Scotland is a land of adventure, full of inspiring scenery, imposing mountain ranges and endless lochs. It’s the perfect outdoor adventure playground whether you’re into mountain climbing or gentles strolls along flatter ground. The gateway to the mountains begins at Loch Lomond, a place that hill walkers call home and where Ben Lomond makes an appearance as one of the first Munro’s you’ll meet, but you don’t have to go trekking up a mountainside if you want to stretch your legs and enjoy the view, because Conic Hill is right next door, and it’s worth a climb as well.
Conic Hill sits on top of a fault line, and ancient one at that. It’s not very tall at only 1200ft, so it’s ideal for novice climbers as well (in fact, you get a lot of dog walkers up here on a gentle stroll). It forms part of the West Highland Way, although the route itself skirts the actual summit, and also forms an easy route from Drymen to Balmaha.
The shortest route is from Balmaha car park, where a forestry road takes you towards the bottom of the hill. It’s well signposted at the beginning, and if you do miss the route markers you could always follow the steady stream of walkers going the same way. This route is the steepest, offering sharp climbs and twisting turns but it’s still navigable by most people, regardless of fitness level.
The other popular route starts at Garadhban forest (pronounced Garavan) at the other side, just north of Drymen. It’s a longer walk in but because you’re starting above sea level the actual climb to the summit is nowhere near as steep. From car park to summit and back again, including a few moments at the top for photos, can take around three hours. Ideal for a long walk with the dog and great if you’re looking to get into hillwalking and want an easy place to start.
Things you’ll need to remember about climbing Conic are that the top is a series of three peaks with the actual summit located right in the middle. The climb to the summit from the main track is one of the steepest sections, covered in loose shale and slippery when wet. It’s fine for most walkers but if you need walking aid you’ll need to take care here. You should also be aware that the slopes of Conic are farming land. You have right of access, of course, but you need to take care not to disturb the flocks of sheep that live here, particularly if you’re walking with dogs.
Whether you choose to climb from the Balmaha or Drymen side (Drymen is my personal preference because there are fabulous views for nearly the entire route) you can return to respective villages to relax in their local cafes and restaurants, all of them very welcoming to walkers. This is a great walk for all seasons of the year, every bit as accessible in winter as it is without the snow!
