Dalmuir Loop (via The Slacks)

This is a great little circular, utilising (again) the wonderful Loch Humphrey path from Old Kilpatrick. Accordingly, you could start from Kilpatrick train station and not Dalmuir, but I prefer the couple of quiet kilometres along the canal towpath from Dalmuir to warm the body up before tackling that high road up into the Kilpatrick Hills. 

So, from Dalmuir train station, join the canal until just before the Erskine Bridge, and then turn right crossing the main road, and left for a 30 yards or so until the path that leads up the little glen to Kilpatrick train station. Cut around the bowling green, over the little bridge, down the hill, left under the carraigeway and the Loch Humphrey path is right in front of you. Just follow it all the way up until it begins to descend towards Loch Humphrey. Here, keep your eyes peeled for an unmarked footpath to the right. Take this, up and along the ridge (Boglairoch) - you will see in the far distance (about 2km away) the trig point for The Slacks. Just head towards it. The path is good enough to cycle too, but usually I walk with the bike in tow, allowing me a chance to inhale some of these cracking views.

 Epic-ness awaits on the Loch Humphrey path...

Loch Humphrey and, in the distance, the silhouette outlines of The Cobbler (on the left) to Ben Lomond (on the right).

From The Slacks looking eastwards to Greenside Reservoir, The Birny Hills (covered in sitka spruce), and the Campsie Fells beyond.

Looking south-east over the city to the volcanic shadow of Tinto Hill from The Slacks (from the Gaelic 'sloc' meaning ridge or saddle) -

The Greenside path (down to Cochno Road) with the Loch Humphrey burn aside it.

From The Slacks, continue along the footpath, down to Greenside Reservoir, and then the path down to Cochno Road (there is now a bypass in place further down which you can take). Here, you can either elect to turn right and continue down to Hardgate and back to Dalmuir train station via the A810 and Parkhall/Dalmuir Golf Course trail, or equally, take a left and head round to the Duntocher Road and Peel Glen Road which will take you eventually onto the canal once again where you can follow it eastwards to the west end and the city. The last route is, admittedly a little longer, but no less serene. (At the end of Peel Glen Road, turn left onto Kinfauns Road and then at the traffic lights head right opposite onto the little park path towards Westerton and the canal, or train).