Loch Lomond & the Trossachs Newsletter
Visit Loch Lomond

An independent traveller’s guide

The green at Drymen’s village square, with a purple-leaved tree and white cottages behind
Photo: Tim Glover, CC BY-SA 2.0

Drymen

Village on the West Highland Way

Verdict

Go if you walk the West Highland Way or want a quiet village base near Balmaha.

Skip as a day trip: the loch shore is at Balmaha. Read up on arriving by car in Drymen.

Sketch map of Drymen: the village roads, the car park and the church, with the open land around Sketch map of Drymen: the village roads, the car park and the church, with the open land around. Marked places: Village car park.
  • Village car park. We have no verified charge. Stirling Council’s published table does not list it, so check the signs and machine.
Way length
96 miles
Balmaha bus
309
Permits
Mar–Sep
Car park
Check

Walkers and day visitors are most numerous in spring and summer, and the village stays small. Check the signs for parking rules.

Last checked 12 Oct 2026 Map © OpenStreetMap contributors. Open in maps

Drymen in photos

Drymen war memorial on a road corner, with village houses behind
The war memorial, Drymen.Tim Heaton, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Drymen seen from the north across fields, with purple willowherb in the foreground
Drymen from the north.Richard Sutcliffe, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
A whitewashed cottage on Main Street, Drymen, with a car parked outside
A whitewashed house on Main Street.Kenneth Allen, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
A stone road bridge over the water at Drymen, with fields beyond
The bridge at Drymen.Richard Sutcliffe, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Is Drymen worth it?

Drymen is worth it if you are walking the West Highland Way or want a quiet base. It sits at the western end of the Campsie Fells, overlooking the Endrick Water as it enters Loch Lomond, and bus 309 links it to Balmaha and the loch. As a day trip it is thin. Compare villages and bases on the loch if you are choosing.

Go if you want

A walking base on the West Highland Way, or a quiet village stay with Balmaha and Conic Hill on the bus.

Think twice if you want

Lots to see in the village itself, or the loch shore on your doorstep. Check the best months to come before you plan. Bringing a tent? The park’s permit season runs from 1 March to 30 September, so read a night under canvas near Drymen first.

Parking & getting there

Drymen village car park

Charge
We have no verified charge. Stirling Council’s published table does not list this car park, so check the signs and machine.
Toilets
We have no verified toilet information for the village. Check on the day before you rely on public toilets.
Bus
Bus 309 from Balloch to Balmaha (McColl’s Travel, via Gartocharn and Drymen) stops in the village.

Last checked 12 Oct 2026

Open in maps Apple Maps

Car-free

Bus 309 runs from Balloch via Gartocharn and Drymen to Balmaha (McColl’s Travel). Stirling Council’s C62 links Croftamie, Drymen, Balfron, Fintry and Kippen. We have not recorded times, so check Traveline Scotland on the day. For trains to Balloch and the wider options, see getting there without a car.

When it is busy

Editorial estimate of a typical summer day, not measured counts. No fill times are published for these car parks.

How busy Drymen gets by hour, summer pattern
Day9:0010:0011:0012:0013:0014:0015:0016:0017:00
WeekdayQuietQuietQuietQuietQuietQuietQuietQuietQuiet
SaturdayQuietQuietSteadySteadySteadySteadySteadyQuietQuiet
SundayQuietQuietSteadySteadySteadySteadySteadyQuietQuiet

Q QuietS SteadyB BusyF Car park full

Tip: come by bus 309 if you can, and check the car park signs before you leave the car.

Things to do in Drymen

  1. West Highland Way

    96-mile route

    Drymen is a waypoint on the 96-mile route from Milngavie to Fort William. Even a short stretch from the village is a good introduction. For the route as a whole, see how to walk the West Highland Way.

  2. Conic Hill via Balmaha

    Hill walk

    The Way climbs over Conic Hill beside Balmaha. Many walkers continue from Drymen, and others take bus 309 to the start. The Conic Hill route, parking and timings are in their own guide.

  3. The village green

    Short stop

    The Square is the village’s centre, with a green and a war memorial nearby. Allow a short stop rather than a long visit.

  4. Bus 309 to the loch

    Bus ride

    The simplest way to reach Loch Lomond from Drymen is bus 309 to Balmaha, where the Inchcailloch ferry and the loch shore are.

1 hour, 3 hours or a full day

1 hour

A quick stop (suggested timings)

  1. 0:00 Check the car park signs before you leave the car.
  2. 0:10 Walk the Square and the war memorial.
  3. 0:40 Back to the car or the bus stop.

3 hours

Village and a lunch stop

  1. 0:00 Arrive by bus 309 or park, and walk the village.
  2. 0:45 Look at the West Highland Way signs and a short stretch of the route.
  3. 2:00 Lunch at a village pub. Check opening hours first.

A full day

Drymen to Balmaha

  1. 9:00 Start walking from the village on the West Highland Way.
  2. 12:00 Conic Hill and the descent to Balmaha.
  3. 15:00 Bus 309 back to Drymen. Check Traveline Scotland for the last bus.

Eat & drink

  • Village pubs

    Check first · Village centre

    Expect pubs in the village, but we have not verified names or opening hours, so check before you plan a meal. Our guide to pubs and tearooms in Drymen has more.

  • Shops

    Shop · Village

    We have not verified shop hours or ranges. Walkers should stock up before they leave.

  • Balmaha

    Nearby · By bus 309

    Balmaha has the harbour and more at the loch shore.

Where to stay in Drymen

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Browse all stays near Drymen

See the Drymen section first

Video: Ed Explores Scotland on YouTube. Watch on YouTube

Questions people ask

What is there in Drymen?

Drymen is a small village at the western end of the Campsie Fells, with the West Highland Way passing through. Expect pubs and a few shops, but we have not verified names or hours.

Can you wild camp in Drymen?

Not freely. The National Park’s camping byelaws need a permit from 1 March to 30 September in its management zones, and the maximum stay is three nights in one area. Check the park’s zone map and permit rules before you pitch.

What are the opening times of the Drymen Inn?

We have no verified hours, so check with the pub directly before you plan a meal around it.

How do I get from Drymen to Balmaha?

By bus 309 (McColl’s Travel) or on foot on the West Highland Way. Check Traveline Scotland for bus times on the day.

Is there a public car park or toilet in Drymen?

There is a village car park, but we have no verified charge or toilet information. Check the signs on the day before you rely on either.

Is Drymen worth visiting?

Yes, if you are walking the West Highland Way or want a quiet base near Balmaha. As a day trip on its own it is thin.

What's in Drymen, Scotland?

A village at the western end of the Campsie Fells, overlooking the Endrick Water as it enters Loch Lomond. It is a waypoint on the West Highland Way, Buchanan Castle Golf Club takes visitor bookings, and bus 309 links it with Balloch and Balmaha.

Nearby places