Photographs, route description and map of a walk from Dumbarton alongside the River Leven to Renton and to the trig point on Bromley Muir above Carman Reservoir with views of the Firth of Clyde, Loch Lomond and Ben Lomond

Dalmoak Castle

- visible from the River Leven near Dumbarton

Dalmoak estate formed part of the hunting park

of Robert the Bruce.

The castellated Gothic mansion was built in 1868-9.

The stained glass window is claimed to be the largest

in a private house in the UK

Vale of Leven - Dalmoak Castle

Location: Vale of Leven, West Dunbartonshire
Map: 0S Landranger 63 ( 56 includes parking )
Distance: 10miles ( 16km )
Time: 4hours 30minutes
Terrain: tracks and paths

If snow or bad weather is keeping you off the high hills, this is an excellent lower-level walk offering ﬁne views across Loch Lomond and over the Vale of Leven to the Clyde. A word of warning, though: it is quite long and the descent from the trig point to the Stoneymullan track is very marshy in places. Walking boots and gaiters or wellies are highly recommended.
From the large car park at Lomond Shores at the southern end of Loch Lomond, easily accessed from Balloch station, skirt the loch shore past shops and Drumkinnon Bay. Continue straight ahead over an access road to the tarmac cyclepath alongside the River Leven and follow it south.
The cycle route is surprisingly rural — the banks of the broad fast-flowing River Leven are ﬂanked by trees and surrounded by wildlife. A short distance before Renton, just after the route cuts inland to avoid a loop in the river, a signpost points right to Renton and the railway station.
Don't turn here, but continue past the houses and ascend a path to a footbridge over the river. Continue rightwards to the main road, cross over and left. then right into Station Road Before the station, turn left down Back Street past Renton Primary, then right over the railway. Keep right, signposted Cardross, and ascend to a footbridge over the A82. After this, turn right past houses then left, signposted again, up a track to a path through a tree-lined corridor between fields and a stile leading to Carman Muir. The moor is boggy in places, but avoid the worst by sticking to
embedded rocks and a turfed wall on the left. Follow the path round Carman reservoir and turn left ( Cardross ) at the signpost, ascending to lone trees on the skyline with pylons beyond. The path sticks to the high ground then turns right and descends to the main road and an access road, the Right of Way to Cardross. A short distance along, head off right on a track to the back of the disused sandstone quarry and ascend the open hillside to the rocky hill topped by Carman fort, a Dark Ages citadel with 12 stone houses.
From the top follow the grassy track down then up over Overton Muir, veering left to a fence and gate, from where a more distinct track leads to the trig point above Bromley Muir. You can avoid the worst of the marsh as you descend the Stoneymullan track to an access road and footbridge over the A82. Continue down to Balloch and follow the main road left, then right to the car park.