A BRAND new leaflet promoting the Clyde Sea Lochs Trail has been launched in Helensburgh.

Around 30 people from the local tourism sector attended the launch event at Helensburgh Heroes in Sinclair Street.

The trail stretches from Dumbarton Castle to Arrochar, via Helensburgh and the Rosneath peninsula, and features information panels at various points dotted along the coast.

The leaflet, funded by Forest Holidays of Ardgartan, the Friends of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs and the Helensburgh and Lomond Chamber of Commerce, was formally launched by ex-Provost and former area tourism chief Billy Petrie.

James Fraser, chairman of the Friends of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs, said: “We are pleased to be supporting the efforts to boost the promotion of the Clyde Sea Lochs Trail which weaves its way along an attractive stretch of coastline between Dumbarton and Arrochar where there is a rich diversity of natural and cultural heritage assets that are often overlooked by visitors.

"Hopefully the trail literature, combined with the signing and storyboards at key locations along the trail, will encourage visitors to linger longer in the area to enjoy the special quailities it has to offer.”

A spokeswoman for the Chamber of Commerce added: “The Chamber of Commerce was delighted to join with two other sponsors to support financially the production of the Clyde Sea Lochs Trail leaflet and congratulate Anne and John Urquhart for this very welcome initiative.

“The Clyde Sea Lochs trail is a tremendous asset to Helensburgh and Lomond – another wee gem that helps to bring visitors to the area.

“An added bonus with the launch in the Heroes Centre was that representatives from the tourism sector who came along to support the launch and take away leaflets for distribution were able to enjoy the new Heroes Centre which will now be a valuable town centre hub for visitor information.

“The Chamber was pleased to be represented at the event and will help to promote the leaflet in the months ahead.

"We are hoping that it will soon feature on the Visit Scotland website as an additional boost.”

The Clyde Sea Lochs Trail was inaugurated in 2000 by the now defunct Argyll, the Isles, Loch Lomond, Stirling and the Trossachs Tourist Board. It comprised 10 information panels dotted along the coast between Dumbarton Castle and Arrochar.

The intention was to take some pressure off the busy Loch Lomond area and encourage visitors to explore the lesser known gems of the Clyde’s coast.

The original ten panels have since been upgraded, and three more added, ensuring that every settlement along the route has at least one information panel.

The new leaflet has a print run of 15,000 copies and is available from most tourism businesses and from Helensburgh Heroes, The Denny Tank and Three Villages Hall in Arrochar.