Day 1 - Milngavie to Drymen (12 miles)

The first section Milngavie to Drymen took me about 6 hours

The first day I walked from Milngavie to Drymen with a stop at the Beech Tree Inn for some lunch. I then was lucky enough to get a lift back from Drymen ! after a quick drink in the beer garden at the Drymen Inn, That was a VERY hot day. I walked half the walk with a lady called Deidre from Australia who had walked quite a number of long distance paths in the UK.

I repeated this section another day in reverse - on a cooler day - and maybe the climb is less on the way back - I am not too sure !
I have combined the photos from two different days of walks on Milngavie to Drymen. The sunny ones were my first walk en route towards Drymen in May. The duller ones were from the beginning of July when I walked back towards Milngavie.

This one is about 2 miles out of Milngavie just beyond the Mugdock Country park section.

Towards the Campsie Fells - and the "Sleeping Warrior". Dumgoyne Hill is the head of the warrior - also known as "The Sleeping Giant" ! There are many of these giants in the hills of Scotland and legend says they will one day rise up and fight again !

The memorial to "The Eternal Fire" - a bonfire that was kept going in the 1930s by those who had hiked out of industrial Glasgow to spend the weekend in the country. These were men who had survived WW1 ... possibly now seen in the Carbeth Huts near this location.

 Near Carbeth - a new hut being built. Although closer in to Carbeth huts there are many more.

European Funding ...

 And a bird on a post around the EU European funded woodland creation area:

These images are from the Beech Tree Inn, half way (approx) along the route. Good for a stop for a pub lunch or a drink. But also it provides a nice wooded picnicking area if you just want to sit and eat your sandwiches.

and onwards ...

Then to the village of Gartness and its interesting river with waterfalls and rock formations - famous for watching salmon leaping - the "Pots of Gartness" ... not sure if this is it - will need to check - but they are a series of rocky pools on the Endrick Water. (someone filmed a salmon leaping here .. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eh3wOqDSks)

An honesty box for drinks and ice cream - a saviour on a hot day !

Watch Out ! Trolls About !

Spot what is unusual on this sign on a back road en route ...

The last section is my favourite section of the Milngavie to Drymen walk. A stunning high viewpoint on a lovely rural country road fairly near to Drymen. From here you would never believe how close to Glasgow etc you are. Views down towards Loch Lomond.

Flowers on Drymen village Green