View of Loch Lomond – Path to Conic Hill Summit loop from Buchanan Smithy

Hiking trails & Routes

View of Loch Lomond – Path to Conic Hill Summit loop from Buchanan Smithy

Hard

4.7

(129)

816

hikers

View of Loch Lomond – Path to Conic Hill Summit loop from Buchanan Smithy

05:11

16.5km

600m

Hiking

Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: August 9, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through a protected area

Please check local regulations for:

Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

Get Directions

538 m

Garadhban

Forest

3.49 km

View of Conic Hill

Highlight • Viewpoint

From here you get a foretaste of the climb to Conic Hill and can catch the first glimpses of Loch Lomand

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3.70 km

View of Conic Hill

Highlight (Segment) • Viewpoint

Before you climb Conic Hill you already have a magnificent block on it and a first view of Loch Lomond, which is even more magnificent from above.

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6.70 km

View of Loch Lomond from Conic Hill

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This is a fantastic walk over varied terrain
We walked this over seven days
Check out my website for photos and description of the walk
imcintosh.com/west-highland-way-galleries

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7.20 km

View of Loch Lomond

Highlight • Viewpoint

A great foretaste of the coming days WHW. Def. the highlight of the first stage. In October it was well attended at sunset, but not uncomfortably overcrowded.

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8.11 km

Path to Conic Hill Summit

Highlight (Segment) • Trail

Conic Hill is part of a major geological feature known as the Highland Boundary Fault. This forms a zone separating the lowlands to the south from the Highlands to the …

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9.66 km

View of Loch Lomond from Conic Hill

Highlight • Viewpoint

Beautiful view of Loch Lomond and the Highlands. Especially for hikers of the 'West Highland Way' makes a nice prelude to the desire for the following days.

Sometimes it can …

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10.2 km

View of Loch Lomond from Conic Hill

Highlight • Viewpoint

Once you've crested the top of Conic Hill you're rewarded with this magnificent view of Loch Lomond and the mountains beyond. Of course, if it's raining you'll not see any …

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16.5 km

End point

Parking

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

8.24 km

8.20 km

< 100 m

Surfaces

11.7 km

2.86 km

1.70 km

230 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Highest point (330 m)

Lowest point (50 m)

Weather

Sunday 11 October

16°C

5°C

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Comments

December 24, 2025,West Highland Way - Drymen to Conic Hill return

This is a nicer way to go IMO as less busy and avoids the new boulder path

May 23, 2024,Von Drymen nach Balmaha

It takes about 3 1/2 hours to walk, partly uphill, over Conic Hill and a difficult descent to Balmaha.
From there, you can take a water bus to Luss. In case you can't find a place to stay overnight in Rowardennan, Loch Lomond awaits you with rough waves.

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