Scotland
Conic Hill
361M
1184FT
About Conic Hill
Rising sharply above the village of Balmaha, this modest peak offers a perspective far beyond its stature. It sits directly on the Highland Boundary Fault, marking the geological transition between Lowlands and Highlands. The well-trodden path reveals an unparalleled vista across Loch Lomond’s island chain, including Inchcailloch and Torrinch.
Key Statistics
Rank
497th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Loch Lomond and the Trossachs
Prominence
?
153m
Nearest Town
Balmaha
Geology
You’re walking on pebble-filled rocks, smooth serpentinite, and layers of sandstone. This mix of gritty stone and lumpy limestone forms the ridge’s unique foundation.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NS432924
Latitude
56.0986°N
Longitude
4.5224°W
Did You Know?
- •The name likely derives from the Gaelic 'A' Choinneach', meaning 'the mossy hill', though its distinctive profile from the south makes the English 'conic' feel like an appropriate coincidence.
- •The hill marks the literal division between the Scottish Lowlands and Highlands. It sits directly on the Highland Boundary Fault, and the line of islands stretching across Loch Lomond—including Inchcailloch and Creinch—is the visible continuation of this massive geological fracture.
- •For those walking the West Highland Way, Conic Hill provides the first 'Highland' summit of the journey. It is usually reached on the second day of the trek, offering a reward after the relatively flat miles through the Garadhban Forest.
- •From the summit, you can trace the jagged ridge of the Arrochar Alps to the west and look directly up the length of the loch towards the massive bulk of Ben Lomond, which dominates the northern horizon.
- •On a sunny Saturday, the path is less of a wilderness experience and more of a vertical corridor, populated by a diverse demographic ranging from elite fell runners to optimistic day-trippers testing the structural integrity of their flip-flops.