Inveruglas to Garelochhead, The Three Lochs Way
This walk is part of the trek The Three Lochs Way.
This half of The Three Lochs Way is strenuous but the scenery makes it all worthwhile! Loch Long is your companion for the majority of the route and you also get glimpses of Loch Lomond and The Gareloch: the three lochs which give this long distance walk it’s name. This is The Three Lochs Way Day 1.
Technical sheet No. 26500983
The Three Lochs Way
Calculated time: 10h10[?] 
Distance : 28.91 km
Vertical gain : 671 m
Vertical drop : 644 m
Highest point : 232 m
Lowest point : 16 m 
Difficulty : Difficult
Back to starting point : No
Walking
Area :
Loch Lomond and The Trossachs
Location : Argyll and Bute
Starting point : N 56.251694° / W 4.709552° 
Ending point : N 56.079504° / W 4.825785° 
Today's forecast :
Description
Start : Loch Sloy Power Station car park. (G83 7DP) Grid ref. NN 32274 09881
(D) Starting at Sloy Power Station, walk South-West along the path next to the A82.
(1) After 700m take the way-marked track on your right (West) heading uphill and away from the village.
(2) Follow this road for 1.7km to a fork. Turn left (South-West) onto a narrower path, crossing Inveruglas Water then turning left (South) to enter some forestry and then some woodland high above Arrochar.
(3) If you wish to do a short de-tour into Arrochar look out for a marked track on your right after approx 5km, just beyond Glenloin House then return to the same point to continue the walk.
(4) After approx 5.5km continue straight ahead (East) at a crossroads.
(5) Another 850m further along, continue straight ahead (East) again at another crossroads.
(6) Another 400m along there is a right turn (South-East) which takes you out of the woodland at Arrochar & Tarbet Railway Station.
(7) Turn left (East) along the A83 for a short distance before crossing over and taking the first right (S), heading uphill on a stoney footpath.
(8) Turn right again (South-West) 200m along to follow a track which runs alongside a dry stone wall.
Continue along this elevated path for approx 6.5km, first following the wall and then the course of the railway line (which should be on your right-hand side).
(9) When you emerge onto Glen Douglas Road turn right (South-West) to cross the railway.
(10) Almost immediately after turn left (South) onto the start of a wide forestry road.
(11) After 3km, just beyond Croggan Hill, turn left (South-East).
(12) 1km along you will cross the railway line again, reaching a fork 280m further along. Turn right (West).
(13) After 2.8km keep right (South) at a fork.
(14) Continue South for a short 70m and you will soon emerge at a path junction. Turn left (South).
Continue roughly South/South-West for approx 2.8km.
(15) Look out for a way-marker on your right just as The Gareloch comes into view far below. It leads you over a gate (you need to climb it), alongside a fence and then descends down beside a dry stone wall to reach a small woodland area. There is only a very faint footpath and it can be very wet underfoot.
(16) You will emerge onto the A814 near a roundabout. Cross over carefully and pick up a surfaced path on the other side.
(17) Follow the surfaced cycle path to Station Road, Garelochhead. Turn left (South) to reach the train station or turn right (North-West) to reach the village centre (A)
Waypoints :
D : km 0 - alt. 22 m - Loch Sloy Power Station
1 : km 0.79 - alt. 36 m - Way-marked track off A82
2 : km 2.52 - alt. 131 m - Fork leading to Inveruglas Water
3 : km 7.96 - alt. 37 m - Arrochar de-tour
4 : km 8.36 - alt. 68 m - Crossroads
5 : km 9.21 - alt. 81 m - Crossroads
6 : km 9.6 - alt. 85 m - Right turn towards railway station
7 : km 10.19 - alt. 32 m - First right off A83
8 : km 10.41 - alt. 52 m - Start of path along dry stone wall
9 : km 16.87 - alt. 159 m - Glen Douglas Road
10 : km 16.91 - alt. 158 m - Start of wide forestry road
11 : km 20.11 - alt. 212 m - Left turn beyond Croggan Hill
12 : km 21.39 - alt. 173 m - Fork after railway crossing
13 : km 24.11 - alt. 166 m - Fork
14 : km 24.21 - alt. 163 m - Path junction
15 : km 27.01 - alt. 176 m - Way-marker leading to gate
16 : km 27.76 - alt. 99 m - A814
17 : km 28.63 - alt. 27 m - Station Road
A : km 28.91 - alt. 50 m - Garelochhead Railway Station
Useful Information
Start : Loch Sloy Power Station car park. (G83 7DP) Grid ref. NN 32274 09881
Transport
- Car parks at Loch Sloy Power Station and Garelochhead Train Station
- Citylink bus service from Glasgow stops on A82 at Loch Sloy Power Station
- Return via public transport by taking train between Garelochhead & Ardlui then bus service to Inveruglas/Sloy Power Station.
- If walking the full Three Lochs Way and therefore not returning to Loch Sloy at the end of this walk, see transport info here instead.
Terrain
Gravel and earth footpaths, woodland trails, forestry tracks. Regular short but steep uphill sections. The Three Lochs Way is very well way-marked in both directions so navigation is easy the majority of the time.
For more information and a walk review, visit Gillian's Walks
Visorando and this author cannot be held responsible in the case of accidents or problems occuring on this walk.
During the walk or to do/see around
- Loch Sloy Power Station and visitor centre
- Arrochar village
- Loch Long
- Gare Loch
- Garelochhead military training area
- Garelochhead village
- The John Muir Way
- The "Arrochar Alps" - near by (including the Cobbler/Arthur's Seat, Ben Narnain and Beinn Ime)
- Loch Lomond
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The GPS track and description are the property of the author.
