the top of the Glen Massan Leaving the park cross the road leading uphill passed straightforward return route is to retrace your does the Campbell mausoleum with its 19th century road just beyond Stonefield Hillside House (1835) which in the 1940s was the home steps. cast iron dome. Equally fascinating is the fine Farm. Follow the unsurfaced of Lewis Fry Richardson, a visionary mathematician and churchyard which includes examples of mort safes – road through the Glen Massan The upland area is used for hill grazing. Please physicist. Richardson’s vision was such that application iron coffin covers that protect the graves from body estate for about 3 kilometres. keep your dog under control at all times. of his discoveries relies on the digital snatchers - and the grave of Elizabeth Blackwell, the 200 metres beyond the stone computer which was in its infancy at the first woman to qualify as a doctor in Britain. cottage time of his death in Kilmun in 1953. The Holy Loch also provides one of the earliest Turn left behind Hillside House and take a examples of the impact of the age of steam. David footpath to the right immediately behind Napier who worked with Henry Bell to produce the the houses of Johnstone Avenue. Comet, Europe’s first passenger carrying steam ship. Ascend and turn left onto the forest road. Napier saw the potential of the area for second homes Enjoy the fine views and continue to for the successful merchants and industrialists of Kilmun, exiting before the church. Glasgow and of a new route north from Glasgow by ship to Kilmun and by carriage and boat to Inverary.

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