The Walking Gateway to Argyll

Scotland's Great TrailsThe Three Lochs Way is one of Scotland's Great Trails

The Three Lochs Way fully illustrated guidebook has now been updated and reprinted and is available online for £10 + post and packing.

 

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IMPORTANT NOTICE! 26 January 2024 The TLW route between Balloch and Helensburgh or vice versa is impassable as shown on the map. We really mean impassable as there is no easy way through until the fallen trees are cleared. We hope that will happen soon. Meantime we suggest you use the alternative route shown in purple on the same map.

ALERT - 31 January 2024

Don't be put off by the multiple ROAD CLOSED signs along the single track road in Glen Fruin. The road is closed only to vehicular traffic while INEOS repair the pipeline that runs through the glen. You do have to walk through the work compound at the head of the glen and you should dismount in the vicinity of any heavy plant which may be operating. This arrangement may be in place for sometime. There is no barrier to walkers, cyclists or horse riders using the Three Lochs Way.

Gentle landscapes are gradually replaced by the scenic drama of mountain, crag and loch as the Three Lochs Way crosses the Highland Boundary Fault and heads towards the mountains of the Southern Highlands. With Loch Lomond, The Gareloch and Loch Long as recurrent scenic backdrops, the Three Lochs Way takes you on a fascinating journey through place and time as it links a necklace of communities strung along the Clyde Sea Lochs fringe of Scotland's first national park.

Rarely rising above 250 metres, the route's 55 kilometres (34 miles) can easily be walked in 3 to 4 days and with the West Highland railway line never far away, it also offers plenty of options for shorter day walks. Total ascent is approximately 1,500 metres.

Top Ten Highlights

  1. Stoneymollan Road, a delightful ancient route linking Balloch and Cardross.
  2. The stunning view over Loch Lomond when you cross the Highland Boundary Fault at Goukhill Muir.
  3. Helensburgh’s beautiful tree lined streets, especially colourful in Spring and Autumn.
  4. Charles Rennie Macintosh’s elegant domestic architectural masterpiece, "The Hill House".
  5. Peaceful Glen Fruin (but not in 1603 when 300 Macgregors routed a much larger force of Colquhouns in a major clan battle at the head of the glen).
  6. Great views north of Garelochhead over Loch Long to the knobbly skyline of ‘Argyll’s Bowling Green’ and the ‘Arrochar Alps’.
  7. The craggy ‘Cobbler’, the area’s finest mountain and a must climb ‘Corbet’.
  8. Delightful Glen Loin Woodlands, Site of Special Scientific Interest and home to red squirrels.
  9. The impressive Sloy hydro electricity installations, built at the end of WWII with help from German POWs.
  10. A traverse of the fine Munro, Ben Vorlich, from Loch Sloy over to Ardlui makes a great way to top off your Three Lochs Way experience.

Geocaching

The Three Lochs Way is increasingly popular with geocachers these days. For more info check out www.geocaching.com

Three Lochs Way Multi-use Notes

The Three Lochs Way is a 34.5 mile long distance route  Although developed and promoted primarily with walkers in mind, much of the route follows broad tracks and paths which are also accessible on a bike or horse.

Download The Three Lochs Way Multi-use Notes

 

 

News and things you should know

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Links to other long distance routes

The John Muir Way and the Three Lochs Way share some of the route between Helensburgh and Balloch. At Inveruglas, Inverbeg and Tarbet there are summer ferry links to the West Highland Way and at Arrochar you can join The Cowal Way which in turn links via the Portavadie -Tarbert ferry across Loch Fyne to the Kintyre Way  Click on the links for more information.

 

Our Funding Partners

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How you can help

Helensburgh and District Access TrustThe Three Lochs Way is managed and maintained by the voluntary efforts of members of Helensburgh & District Access Trust which urgently requires funding for improvements to the route. Find out more on how you can help.