4 winter walking routes to enjoy near West Dunbartonshire

However, the cold weather can often be a great time to get out in nature and embrace the outdoors so long as you're careful and watch out for hazardous conditions.

So with all this in mind, pop on a warm jacket and get out there and explore what West Dunbartonshire and the surrounding area have to offer.

4 winter walks in and around West Dunbartonshire

Here are 4 great winter walks in and around West Dunbartonshire to try this year:

Balloch Castle Country Park

Tripadvisor - Balloch Castle Country Park makes 200 acres of semi-natural landscape (Image: Tripadvisor)

Balloch Country Park, which lies on the southern shores of Loch Lomond, is made up of 200 acres of semi-natural woodland, open parkland, well-kept gardens, and shoreline.

The park was once a 19th Century estate, making it perfect for a winter walk this season.

Much of the paths are sheltered by large trees, making this more suitable for rainy weather.

Being close to Loch Lomond also provides ample opportunity to visit one of the nation's most famous natural attractions in the winter months.

To find out more, please visit the park's Tripadvisor page.

Mar Hall Woods

Mar Hall offers the chance to get right into nature as this site is made up of extensive woodland.

The woods, located in Renfrewshire, is very accessible as the area has a car park and is near major roads connecting places like Clydebank, Glasgow, and Paisley.

However, the area can get very muddy during the winter, so pack a pair of wellies if it looks like it'll pour.

RSPB - Loch Lomond

If you're wanting to catch a glimpse of some of West Dunartonshire's stunning winter birdlife, then look no further than the RSPB nature reserve on the banks of Loch Lomond.

With woodlands and wetlands spanning the length and breadth of the reserve, this is a great place to have a quieter walk during the winter months while learning more about the natural world during the winter.

The colder months are a great time to see skeins of geese taking to the sky while getting those steps in.

Kilmahew Castle, Cardross

Tripadvisor - This route near Cardross is perfect for a crisp morning walk (Image: Tripadvisor)

Kilmahew Castle and the surrounding area are great if you're wanting a crisp morning walk during the winter months.

The fields provide far-reaching views of the hills while the route lets you explore the castle ruin itself.

Here you can take a look at some of the castle's interesting features while also being able to take a walk through some nearby woodland.