Conic Hill lies on the Highland Boundary Fault
A Scottish national park has introduced an online map showing all its core paths.
The Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park Authority completed its core paths project in June this year and the 732km (455 miles) of paths are charted on its new map.
The routes feature picturesque ways around the park and were produced following the introduction of the right-to-roam law under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act.
In a statement, the national park authority said: “Core paths are identified as the essential paths that people need to get about the area and enjoy the outdoors. They include water access as well as paths and apply to a variety of activities including walkers, canoeists, horse-riders and cyclists.
“Scotland leads the way in access provision as the network joins up over the whole of Scotland creating the largest network of paths in the UK.
“The national park core paths map will help landowners manage access over their land and allow them to receive resources to help maintain and in some cases upgrade them.”
Part of Scotland’s most popular long-distance trail, the West Highland Way, is included.
Bridget Jones, visitor experience manager for the national park said: “Mapping every single pathway in the national park has been a huge project for the national park access team and has turned out a couple of exciting opportunities such as the Three Lochs Way between Balloch and Inveruglas and the Strathard Military Road along Loch Arklet.
“We have some of the most stunning pathways in the UK here in Loch Lomond and The Trossachs including coastal paths from Carrick Castle to Ardentinny, hill walks at Ben A’an, cycle ways from Killin to Lochearnhead, water and gorge walks at Pucks Glen and nature walks such as the Aber path in Gartocharn.
“All of these can now be found in one map and will now be available for anyone wanting to come and enjoy the National Park. We’ve had a great response from our communities who have been involved in the process and who are proud to have such fantastic facilities on their doorstep. I would encourage anyone who lives or is visiting the national park to visit the website and have a look at what is on offer to them and come and enjoy this great countryside.”
Highlights of the Loch Lomond & the Trossachs core paths include: the most scenic core path to walk, the West Highland Way north of Inversnaid; the most accessible and scenic around Loch Katrine; the most interesting geology on Conic Hill, Balmaha; the best circular day walk, Brig o’ Turk Mell route, and the most ambitious route, the Strathard Historic Route linking Stronachlachar and Inversnaid.
The online maps can be seen on the authority’s website.
