PLANS to improve the walking network for residents of, and visitors to, Helensburgh and Lomond have taken a significant step forward – and there could be even better news to come.

The Helensburgh and District Access Trust has secured funding from Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) for the first phase of a project to build a bridge over the Tighness Burn in Arrochar.

And while there’s plenty of work for the Trust still to do, and plenty of money still to be raised, before the project is finished, the pledge from SNH is a major boost for hopes of bridging a small but significant gap in the Three Lochs Way, the long-distance walking route from Helensburgh to Inveruglas.

In the Trust’s annual report, chairman John Urquhart said: “The awkward site is made more difficult by the presence of two large water mains and pulling the project together in a such a short timescale has been a challenge.

“Robert McKendry has now completed £9,000 worth of work on a first phase which has seen the widening and strengthening of a small existing pedestrian bridge as well as the formation of 50 metres of roading.

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“[This is] necessary to give access down into the Tighness Burn ravine, where in a second phase, we hope soon to be able to install a 10 metre span bridge – assuming SNH is able to find the rest of the funds.

“The Trust will need to source around 10 per cent of the overall cost of both phases, estimated at £50,000.”

An appeal has been launched for contributions to the £35,000 needed to complete the bridge over Tighness Burn.

More information is available at threelochsway.co.uk/about-us/donate.

Lomond North councillor Iain Shonny Paterson said: “I have used this bridge many times – it is part of the Three Lochs Way and has been in need of serious upgrade for some time.

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“This funding for a new bridge is to be welcomed and will be a major safety improvement on this section of the Way.

“It is very close to the community hydro plant, which a lot of local people walk to, and the bridge upgrade will encourage them to walk further.”

Duncan MacLachlan from the Arrochar and Tarbet Community Development Trust added: “The Trust is indeed very pleased to see the progress that HDAT, in their management of the Three Lochs Way, have made towards constructing a safe crossing for walkers and mountain bikers that use the route section between Tarbet and Arrochar to Glen Douglas and further south to Garelochhead.

“The existing ford over slippy rocks is impassable when river water level is high and requires users to scramble over a Scottish Water pipe bridge, which was not primarily intended as a walkers’ or bikers’ crossing.

“Having a safe crossing of this ravine will encourage more high level circular walks above Arrochar, which affords spectacular views over Loch Long to the Cobbler and the Arrochar Alps.”

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In the Access Trust’s annual report, Mr Urquhart revealed that a Paths For All grant has enabled the organisation to buy two electronic counters to measure walker numbers on the Three Lochs Way.

One has been installed on the edge of Helensburgh and the other at a more remote location in Glen Douglas.

Mr Urquhart added: “The Covid outbreak will undoubtedly be affecting numbers, but so far the read outs are confirming anecdotal evidence that our trails are popular.

“Projecting the available data suggests annual ‘passages’ of around 60,000 near Helensburgh and 3,500 at the more remote location.”

However, he also described income of £617 from the group’s main annual fund-raising event – the Hogmanay ceilidh at the Victoria Halls in Helensburgh – as “disappointing”.

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