Olddry one

Slow Way not verified yet. Verify Olddry here.

I enjoyed the minor roads along the Catterburn - the roads are quiet, and there is plenty of bird life, and often deer. It is possible to cut off the loop past Merkins Farm by taking the track through Gallangad Farm. The section that I do dislike is the forestry track up to Burncrooks Reservoir. The other section that can be difficult is around Lilly Loch. The route, to the SE of the loch, will probably be very boggy in winter. We have found several frogs there on a winter walk. The picture below was taken in August. If you I have time I would recommend a detour to the top of Duncolm, the highest point in West Dunbartonshire.

This was a straightforward and enjoyable route on a mix of minor roads and established paths. Much of the route was waymarked and navigation straightforward. Knocking off a star due to the amount of road walking at the start and a minor error in the route midway through.
The route starts in Drymen and follows major road for a couple of km, this has pavement all the way. The route then goes cross-country across fields for a km, this is waymarked as a path but overgrown in places but easy enough to follow. The route then joins minor roads following National Cycle Route 7 on minor roads for about 5-6 km, this is quite a dull section and no pavement but most of the road has mown verge so safe enough to step aside from any passing traffic. The route improves considerably from the junction by Merkins Farm where it joins a minor, traffic free access road which offers fine views looking north to Loch Lomond and the hills beyond. Route follows the John Muir Way for several km at this point. Route then enters the Kilpatrick Hills area and weaves past reservoirs and over moorland using established paths. There is an error on the route between Burncrooks Reservoir and Lily Loch where the SlowWays route to Duncolm starts about 200m W of the true path on the ground, which is marked by a cairn. The true path goes SE of Lily Loch, but the SlowWays route shows as passing to the NW. Beyond Lily Loch the route and paths converge again and the rest of the walk across moorland and down towards Kilpatrick is straightforward on well used paths and 4WD tracks with fine views down the Clyde Estuary.

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