Torwood Blue Pool

Larbert, Near Falkirk, Scotland

AdVANture Overview

This 5 mile-ish up and back to the stunning Torwood Blue Pool is suitable for walkers and hill runners. The kissing gates make it more difficult for bikes. There is potential to make this a longer 7 mile loop but navigation can be a bit challenging through the wooded section. The path varies from tarmac to trail and can be muddy in places, although duck boards are in place.

The pool is a beautiful bluey-green, the tone changes depending on weather and angle you view it from. There are many stories about why this small, brick lined pool lies in the middle of a wood. Check out this Atlas Obscura blog for more information

The starting point for this micro adventure is Old Denny Road. This is a residential street so parking can be limited.

Coffee and cake were sampled post-walk at the (relatively) near-by Torwood Garden Centre which has a dog-friendly cafe, open until 4pm.

At a comfortable walking pace, the route can be done easily in a couple of hours, but factor in time to ponder the pool and take some great pics.

Park here on Old Denny Road to start the route

Starting From

Not the most picturesque of starting points but it does have free parking! Old Denny Road is a residential street in close proximity to Forth Valley Hospital. Parking mid-morning on a week day was a breeze but I can imagine that weekends prove more challenging.

Here is the What3Words link for Old Denny Road

The route starts right at the far end of Old Denny Road at a sign alerting you to the next part of the road being private.

Getting There

As mentioned, there is free parking on Old Denny Road but this is limited and liable to be busy at weekends. If you are planning to enjoy some refreshments post walk, I would suggest parking in the Torwood Garden Centre car-park and then following the road back to a large roundabout. Follow signs for the hospital and you will see Old Denny Road come up on your right before reaching the hospital turn-off. This will add another 2.5 miles to your walk/run but parking is plentiful and free.

It’s possible, to get do this route with public transport. The nearest train station is Larbert, and you’ll have a mile walk to Old Denny Road.

Travelling by bus? Your best bet is to take a route that stops at Forth Valley Hospital.

Step by Step

A short video to help you navigate. Please note after you pass the bench shown in this video, walk on for about 20 metres and look for a gap in the wall to your left leading onto a woodland path. It is roughly opposite a pylon in the field to your right. The pool isn’t signposted and VERY easy to miss (although does feature on google maps!)

VANtage points

Extending your walk by a couple of miles allows you to take in the ruins of Torwood Castle and the Tappoch Broch. Both well worth a visit on days when your adventure doesn’t need to be so micro!

The all important coffee stop…

I’m sure there are many wonderful coffee shops and cafes in Larbert, but I choose to have post-walk goodies in the dog-friendly Rousay’s Cafe within The Torwood Garden Centre. They even do a doggy afternoon tea!

Ordering a latte, I was a little disappointed to discover that it came from a bean to cup machine but the home-made scone with jam and cream soon made up for it!

The garden centre itself is really well stocked with beautiful gifts and local produce as well as a fab array of plants and garden ware for those who are green-fingered. I was drawn to the amazing scents emanating from the candle and reed diffuser section and returned home with a gorgeous soy candle by Bamboo in Cedarwood & White Musk as a memento of the day (you can never have too many candles, am I right?)

Final Thoughts

Great half-day jaunt for those near Glasgow/Edinburgh/Stirling. Finding the pool isn’t easy but it’s oh sooo worth looking for.

Conic Hill

Balmaha, Loch Lomond, Scotland

AdVANture Overview

This 2.5 mile up and down the small but mighty, Conic Hill is suitable for walkers and hill runners. The path varies from wooden steps through the forest section to a new section of path made up of rocks , some gravelly trail and finally a rocky scramble to the top.

Stunning views of Loch Lomond appear as you come out of the initial forest section. Reaching the top awards a fantastic view over the Loch, and over to the ‘Arrochar Alps’ featuring popular Munro, Ben Lomond.

The starting point for this micro adventure is Balmaha Visitor Centre . A really well maintained centre with lots of useful and interesting information within, and THE most knowledgeable and encouraging people behind the help desk.

While not exactly spoiled for choice on the coffee front, you can choose from the small St Mocha Cafe or the pub/restaurant of the Oak Tree Inn for post walk refreshments.

At a comfortable walking pace, the ascent can be done in 60 - 80 minutes including obligatory stops to take in the views. You’ll gain 925 feet of elevation.

The start of the route at the rear of the Balmaha Visitor Centre Car Park

Starting From

The adventure starts from the rear of the car park at the Balmaha Visitor Centre. Balmaha is a cute little village and a popular stop-off for walkers doing the West Highland Way (WHW). While Conic Hill can be bypassed on the WHW route, it is 100% worth the extra time and effort to ascend.

What3Words link for the visitor centre is:

https://w3w.co/undertook.pools.span

From the visitor centre walk towards the rear of the car park and bear right where you will find a wooden sign post marking the start of the route. This is also the starting point for Ben Lomond but the route splits soon after the start.

Getting There

The car park is reasonably sized but can get very busy at peak times, Fran and I arrived mid morning on a Friday during term time and had our choice of spaces. Parking is not free but £4.40 will give you 24 hours, £3.00 for 4 hours which should be ample time to get up, down and squeeze in a coffee too!

Pay machines take coins, contactless and the car park is registered with Ringo (although good luck getting a signal!) .

