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Snapshot wrote:Although it's not much of a "hike" and more of a "walk", I did the first part of the West Highland Way (Milngavie->Balmaha) on Saturday myself, entirely supported by local public transport. It's ~20 miles, goes via Carbeth huts, through some forest, over Conic hill, and gets you to Balmaha where a nice pint awaits at the local.
Get train from Central to Milngavie (or any train to Partick, etc, and on to Milngavie) - costs about £2.30 or something, single.
From there: walk - now that it's summer there will be a veritable motorway of WHWayers especially at the weekend. Get stuck in, say hullo, everyone's friendly enough. Look for the wee thistle signs, and you'll probably be ok. I'd get a map, but I'm a worrier/planner by nature.
If you stop at Drymen, you can walk on a cycle route back to Balloch (I've never done this, it could be a trap!). Or you can get the 309 bus, which goes to Balloch and then terminates at Alexandria, again for a few quid, tops. Depending on where you're going, you may want to get bus to Alexandria instead of Balloch... both provide trains back to Central, I believe.
Alternatively, walk on to Balmaha (more forest, and conic hill, but no dogs allowed during lambing season, i.e. NOW). You can then get the same 309 bus back to Balloch (or Alexandria).
The bus is great, its one of those wee small-town affairs, where folk have thoughtfully left paperbacks in the luggage area for you to pick up and read, etc. The driver (probably) isnae too psychotic - you'll love it. I was the only guy on the bus, and the guy dropped me right ootside Balloch train station, as a train was waiting on me. Sweet.
I reckon the train to Milngavie was about £2.30, the bus maybe £2, and the train back from Balloch perhaps £4. No transport prices were ridiculous, so they weren't that memorable to be honest.
Check out http://www.travelinescotland.com/ for more info on timetables. I'm surprised the public sector have made a web app that Doesn't Suck.
Hope this helps, mind and pack some bananas, but keep them to the top of your rucksack, or they'll get mushy.
Alan
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http://alangraham.co.uk/
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