Helensburgh

16 miles / 24 km

There are some very pretty areas in the Clyde area. Areas where nobody goes unless they know the area well. Glen Fruin, a small glen/valley between Helensburgh/Garelochhead and Loch Lomond is one of these areas. This glen is around 4 miles long. A single-track road runs through at the valley floor while a big road, built some years ago to transport parts for the local naval base, runs through the glen high above the valley floor.
The single-track road is used by the local naval base for physical training and by the locals for farming and walking/cycling. The glen is well defended at both ends by some steep hills. The best defence/the worst hill is the vertical road up from the naval base. The two roads from Loch Lomond and Helensburgh are also formidable defences.
Glen Fruin is therefore a very serious undertaking for walkers. This walk is perhaps the hardest walk in the whole of the Clyde area, of all the walks on this website in other words. This walk is also very scenic as Glen Fruin is very beautiful. It is both the hardest walk in the Clyde area and one of the most beautiful walks. It is therefore highly recommended.

Please note that the walk can be shortened by 5 miles/9 km by taking the 2 times an hour bus from Garelochhead/Faslane to Helensburgh. Check the online bus timetables before the walk.

On a personal note: I cycled this route 20 years ago. This walk has always been one I wanted to repeat. It became a bucket list item after my bariatric surgery last year. A walk I managed to do one year ahead of schedule. It goes without saying that I am very pleased about this walk... Again, a big thank you to NHS for the bariatric surgery and the good care.

Very Hard

The first 9 miles/14 km of this walk is at times desperately hard. There are some flat parts here, at most 2 miles / 3 km. The rest is undulating or climbing. The final 7 miles / 10 km is flat but still hard to very hard. Most of the walk is also exposed. The hill between Glen Fruin and Garelochhead is also very exposed over a barren hilltop.
Bring plenty of water, gels and protein bars. The tarmac and the pavements are good. Bring good walking shoes as your legs will get a good pounding. The best weather for this walk is light sun or overcast weather.





Train from Glasgow/Partick to Helensburgh 2 times an hour.

Jump of the train at Helensburgh and take the road to the right, up the hill.
This road climbs steadily through upper Helensburgh, over the West Highland Railway line and past the Mackintosh Hill House to a dam called Reservoir 1. Take the path along the road here to the signposted "Glen Fruin" road to the left.




This road is very undulating with some short, steep climbs and descents. To say that this road is challenging is an understatement. The two next pictures is taken from this road. One of the farmfields and one of the road just before the bridge over the river.






The road ends up in a crossroad. The road here is good signposted. The road to the right goes down to Loch Lomond and the Helensburgh - Glen Fruin - Balloch walk I did earlier this year. Take the road to the left, signposted Garelochhead. This road takes you into Glen Fruin proper.
The road climbs a lot in the beginning. Not steep climbs but still enough to get your attention. The road then arrives at some farmfields and becomes a lot flatter. The next two pictures is from these farmfields.







The road also passes a farm and there is normally some bulls and sheep next to the road, well secured by some good fences. The bulls are pretty impressive, as I discovered. The flat road ends up in another short climb.



The road now enters the upper part of Glen Fruin. The road passes the final farmfield before the start of the hills over to Garelochhead and Faslane.




The climb starts after a ninety degree turn to the left and then a flat bit past an army base before the proper climb up the hill to the left of the glen. The first bit is a bit steep.



There is a good viewpoint at the next right-turn. Stop here and admire Glen Fruin. Take a photo too. This is a wonderful, tranquil glen and I hope you have liked it as much as I did.



The road rises again after this viewpoint. The climb is not as steep here as in the beginning of the climb. The climb from Glen Fruin up to the top of the hill is pretty short compared to other similar hills. The whole climb is done in a steady tempo in as little as 20 minutes.



The climb tops out on the top of the hill. This hill is around 600 feet / 200 meters above sea level. The views towards Garelochhead and the Faslane naval base are rewarding.



The descent down to the naval base is pretty much a vertical descent on a switchback/zig zag road. It is a descent which is hard on the knees and other joints so be careful here.



Just after crossing under the railway bridge, the road ends up in a crossroad again at the naval base. Take the road to the left here towards Helensburgh. Cross the road over to the right side here, to the far better pavement on the right side of the road. The next 1 mile / 2 km is pretty dull along the fences to the naval base. The road descends down to the loch and then follow the loch for a while.



Cross the road again and follow the road to the left of the main road. The walk here is pretty dull to Rhu and the small climb over this village. Again.. The bus to Helensburgh is by far the best choice here...



The road past Rhu is a lot more interesting than the road to Rhu from Faslane. But again.. The bus is the best alternative. The final 1 mile / 2 km to Helensburgh is very charming though and the best part of the Faslane - Helensburgh seafront walk.





At the clock tower, just after passing the leasure centre and the pier, take Sinclair Street up to the left. The train station is 200 yards/meters up this road. Cross the road and the next road again to the train station, where this walk ends.


Train from Helensburgh to Partick/Glasgow Queen Street lower level 2 times an hour.

Enjoy the walk !!