River Leven Walk. Leven Swamp. Strathleven House.

                                                 ALL PHOTOS CLICK FULL SCREEN.

As it was a fairly murky day... in a month long run of very wet, murky, but thankfully mild days... Alan and I headed for Dumbarton. We parked here beside the River Leven and Levengrove Park then walked up the west bank of this river, seen above. A walk we had both done before, probably with different hillwalking friends, but not for a few years... five years at least....so this walk felt fresh again. 

A view from the car park of the River Leven flowing under the town's old stone bridge. In spate this is a short, winding, but very powerful river. It drains all 23 miles of Loch Lomond, a mere 10 miles away, and is surrounded by dozens of mountain streams so the catchment area is huge. The River Leven is the only outflow... which is why we were here. Powerful enough to be impressive... not high enough to flood the paths we were walking on... which does happen.

A dark deep river full of submerged currents, looking in places as if a giant sea monster was squirming just under the surface.  It is tidal for several miles inland. Unless you were a very good swimmer, experienced in turbulent rivers, there's a good chance you would be pulled under. Never to be seen again. Down at Dumbarton several moored boats are dragged under  each year, unless properly maintained and given enough slack rope on the mooring to allow for the rise and fall of the tide and spate conditions. I have seen a difference myself of around ten feet between summer river levels and full flood conditions in winter.

Bellsmyre and the Lang Craigs in winter sunshine. Just above Dumbarton, on this west side river track you pass the Leven Swamp. An area of undulating bumps and hollows that gets a fresh influx of flooding nearly every winter, resulting in this area of flood plain being permanently drowned year round as the various hollows can't drain back out again. Stagnant, freezing cold, and waist deep the only thing missing is poisonous snakes and alligators.

Luckily, a good tarmac path weaves through it popular with walkers and cyclists in summer.

It also passes under the main A82 heading north, the only fast glimpse most Munro baggers and tourists get of the River Leven heading up in their cars past Balloch and Loch Lomondside. This was a new mural for both of us. And a good one.

 Motorists will not see it though as they rush past on the road above.

A male goldeneye duck. Not a very good (rushed) photo but recognisable due to its distinctive white cheek patch. According to my bird book only Scandinavia and the Arctic are coloured in as its natural habitat... not the UK. And I don't remember ever seeing one before. But they may be winter visitors to the UK. Around three pairs here, males and females.

A berry tree. A winter lifeline for wild creatures.

A bend on the mighty River Leven. Robert The Bruce, King of Scotland, retired here for the last few years of his life. Living beside the River Leven in a small mansion house, hunting, fishing, boating, and wildfowling in this area until he passed away.

One person I'd never heard of though was Tobias Smollett. This is his memorial in Renton next to a school on the Main Street. An 18th century Poet, Writer and Surgeon, he's mainly known today for being an influence on Charles Dickens.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tobias_Smollett

This is also a good landmark as down from here a pedestrian bridge crosses the River Leven, the first walkers bridge since Dumbarton. We crossed here to walk down the other side of the river back to the car. This new path was not tarmac and was extremely muddy. We ended up with mud on the trousers up to knee level after a month of wet weather. Still enjoyable though. A hassle washing boots and trousers off in the sink later. Like wading through a chocolate factory.

We made a slight detour to let Alan see Strathleven House, an 18th century mansion now run by SHBT/ Dumbarton council? with various private offices inside. At one time the Vale of Leven was a major industry hub with a long string of factories making good use of water power from the river, using its exceptional year round flow to drive machines, textile mills, etc on both banks.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strathleven_House

Swirling water. Not as tranquil as it appears here. Fast flowing.

The underpass tunnel on the east bank with the A82 traffic thundering above.

Looking back at the A82.

Lusset Glen . Old Kilpatrick. Under the Erskine Bridge.

Canal Reflections.

Forth and Clyde canal. As it was only a 2 to 3 hour walk along the River Leven we stopped here as well.

Fungi breaking down a log.

The Romans did not get any further north than Old Kilpatrick/ Bowling on the West Coast. Put off by the tribal fortress of Dumbarton Rock and the savage mountains beyond with the threat of easy ambush in such wild country. This sculpture in Lusset Glen shows that and local industry maybe. Didn't see an info sign anywhere but this is how the Romans transported liquid goods.... wine etc...across the empire.

It certainly wasn't here the last time I visited.