Bearsden & District

Drymen

Photographs of a circular walk starting and finishing at the village of Drymen

with views of:-

Campsie Fells, Kilpatrick Hills, Loch Lomond,

Conic Hill, Luss Hills and Duncryne

Clachan Inn in the village square of Drymen

Clachan Inn ( dating from 1734 ) in the village square of Drymen

Drymen is at the western end of the Campsie Fells and to the South of Loch Lomond.

In the 18th and 19th centuries Drymen was a stopover point for Highland cattle drovers.

Drymen is only a short distance off the route of the West Highland Way

and within the bounds of the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park

The Campsie Fells from Gallowhill Forest on the outskirts of Drymen

The Campsie Fells from Gallowhill Wood

on the outskirts of Drymen

Wikipedia - Campsie Fells

Visitwoods - Gallowhill Wood

The Kilpatrick Hills

from the outskirts of Drymen

Wikipedia - Kilpatrick Hills

Loch Lomond

from the outskirts of Drymen.

Conic Hill on the West Highland Way

from the outskirts of Drymen.

Luss Hills

from the outskirts of Drymen

Coldrach Farm

on the outskirts of Drymen

The Old Buchanan Smithy

on the road from Drymen to Balmaha

This was built by the Duke of Montrose in the early 19th century.

It initially housed workers on his estate.

It also housed the estate's blacksmith's shop,

hence the name of the hamlet.

Wikipedia - Buchanan Smithy

Duncryne ( "The Dumpling " )

from the viewpoint above Drymen

Walk Highlands - Duncryne

The Parish Church ( built 1771 ) at Drymen

The Buchanan Arms Hotel at Drymen

The origins go back to the Buchanan of Drumakill,

Lairds who owned extensive lands mainly at Drymen, Ross Priory and Gartocharn.

Built in 1763 it was an Inn and Farmhouse with the adjoining Farm of Ballanton.

About 1860 it was purchased by James 4th Duke of Montrose

and leased to a Mr Robe Buchanan followed shortly after by Mr James Buchanan.

In 1935 the hotel was sold by Mr David Burnett to a Mr Grant.

The Hotel and Buchanan Arms Farm were next owned by Mr Charles Guy

- his brothers, Albert and Arthur, thereafter took over control at Buchanan Arms Hotel.

The Guys sold to Scottish Highland Hotels and,

since 2013, the hotel has been under the ownership of Nordfield Properties Ltd.

Buchanan Arms Hotel

The village shop in Drymen

Map of the Drymen Walk Area

Route Map of West Highland Way from Carbeth to Drymen

Route Map of West Highland Way

from Drymen to Balmaha

Route Map of West Highland Way

from Carbeth to Drymen

This is a short circular walk round the northwest of Drymen of about two miles and one hour duration.
It is a picturesque part of the country with views overlooking Loch Lomond and has many interesting extensions to the walk.
The walk starts at the Stirling Road Car Park in Drymen where ample car parking is available.
lt turns left on leaving the carpark and then right at the Square into Gartmore Road.
It leaves the village on passing the Clachan Inn and Balmaha Road on the left and after an attractive row of houses continues on a narrow country road beside the relocated Primary School — a lovely environment for the local children.
The road is not very busy but watch out for traffic in both directions as it climbs gradually passing ﬁelds of cattle on either side and the entrance to a prosperous looking farm on the right. In early winter these ﬁelds are known to be an attraction as a feeding ground for large colonies of Canada geese.
At the next junction on the left, the walk leaves Gartmore Road ( continuing on can join up with the Garadhban Forest path which is part of the West Highland Way ) and passes through stone pillars to Coldrach Lodge with its beautiful garden. This is a lovely single track road and leads to a few large individually built houses with well established gardens which have wonderful views overlooking the Kilpatrick Hills, Loch Lomond and the Luss Hills. Among the row of houses, look out for the one with the thatched roof.
After the houses, the walk continues on a farm track and passes by the refurbished Coldrach Farm which was empty for many years and also the outhouses which are being renuvated to be used as lodges.
It turns left at the junction and continues along the farm track with ﬁelds of cattle and sheep on either side and to the right views of the impressive Conic Hill and Loch Lomond.
A narrow path straight ahead at the t-junction provides an extension to the walk as it eventually joins up with the West Highland Way.
The walk changes back to a metal road surface on reaching the houses at Buchanan Smithy. It is a very small hamlet which served the Buchanan Estate and as a point of interest pause in front of the busy Balmaha Road to look right at the old blacksmith’s forge in the centre of the estate cottages.
The walk then turns left to follow the road back into Drymen and on looking back the ideal location can be seen at the top of the ﬁeld of the Coldrach Farm and attractive houses.
On entering the village, the walk can take either the old Balmaha Road on the left with its cottage style houses back to the Clachan Inn and the Square or pass by the side entrance of the Winnock Hotel and go under the arch to the Square and a short walk back to the carpark.