Three Lochs Way Completed
About this route
The Three Lochs Way is one of Scotland’s Great Trails — a long-distance path of about 55 km (34 miles) linking Balloch on Loch Lomond with Inveruglas further up the loch, via Helensburgh, Garelochhead and Arrochar / Tarbet.
It is named for the three major lochs along the route: Loch Lomond, the Gare Loch and Loch Long. The path crosses the Highland Boundary Fault and links to the John Muir Way (shared ground between Helensburgh and Balloch), the Cowal Way at Arrochar, and the West Highland Way via ferry from Inveruglas.
Official start: Balloch · Official end: Inveruglas
This page is a personal record of the route walked in 4 day stages (January–February 2024). Stages were chosen to fit public transport and parking; some were walked in reverse of the published direction. Day 4 includes an extra loop past Sloy Dam to return to the car at Inveruglas. The GPX files are the actual tracks recorded on a Garmin Fenix — useful as a real walked line, but not a substitute for official waymarked route files.
Overall
Walking days
Day 1 – Helensburgh to Balloch (27 January 2024)
Travel — Out: train to Helensburgh · Return: train from Balloch
Shared start with the John Muir Way (same day and track between Helensburgh and Balloch).
Day 2 – Garelochhead to Helensburgh (3 February 2024)
Travel — Out: hopped off the train at Garelochhead on the way back from an overnight stay in Oban · Return: train from Helensburgh
Day 3 – Tarbet / Arrochar to Garelochhead (10 February 2024)
Travel — Out: train to Arrochar / Tarbet · Return: train from Garelochhead
Day 4 – Inveruglas to Tarbet / Arrochar + Sloy Dam loop (17 February 2024)
Travel — Out: car to Inveruglas · Return: car from Inveruglas (after the Sloy Dam loop)
Walked Inveruglas → Arrochar / Tarbet to complete the Three Lochs Way, then a loop back to the car at Inveruglas via Sloy Dam. A bus does serve Inveruglas, but the times were not suitable — the loop was a better option than a simple out-and-back.
Photos
A selection from the 4 days on the route. Tap a photo for a larger view.
