Photographs, route description and map of a circular walk starting and finishing at the village of Buchanan Smithy

Photographs of a circular walk starting and finishing at the village of Buchanan Smithy with views of:-

Campsie Fells, Kilpatrick Hills, Loch Lomond, Conic Hill, Luss Hills and Duncryne

The Old Buchanan Smithy on the road from Drymen to Balmaha

This was built by the Duke of Montrose in the early 19th century.
It initially housed workers on his estate.
It also housed the estate's blacksmith's shop, hence the name of the hamlet.

Wikipedia - Buchanan Smithy

The Old Buchanan Smithy.

Wikipedia - Buchanan Smithy

Conic Hill on the West Highland Way

from the outskirts of Buchanan Smithy.

Coldrach Farm

on the outskirts of Buchanan Smithy

The Campsie Fells

from the outskirts of Buchanan Smithy

Wikipedia - Campsie Fells

Luss Hills

from the outskirts of Buchanan Smithy

Loch Lomond

from the outskirts of Buchanan Smithy.

Loch Lomond

on the approach to Creity Hall Farm.

Signpost for Garadhban Forest

at Creity Hall Farm.

Creity Hall Farmhouse.

Conic Hill on the West Highland Way

from Creity Hall Farm.

This walk is a circular walk of about four miles and two hours duration from Buchanan Smithy near Drymen.
To get there by car take the Balmaha Road from Drymen and turn right at the Buchanan Smithy Cottages.
Please park at the entrance to Buchanan Smithy Terrace.
The walk turns right from the Terrace and passes a corner house onto a vehicle track with farm ﬁelds on either side and Conic Hill to the left.
At the track junction leading to Coldrach Farm on the right and before the sign ahead reading ‘Private Road, Ardyle’, take the narrow path on the left which goes through the tree plantation of Garadhban Forest to a t-junction and a wider forest track.
There are views from the track of the Kilpatrick Hills and Luss Hills particularly from the higher path on the West Highland Way ( WHW ).
The walk turns leﬂ at the t-junction and continues past the plantation to enter the wood on a narrower path.
It ignores the uphill path to the WHW on the right and continues along the lower level, which can be wet underfoot, before passing through a gate into an open ﬁeld. Across the ﬁeld it passes through another gate or over a stile onto a wider path and then exits the ﬁeld through a gate signed ‘Garadhban Forest’. Turning right provides another route to the WHW which can link up with the other diversions.
This walk turns left and passes through Creity Hall Farm and a lovely view of Conic Hill to the right.
It enters Milton of Buchanan, with its well kept cottages and gardens and at the end of Creityhall Road turns left onto Balmaha Road.
A pavement is available to walk on at the side of the road and after about 50 yards take care on crossing the road to enter the driveway on the right for the grounds of Buchanan Castle Estate.
After a short distance the walk turns left, and continues along the driveway parallel to the main road.
It passes a number of detached houses and then swings right to a t-junction and one of the main driveways through the Estate.
Turning left it soon crosses a bridge and enters the residential and golf course area.
At the cross-roads the walk turns left onto a rough vehicle track, turning right leads to the golf club house.
lt passes an outdoor horse riding arena on the right and after a short distance detached houses at the entrance to a narrow strip of wood.
This exits onto Balmaha Road and facing directly opposite is the row of charming Buchanan Smithy Cottages with the Old Smithy close to the monkey puzzle tree. On crossing the road, take care here, the walk turns right in front of the cottages and then left to the start of the walk.

Buchanan Smithy Gallery