It’s possible, to get to Balmaha by public transport from Glasgow. Take a train to Balloch (trains run from Glasgow Queen Street twice per hour and take 50 minutes) and switch to the 309 bus to Balmaha (leaves 25 minutes after the train arrives, from the nearby Balloch Bus station.

Step by Step

1. Walk towards the rear of the Balmaha Visitor Centre Car Park and veer to the right, looking for the wooden signpost that marks the start of the route.

2. Follow the path to the right, after a short distance, the path splits one way leading to Ben Lomond and the right hand path taking you to Conic Hill. This split is clearly marked with another wooden signpost.

3. Follow the steps through the forest, the trees here are soooo tall!

4. Go through the gate at the top of the forest section and follow the rocky path to the ‘half landing’. Here you will get an amazing first view of Loch Lomond.

5. Nearing the top you will see the path splits once again. The path to the left hand side is the West Highland Way route that bypasses Conic Hill (and does make for a longer circular route, but more about that another day).

6. Continue on up the path. A section is still under construction which means a very short detour onto the grassy slopes and gravelly path to the side.

7. Reconnect with main path

8. The path soon becomes a narrow, rocky hillside scramble. Take care here as the path is barely wide enough to pass others coming in the opposite direction.

9. Enjoy the amazing views from the summit and retrace your steps back to the car park.

Click through the images below to help you navigate…

VANtage points

While in Balmaha it’s worth taking a wander along and take in the statue of legendary outdoor enthusiast, Tom Weir

The all important coffee stop…

I chose to have my post-walk coffee in the very cute St Mocha Coffee Shop which is next to the larger Oak Tree Inn. Both the cafe and inn have dog-friendly sections, although the indoor area for dogs in the cafe is small and gets busy. There is plenty of outdoor seating and the option to order online via table top QR codes if you’re juggling dogs and little ones.

Refreshment of choice was a flat white accompanied by a delicious pain au chocolate but the cafe serves soups, toasties, including their famous haggis toastie and they also make their own ice cream on site!

Final Thoughts

Conic Hill packs a punch! The views are almost too good a reward for the level of effort required to get to the top. Busy at peak times but if you can plan your micro-adventure for a weekday morning, you’ll get parked easily and only have to share the path with a handful fellow adventurers and those hardly souls doing the West Highland Way.

Finglas Falls

Clachan of Campsie, East Dunbartonshire, Scotland

AdVANture Overview

This 3 mile-ish out and back is suitable for walkers, trail runners, and gravel bikers. The path up tho the waterfall is pretty much uphill all the way but pause, turn around and take in the views and it doesn’t feel too much like hard work. There are a couple of narrow gates to squeeze though but it’s a wide, dirt road all the way to the waterfall.

The falls are glorious in full spate, and have a decent sized pool at the base even after a dry spell. Perfect for a quick dip or to cool your feet after the climb.

The starting point for this micro adventure is Clachan of Campsie, near Lennoxtown. A quaint collection of independent shops round a pretty, cobbled courtyard with the all important coffee stop too!

The cafe has recently changed hands and is now called The Glen Cafe (formerly Cafe Sonas). It’s doggy-friendly and has both indoor and outdoor seating.

At a steady walking pace, the ascent can be done comfortably in 45 minutes and you’ll gain 750 feet of elevation, giving you awesome views to the East and West.

The Glen Cafe at Clachan of Campsie, East Dunbartonshire

Starting From

The adventure starts from Clachan of Campsie, nestled at the foot of the Campsie Hills near Lennoxtown and also a starting point for the much more popular Campsie Falls route.

What3Words for the starting point HERE

Getting There

Parking is free and sufficient, although you may need to opt to park on-road at busier times of day. No van? No problem. The route starts right where the X85 bus from Buchanan Street Bus Station in Glasgow, terminates. The nearest train station is Lenzie, where the X85 bus can be picked up.

Step by Step

1. With your back to The Glen Cafe head back down the road and take a right at the end of the wall onto Knowehead Road.

2. Continue until the road splits, take the road to the right.

3. Pass the Campsie Glen Forestry sign

4. Continue up until you see another fork in the road, this one signposts walkers to the right. Take the right hand path

5. Pass the memorial to the Eritean Martys on your left hand side and continue on.

6. Continue uphill for approx 2 km. You will hear the waterfall before you see it. Just when you think you’re getting nowhere, you round a corner and it comes into view!

Click through the images below to help you navigate…

VANtage points

Snuggled right next to Clachan of Campsis is the Schoenstatt Religious and Spiritual Retreat Centre. The gardens are open to all and are so tranquil and calming to wander round. Dogs must be kept on a lead in the gardens.

The all important coffee stop…

While Cafe Sonas was well established, welcoming and had a great selection of soup, sandwiches and home made bakes, the new iteration - The Glen Cafe is still finding it’s feet. I visited on a busy Sunday and found things a little chaotic. So much so that I decided that firing up the ‘ploop ploop’ (stove-top coffee pot) in the van would be preferable on this occasion.

That said. The Glen Cafe is doggy-friendly, the menu looked varied and the cakes and bakes on view looked delicious!

Final Thoughts

A perfect little microadventure, very accessible from Glasgow and taking less than a couple of hours to complete depending on how long you choose to stay at the waterfall or enjoying your coffee!