ONE of Scotland’s most popular hill walks has reopened fully to visitors following three years' worth of significant improvements.
The Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority have announced that visitors will now be able to enjoy Conic Hill in its entirety once again following the completion of the £900,000 project.
Also known as a Mountain in Miniature, Conic Hill forms part of the Highland Boundary Fault Line and draws more than 200,000 visitors annually due to its spectacular views of the banks of Loch Lomond.
The newly completed path infrastructure, stretching 1.4km from Balmaha Visitor Centre to the summit, features a two-metre-wide path and the park authority hopes it will help encourage responsible behaviour and enjoyment from visitors by helping them remain on designated routes.
Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon welcomed the completion of the project and hailed the efforts to encourage people to enjoy the Scottish countryside responsibly.
She said: “I am delighted that this summer the thousands of visitors to Loch Lomond and 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.”
More than 2000 tonnes of locally sourced stone from Dumbarton quarry were transported to the site by land and air, where specialised contractors applied the traditional craft of stone pitching.
This technique, similar to constructing a dry-stone wall laid flat into the hillside, ensures long-lasting resilience and minimal environmental impact.
Ryan Hamilton, Hamilton Construction, said his team received “very positive” feedback while speaking to walkers while they were carrying out the project.
He said: "When Hamilton’s took over works in late 2023, we undertook an uphill task of navigating through a hillside known for its challenging terrain and addressing significant erosion scars. 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.
“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.”
Visitors have been reminded by the park’s authority that Conic Hill is part of a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and has ecological and geological significance.
The National Park Authority is also working with local landowners and Police Scotland to address livestock worrying, urging visitors to always keep dogs on a lead.
Simon Jones, director of environment and visitor services at Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority, said that with visitors staying on the new path, everyone can play a vital role in protecting the area’s delicate biodiversity and natural landscape.
He said: “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.
“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.”
