Dunbartonshire

9 miles / 15 km

This is a good walk up the lower part of the Leven valley, then up and over the hill to Cardross and then a not so interesting return to Dumbarton. This walk can and should be finished at Cardross train stop, as the pavement over the hill to Dalreoch is poor with a lot of unfriendly vegetation blocking the pavement.
Dumbarton itself is worthy of a visit. This is a walk best suited for late winter/late fall where the vegetation along the pavement is not fully grown (and a nuisance).

Pretty Hard

There is one extremely steep climb here. The one up from Renton to the reservoir. There is also a climb on the road between Cardross and Dalreoch which is worth noting. Unless it is late fall/late winter ( = the vegetation along the pavement is not intrusive), it is recommended to end this walk at Cardross train stop with train back to Dalreoch/Partick/Glasgow 2 times an hour. Good shoes and plenty of water are required here.

Train to Dalreoch from Glasgow/Partick 4 times an hour.

Leave the train at Dalreoch station and head up the path along the road to the right, signposted Balloch. The path/pavement is really good here and has massive improved since I did it for the first time/last time in 1996. This flat walk is enjoyable. The views are good too.




The walk on these pavements takes you through the nice village of Renton. Stock up on drinks here at the small shops if you have not already done so. The next couple of miles will be hard, very hard.
After the white block of flats on the right side of the road, take the Cardross Road to the left. This road crosses under the motorway and the railway line before it starts to climb. The gradient here is steep, very steep. The climb feels vertical at times. The road climbs up through a zig-zag bend before it becomes a bit less steep just before the Carman Reservoir. The views here are a just reward for the hard climb.



The road passes the reservoir and becomes less steep. The remainder of the climb is both gentle and scenic.



The road crests the hill and Port Glasgow comes into view.. Port Glasgow may not be the prettiest place in this area. But after this hard climb, it is...



The road now drops down the hill and changes name to Carman Road during the descent. The views are pretty good here past the farm fields. The road ends up in Cardross. I recommend ending the walk at the train station here... But for those who want to continue the walk to Dumbarton... Here is this walk.
The road follows this pavement all the way along the busy Helensburgh - Dumbarton road.



The road climbs up a pretty steep hill and over Westcliff on a pretty bad pavement before it falls down again on a far better pavement to Dalreoch train stop, where this walk started, and the River Leven. Take the West Bridgend road down the river to Bridge Street and the bridge over River Leven to Dumbarton High Street. Take this road to the right and continue down to the Artizan signpost, next to Poundland. Take this path up to the left, which takes you directly to Dumbarton train station where this walk ends.... or you can take a stroll to the end of the High Street and then double back to the railway station.

Train from Dumbarton train station to Glasgow/Partick 4 times an hour.