The best walks in Luss range from bagging all six of the Luss Grahams and gentle countryside walks.
Luss | Scotland
Nothing soothes the mind better than a good walk. The dramatic Scottish landscape with its mist-strewn hills and glens, wind-swept cliffs and beaches, and placid lochs promises the most scenic walking trails. Located on the western shore of Loch Lomond, halfway between Balloch and Arrochar is the picturesque village of Luss and one of the best things to do in Luss is going on walks. The wooded hills of Luss stand tall on the western side of the village. On the east is Loch Lomond and across the waters are the Trossachs. From the pier, the cloud-cloaked peak of Ben Lomond dominates the view. To the south are the lush islands of Loch Lomond.
Riverside Walk
The short 30-minute river walk follows the banks of Luss Water on flat, even surfaces.
Continue down the road from Loch Lomond Fish & Chip. Ignore the footbridge, and enter the woodland through the gate on your left. You will see a giant wooden chair carved with “Loch Lomond Fairie Trail” on your left. Follow the trail along Luss Waters, past the meadows dotted with woolly sheep. Instead of crossing the old A82, continue along it to the Village Green and past the Loch Lomond Arms Hotels towards the car park.
Slate Quarry Path
The Slate Quarry Path meanders over the Luss hills, where Luss water tumbles by one of the old mills and the quarry where men cleaved the rock to roof the tenement houses of 19th-century Scottish cities. The walk takes about 30 minutes.
Walk towards the Luss primary school, then ascend the wooden steps and cross the bridge across the A82. Walk past the wooden way marker marking the trail to “Ben Dubh”, then cross the road and enter the gates. There are two carved poles on the side and under trees, there are three wooded toadstools painted red. The left fork enters the Fairie Trail while the right fork “Core Path” goes through the woodland. Continue to your right. Stop to see the trees and spot birds! Near the bridge, you can spot piles of broken slate on the slope to your left. Cross the bridge and continue through the woodland, past the remnants of an old mill framed against the wooded background of the Luss Hills. Continue through the underpass, past more colourful carvings from the Fairie Trail and a wee bridge for kids, and exit the woodlands on the old A82.
Also read: The Seaton Cliffs near Arbroath make for a perfect walk. Read about our experience of walking from Auchmithie to Arbroath and ending the day with some Arbroath Smokies.
Luss Heritage Walk
The Luss Heritage Walk takes you around the village of Luss. It meanders past the Luss Water and a quiet woodland containing remnants of a former slate quarry. This path ties together the Riverside Path and the Slate Quarry Path into one walk.
Head east from Luss Visitor Centre car park towards the beach on the shores of Loch Lomond, then turn right along the beach and on reaching the pier head up onto the footpath, continuing along the edge of the water. Turn right towards Luss Parish Church, then follow the road left for 100 m. Ignore the footbridge and continue along the river path that follows the Luss Water for about 600 m before emerging at the main road into Luss via a set of stone steps. From here, head south looking out for a tall wooden way marker for the ‘Quarry Path‘ on your right. Cross the road and go through the gate, then follow the trail through the quiet woodland. You will pass piles of loose slate at an uphill section before reaching a gate at a minor road. Continue on the trail, then cross the road and walk down the bridge across the A82 and down the steps towards Luss Primary School. On reaching the main road turn left towards the Luss Visitor Centre car park.
Difficulty: Easy
Itinerary: Circular route from Luss Visitor Centre car park
Distance: 2.5 km / 1.5 miles
Time: 1 hour
Fairie Trail
A walk through this award-winning woodland is certainly one of the best things to do in Luss with kids. It is said that Scottish faeries have lived by the bonnie banks of Loch Lomond since the beginning of Scotland. They inhabited the forest and woodlands, living in harmony with nature, in their beautiful faerie houses but when the Vikings invaded Scotland, they brought with them the trolls. In these magical woods, you can spot colourful carvings of faeries, fairie houses, trolls, unicorns, spell books, knobbly trees, toadstools, and more as you wander through the woodland paths.
Note that the Fairie Trail is ticketed. £4 for adults, £5 for children (August, 2022).
Beinn Dubh-Glen Striddle Horseshoe
This walk is arguably one of the best walks in Luss. Unfortunately, we couldn’t attempt it as it was pouring rain when we visited. We hear that the views on this walk are spectacular. You can see all the way to the Arrochar Alps to the north and to the east, the placid expanse of Loch Lomond with its many islands. You can see a complete description on the Walk Highlands website.
Doune Hill & Beinn Eich
A walk we did not attempt but the views from Doune Hill, the highest of the grassy, sculpted Luss Hills, are bound to be breathtaking. You can see a complete description on the Walk Highlands website.
Luss Sextet
How about bagging all six Grahams around Luss, namely Beinn a’Mhanaich, Beinn Chaorach, Beinn Dubh, Beinn Eich, Cruach an t-Sidhein, Doune Hill, on a single hike like this adventurous user on Walk Highlands? No doubt one of the best walks in Luss for experienced walkers!
Glebe Walk
This short loop around Luss Glebe’s meadows, oakwoods, and loch shore. At the start of the loop is a Celtic cross dedicated in 2007. The upper part of the cross contains Christian symbols including the Dove of Peace, the grain of wheat, the fish symbol of the early church, the chalice, and the candle of hope.
For a map of the best walks in Luss, click here.
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