Where To Go

Arden Camp Site is located in one of the most beautiful parts of the Loch Lomond National Park. This section is intended to provide visitors with some ideas on places we have found provide excellent experiences.

Transport Services:

The closest rail station is Balloch , which has a half hourly service to Glasgow. Changing in Glasgow you can quickly reach Edinburgh with all its history.

Express buses run north to Glencoe, Oban and Fort William and will stop at Arden Roundabout if requested. You are strongly advised to book and to ensure they stop.

Local Buses (305,306) run to Helensburgh, Luss and Balloch/Alexandria. These are hourly or two hourly so look up the current timetable if you intend to use them

Local Supplies:

The closest supermarkets can be found at Balloch (CO-OP) and Helensburgh (CO-OP). Both towns also have pharmacies and Helensburgh has a well stocked hardware store. All the large supermarkets can be found in Dumbarton.

Tourist/Souvenir shops can be found at Lomond Shores (Balloch), Helensburgh and Luss

Cycling:

The site lies on the West Loch Lomond cycle path (Balloch to Arrochar), the Loch Lomond-Helensburgh cycle path and the John Muir Way from Helensburgh to Edinburgh and Dunbar. From Balloch there is cycle path down the River Leven to Dumbarton (which has a wonderful castle). The John Muir Way winds through Balloch Country Park and then over towards Auchengillan Camp Site. Whinny Hill and area are lovely cycles. Risk Assessments for Cycling in the immediate vicinity are available in the relevant section of the website.

Walking:

The hills above the site offers an excellent route to Ben Bouie but ask us for directions. Walking towards Balloch there is Stoneymollan , an ancient coffin route that leads over the hill to Cardross, Craigendoran (Three Lochs Way) and Helensburgh (John Muir Way). Glen Luss is linked to Glen Fruin via a rough hill path. We have organised overnight hikes from the camp site via Ben Bouie, Glen Fruin, the Auchengaich Reservoir (camp) and Glen Luss.

The walk up Beinn Dubh from Luss is one of the best in the UK with spectacular views on to the Loch. From the summit you can follow round Glen Striddle and past Mid Hill before descending to the Glen.

Conic Hill, on the other sideof the loch, is another spectacular climb and lies on the West Highland Way (Milngavie to Fort William). The bus to Balmaha from Balloch can be used to get to the east of the Loch.

Further afield we recommend visitors a trip to Glencoe. The climb up to the hidden valley is well established but needs care. It remains below 500m.