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Glen Malan route update

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IMPORTANT ROUTE UPDATE In Glen Malan, around Grid ref. 258964 at the northern end of the Gurkha "Bato"(road) after the left turn under the railway underbridge, the improved path ahead unfortunately only leads to a dangerously rotten bridge - do not follow the path - do not cross the bridge. Instead simply ford the burn under the railway line and then turn left to pick up the rough trod within the larch trees and continue north.
We await repair work or replacement of this bridge by the agency responsible for the area.
Apologies for the poor quality of the photo but it allows you to see the location.
 

People Counters prove footpaths are popular.

IMG_5350 Grant funding from Paths for All counts us all in and out!

With grant funding assistance from “Paths for All”, Helensburgh & District Access Trust trustees have recently installed people counters at two locations on the path network. Every time you walk, run or cycle past one of the counters you’ll be logged. This is important as the Trust needs hard evidence to prove actual use of paths when it applies for funding support to keep the paths in good condition.

Since the counters were installed in early December the readings to date show that approximately 10,660 people have passed the counters on the “Upland Way” path between The Hill House and Rhu – that means about 60,000 users of the route in a year! Dogs (unless they are very tall!) don’t trigger the counter.

The Trust is entirely run by about 8 local volunteers and is the group in the area that attempts to keep the paths in reasonable shape. We are also responsible for the creation and maintenance of the Three Lochs Way Long Distance Route which is one of Scotland’s “Great Trails”. Since the start of the new year, we can report healthy sales of the Three Lochs Way guidebook to people outside our local area, so be prepared to welcome these folk when you meet them on our paths. Based on the readings for December and January, an estimate for walkers on this longer distance route numbers about 3,500 per annum.

 

 

Memorial Plaque honours our Three Lochs Way 'inventor'.

Unknown-10 When you're out on the route near Helensburgh keep a lookout for Alan's plaque and boulder. The plaque was recently installed to commemorate Alan Day, the man who first conceived the vision for the footpath network around Helensburgh and the Three Lochs Way long distance route. He worked tirelessly in pursuit of these aims and the Trust continues to develop the ideas he first initiated almost 30 years ago. Thanks for a great idea Alan.

TLW route between Tarbet Station and Arrochar Village

Cruach-Tairbeart-4 Update September 2019 - Forest & Land Scotland have now reopened the path between Tarbet Railway Station and Arrochar village. This is a lovely, mostly shady, section of the route. The path is a bit narrower than it used to be due to lack of use but we expect that will change now that it has been completely reopened.

Camis Eskan Path Improvements

Me and pete1 Week commencing 28 August 2017 will see improvement work start on the path at the Camis Eskan Estate by the Red Burn through Quarry Wood and above the new forest road. Please keep clear of any operating machinery and heed any advice from the contractors. The Access Trust has received a very generous contribution from Scottish Natural Heritage to pay for these improvements. The Trust itself contributed £3K - a lot of money for us - so please make donations on Paypal button or buy a guidebook. All proceeds go to pathwork.

Please take care especially on frozen ground

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PLEASE TAKE CARE and be well prepared for being out doors!
Unfortunately the freezing conditions today (25 November 2016) resulted in a 3LW walker slipping on ice, on the track above Arrochar, where water had been running over the path and frozen (verglass), with no thawing over the last few days, as the sun is low behind Ben Reoch all day.
The lady was fit and agile but tried to cross from one side of the track to the grass on the upper side and fell heavily, which we later found to have broken her hip, being an elderly walker and more vulnerable to such an injury.
The alarm was raised by a companion on a mobile phone and an Ambulance Crew along with Police and Local Mountain Rescue Team members successfully extracted the casualty from the track, transporting her to the RAH in the early afternoon.
So please be very careful on the icy sections, as recovery can take some time following an emergency call, given the awkwardness of some locations and time it takes to muster the services to a scene.
You' need to remember that in these conditions you should carry extra clothing, a hot drink and possibly a walking pole or long handled ice axe for an extra point of contact. Despite having extra clothing and using their daysacks to insulate the fallen walker, she was pretty cold by time she was put onto the MRT stretcher for onward transfer to the Ambulance at the Tarbet track end.
Anyway the lady was comfortable and in good spirits as she was taken onboard the Ambulance.
With thanks as always to Ambulance Scotland and Arrochar Mountain Rescue Team. We are lucky to have these services available. Thanks.
 

Forest operations on Goukhill Muir

P1010367 Harvesting of the forest is underway in the Bannachra Plantation between Helensburgh and Balloch. This means that walkers and bikers should expect to encounter large lorries using the forest road and that there will be harvesting equipment in the nearby conifer woods. Please understand that the workers are only interested in your safety and that we would probably not have a route to walk over the hill were it not for the existence of the forest roads in the first place. For your own safety you may therefore be asked to wait a little while if operations are likely to compromise your safety on or near the road.

The harvesting operations over the whole plantation will continue well into 2017 but since arrangements have been made to harvest the higher sections on the hill first this will have less input as time goes on to the shared route section of the Three Lochs Way and the John Muir Way which at present is in any case diverted onto the Three Lochs Way between Helensburgh and Balloch.

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How you can help

Helensburgh and District Access TrustThe Three Lochs Way is managed and maintained by the voluntary efforts of members of Helensburgh & District Access Trust which urgently requires funding for improvements to the route. Find out more on how you can help.