Great Trails in Loch Lomond

West Highland Way at Inversnaid

Scotland’s Long Distance Walking Routes

Given its geographical location and outstanding beauty, it is not surprising that so many of Scotland's long-distance walking routes pass through Loch Lomond and the Trossachs.

Here is an introduction to each of the six long-distance walks that go through the National Park.

Loch Lomond and Cowal Way

Loch Lomond and Cowal Way

The Cowal Way, established in 2000, recently received its Loch Lomond prefix. 57 miles in length, starting at Portavadie Marina, next to the Tarbert ferry and ending on the banks of Loch Lomond at Inveruglas. The trail goes through the National Park around Glenbranter, Lochgoilhead, Ardgartan, Arrochar before concluding at Inveruglas.

Loch Lomond & Cowal Way: Official Website

John Muir Way at Croftamie

The John Muir Way

The longest trail on this list is the John Muir Way at 134 miles. From Helensburgh to Dunbar, the birthplace of John Muir, it's a coast to coast walk or cycle. John Muir was the founder of the National Parks in America.

The John Muir Way enters the National Park at Balloch, with the divergence of cycling and walking routes a few miles east of the town. The cycling route goes through Croftamie and near Drymen before heading south to meet the walking trail near Strathblane. At times the paths cross the West Highland Way at various points. There are many more miles beyond the National Park boundary before arriving on the east coast of Scotland.

The John Muir Way: Official Website

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Three Lochs Way, Arrochar

The Three Lochs Way

These routes often cross over each other, with the Three Lochs Way route going from Balloch to Inveruglas. This is the second shortest of the long-distance routes listed here at 34 miles. Established and maintained by the dedicated volunteers of Helensburgh & District Access Trust, The Three Lochs Way passes through Helensburgh, Glen Fruin, by Loch Long and close to 'The Cobbler' before concluding at Inveruglas.

The Three Lochs Way: Official Website

Brenachoile Point, Loch Katrine

The Great Trossachs Path

The Great Trossachs Path is the shortest of the trails at just under 30 miles, from Inversnaid on the banks of Loch Lomond to Callander in the Trossachs, or vice versa. The path goes through the UK’s largest National Nature Reserve, the Great Trossachs Forest.

The path takes in some of the most glorious of scenery through the Trossachs and the Trossachs Trail including Invernsnaid and its RSPB reserve, Stronachlachar, Loch Katrine, Loch Achray and Brig o’ Turk.

Great Trossachs Path: Official Website

Glen Ogle Viaduct, Rob Roy Way

The Rob Roy Way

This 77-mile walk starts from the Village Square in Drymen and finishes at Pitlochry. Highlights include Falls of Leny, Glen Ogle Viaduct (see above) and Falls of Dochart at Killin, as well as Lochs Venachar, Lubnaig and Earn. You can read more about the legendary outlaw Rob Roy MacGregor at our guide to this character whose life impacted much of the countryside around Loch Lomond and the Trossachs.

The Rob Roy Way: Official Website

West Highland Way, Tyndrum

The West Highland Way

The West Highland Way is 96 miles long, from Milngavie, just north of Glasgow to Fort William. A tremendous section of the West Highland Way is through some of the most stunning parts of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs: Drymen, Conic Hill, Balmaha, Milarrochy Bay, Rowadennan, Invernsaid, Inverarnan, Crianlarich and Tyndrum.

After leaving the National Park just north of Tyndrum, the landscapes change as the route crosses Glencoe.

We have many guides to the West Highland Way on this website to help plan your walk (or cycle); check out also the Official Website for the West Highland Way.

Plan Your Visit 

If you plan to visit Loch Lomond & The Trossachs, consider ordering our book ‘101 things to do in Loch Lomond & The Trossachs’, a photo guidebook of things to do and places to explore. Click here to purchase. 

Thanks for reading

Words and photography by Paul Saunders. Visit Paul’s Marketing and Photography websites for details of his services in Scotland.

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