The John Muir Way | Helensburgh to Balloch | Stage 1 | Scotland

[@michaelross2093]

Mike from North Carolina, USA. I did most of the JMW in February 2022. Absolutely loved it. Most of my life I've been a section hiker on the Appalachian Trail. The JMW taught me you could hike, have a great dinner in a pub, sleep in a real bed and get up in the morning to start again. The trail is a mix of rural roads, canals, ruins and some forest hiking mixed in here and there. The whole trip is epic. Thank you Scotland!

[@ronaldbayne1431]

Many years ago we used to take bikes with model aeroplane gliders and fly them on the peak moor before returning to Helensburgh. There is still a model in the conifers lost to time up there. Great video much enjoyed by one of a past generation. Keep filming. Great. Rmb5*

[@shaunmoneil]

I think that wrong turn you took through the gate, is the old right of way that runs through the golf course and into Churchill. Now that brings back memories of miss-spent weekends!

[@juliahewitt9120]

Thank you, Ian for this introduction to what looks like a wonderful walk. I wasn't aware of it at all. I had heard of the Three Lochs Trail and had looked at it but am never in that area really so didn't think of it as a viable option, mainly because currently my only walking companions are dogs and I don't like walking far along roads or with them on leads all the time. I am really looking forward to seeing more of your videos and hope you do get to do West Highland Way next month. I'm hoping to get back to Scotland then as we have some big family birthdays and anniversaries to celebrate and my daughters both live up in the Highlands and Islands. I really want to visit and go walking with them again.

[@pronsigcoordinators845]

Great video, Ian - so much on our doorstep!

[@DavesFitLife]

Greetings from the USA and more specifically upstate NY Saugerties . I just learned of the John Muir Way from an El Camino De Santiago group on FB. Someone mentioned it as another way to go. Thank you for sharing this part of it and I'm just as, or more than interested as I was before you video. I'm looking forward to seeing your other vids as well. Thank you for being so honest about being a little misdirected. That was an interesting share. I'm glad you made your way back to the trail.

[@wullieg7269]

the stoney mollan did it on bike from farm on helensburgh side in minus 6 full moon awesome

[@atlasgrey]

The gate you came through at the top on the Balloch side, if you look left that's the coffin stone. This is where the coffin carriers rested going to Cardross.

[@sueKay]

I can walk to that viewpoint from my house in well under 2 hours. And I can make it from my front door to the top of they Stoneymollan in exactly 56 minutes! I sometimes forget how lucky I am to have Loch Lomond on my doorstep. Yeah sadly Balloch was a misery during lockdown - lots of large groups came here to party and cause mayhem because we didn't have enough police to enforce the rules. The village was busier than normal during it even though my friends in Glasgow and elsewhere said their streets were deserted!!

[@johnmccarron]

Those fly's are barn flies, love cows, sheep, horses but people will do, got to watch your neck and backs of you arms.