From Milngavie to Drymen, West Highland Way

Start: Milngavie Station. (G62 8PG) Grid ref. NS 555 744

Official WHW waymark: thistle flower signposts + yellow arrow signposts for changes in direction + signposts.

(S) After leaving the train station, walk North and pass under B8030 road. Then walk diagonally left and follow "Station Road". Cross Ellangowan Road and follow Douglas Street to the small obelisk marking the official start of the West Highland Way.

(1) Pass under the large metal WHW banner and walk down a ramp. Then follow a river on your left-hand side and walk through a wooded parkland.

(2) At a pond, walk right and continue along the riverside.

(3) As your reach a large building on the opposite side of the river, at a Y-juntcion, take the right-hand path uphill. At the top, at a T-junction, turn left and walk North-West.

(4) Find the riverside again and continue North-West along on a stony path. You will come to a road and follow it to the left for about 30 m.

(5) Leave the road and take the first path on the right. Go North-North-West through a cleared forest. Then follow the Craigallian Loch on your right-hand side. Continue North through the forest.

(6) At a fork (Y-junction), take the right-hand path. Cross a river, go past houses on the left hand side and come out onto the B821 road.

(7) Follow the road to the left for about 500m.

(8) Then take a path on the right (gate) and cross a meadow.

(9) At the edge of a small hill, walk left and wind your way down through the meadow. Go around a heavily wooded rocky outcrop (Dumgoyach on the map) on the left. Go past an old farmhouse that looks abandoned. Cross Blane Water river.

(10) Immediately after the bridge, turn left, pass a gate and follow a good path parallel to an underground aqueduct with small masonry structures. At the various junctions go straight on (in addition to the WHW, follow the "John Muir Way").

(11) Cross the A81 (be careful) and continue on the path opposite, still parallel to the underground aqueduct. Further on, the path crosses a minor road (houses) and continues parallel to the A81. The road ends up on a minor road, follow it to the right for about 20 m.

(12) Before a "5mph speed limit" sign, leave the tarmac, pass a gate on the left and carry on a path, still with the underground aqueduct. Pass under a road and carry straight ahead.

(13) Cross the A81 again (be careful) and continue on the path opposite. As you reach a small road, keep left on the path. Go through a gate and rejoin the road.

(14) Follow the road to the left and cross a river. Then cross a hamlet and continue on the road.

(15) At the intersection at the top of a hill, continue straight ahead. Further on, stay on the tarmac and leave the "John Muir Way" which goes left onto a path.

(16) At the next fork, take the minor road on the right. Go past Drymen campsite on the left and continue on the road. After a sharp bend to the left, carry on following the road for another 10 m.

(17) Then turn right onto a path and cross a footbridge over a stream (be vigilant to spot this start). Climb a small hill. Descend through a meadow and walk left to find the exit gate. Cross the A811 road (caution, fast traffic) and continue on a path.

(18) After a few 10 m, come to a minor road and follow it to the left. As soon as you reach the next junction, continue straight ahead on the right-hand pavement to Drymen centre (E).

Starting point and access: Milngavie Station. (G62 8PG) Grid ref. NS 555 744
- By train from Glasgow Central or Glasgow Queen Street train stations.
- By taxi from Glasgow city centre (ask to be drop off near the official departure point (1), which is located on Douglas Street).

Equipment:
Waterproof hiking shoes. Waterproof gear: cape, backpack, etc. Protection against the cold, depending on your sensitivity. Repellent against midges.

Guiding :
The route is relatively simple to follow and the circuit is very well-marked at intersections. A paper map is useful (at least the one linked to this description) or the route on a smartphone (remember to download the offline map beforehand).

Food and refreshments :
Take water and a picnic with you at the start.
Small catering available shortly before (11) and just after the B834 road between (11) and (12).
(E) In Drymen, there is a small supermarket ('Stirling Road') and pub-restaurants.

Accommodation for the day before departure and access to the starting point (S) :
- It is possible to find accommodation in Milngavie but it is probably best to take advantage of Glasgow, which offers a wider diversity of accommodation (use your preferred search engine). The city of Glasgow is well worth a visit, even if it does not have all the characteristics of a major tourist destination. Its motto is "'People make Glasgow"
- Train timetable between Glasgow and Milngavie: see the ScotRail website at https://www.scotrail.co.uk/. Fare around £6 per person (August 2019).
- Taxi from Glasgow: Fare around £22 for one journey (August 2019). For destination, say "Milngaille".

Accommodation on arrival (E) :
- Drymen Inn, 5 Stirling Road (the street taken to reach the centre). Tel: + 44 - (0)1 360 660 123.
- The Winnock Hotel, The Square. Tel: + 44 - (0)1 360 660 245.
- Buchanan Arms Hotel, 23 Main Street. Tel: + 44 - (0)1 360 660 588.
These establishments are also pub-restaurants. Other possible accommodation can be found on your favourite search engine.

- Between (5) and (6) : Craigallian Loch, a lovely quiet lake.
- Between (8) and (10): a pleasant walk through meadows and over the first hills.