Kilpatrick Hills

The Kilpatrick Hills form a low range of volcanic hills in central Scotland, stretching from Dumbarton in the west to Strathblane in the east. Most of the range lies within West Dunbartonshire, though it extends into East Dunbartonshire and Stirling. To the north the hills border Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, while towns like Balloch, Dumbarton and Clydebank fringe the southern slopes. The hills are made of ancient lava flows from about 340 million years ago, later shaped by glaciers. Two of the highest points are Duncolm and Fynloch, both just over 400 metres tall. Several reservoirs dot the landscape, and well-known landmarks include Doughnot Hill and The Whangie. The hills hold interest for geologists and walkers alike. The Whangie is a narrow chasm up to ten metres high and one hundred metres long, formed not by a glacier but by a landslide. Local tales say the devil’s tail cut the gap as he flew past. On the southern slopes lie Bronze Age chambered cairns and burial mounds, including Carnhowit near Cochno Loch and Maidens Paps beside Jaw Reservoir. Cup and ring marks carved on rocks mark even older sites, mostly around Auchnacraig and Whitehill. The highest summit, Duncolm, is also a Marilyn, a hill with a relative height of over 150 metres. A visitor finds open moorland and gentle summits with wide views across the Clyde valley. The Whangie’s dramatic cleft offers a striking walk between sheer rock walls. Ancient cairns and carved stones lie scattered across the lower slopes, silent reminders of past peoples. Reservoirs such as Cochno Loch and Jaw Reservoir reflect the hillsides and provide peaceful spots to rest. From the plateau tops the landscape stretches towards Glasgow and the Trossachs, linking geology, history and scenery in one place.