Major £900k Conic Hill path upgrade works completed as walkers urged to respect landscape

Daily Record

a day ago

The newly completed path infrastructure - stretching 1.4km from Balmaha Visitor Centre to the summit - features a two-metre-wide path, helping visitors remain on designated routes, safeguarding the sensitive environment.
Major works as part of a £900,000 path improvement project on the iconic Conic Hill by Loch Lomond have been completed.
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The Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Authority has finished the works on the popular hill.
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Known affectionately as a 'Mountain in Miniature,' Conic Hill attracts more than 200,000 visitors each year due to its easy access and geographical location on the banks of Loch Lomond, forming part of the internationally significant Highland Boundary Fault Line.
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The newly finished path infrastructure, which stretches 1.4km from Balmaha Visitor Centre to the summit, features a two-metre-wide path.
The new path encourages responsible behaviour and enjoyment, helping visitors to stay on designated routes and protect the sensitive environment.
Over 2,000 tonnes of stone, sourced locally from Dumbarton quarry, were carefully transported to the site by both land and air, where specialist contractors skilfully applied the traditional craft of stone pitching. The technique, similar to constructing a dry-stone wall laid flat into the hillside, ensures long-lasting resilience and minimal environmental impact.
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Conic Hill is part of a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) with unique ecological and geological significance. By sticking to the new path, walkers can play a crucial role in preserving the area's delicate biodiversity and natural landscape.
The National Park Authority is also collaborating with local landowners and Police Scotland to tackle the issue of livestock worrying, reminding visitors to always keep their dogs on a lead.
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This year marks the 20th anniversary of Scotland's trailblazing access legislation and the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, which was implemented in 2005.
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Simon Jones, Director of Environment and Visitor Services at Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Authority, commented: "The completion of the extensive Conic Hill path improvement project is part of our ongoing commitment to investing in sustainable visitor infrastructure across the National Park. This investment is a key part of our wider Place Plan initiative, which balances recreation with environmental sustainability and enhances biodiversity, visitor infrastructure, and local economic benefits simultaneously."
He added: "We look forward to continuing similar efforts, such as our improvements work at Tarbet Pier Picnic Site, and as we head into our peak visitor season, encourage everyone to respect this special landscape, enjoy the new path responsibly, and help us protect the beauty and biodiversity of Conic Hill for future generations."
Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon expressed her pleasure, stating: "I'm delighted that this summer the thousands of visitors to Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park will benefit from the repaired pathway on Conic Hill and look forward to seeing the further improvements the Park Authority has planned. The Scottish Outdoor Access Code has been helping people to enjoy our beautiful countryside responsibly for two decades and this is a great way of marking that anniversary."
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Ryan Hamilton, from Hamilton Construction, which took on the project in 2023, described their challenging work, saying: "We undertook an uphill task of navigating through a hillside known for its challenging terrain and addressing significant erosion scars."
He shared the team's experience with the elements: "We have endured all types of weather, from temperatures as low as minus 10c to the blistering heat of peak summer, to complete almost 900m of the new path, of which we are immensely proud."
Hamilton also mentioned the rewarding feedback they've received: "Feedback from walkers during our time on the hill has been very positive. The greatest satisfaction comes from hearing that individuals who were previously unable to access Conic Hill, can now do so."