The village lies on the Highland Line, the imaginary divide that separates Highland from Lowland Scotland and is home to the most southerly Highland malt whisky distillery, Glengoyne Distillery, situated at nearby Dumgoyne.
The long distance pathway, the West Highland Way passes close to the village and the Campsie Fells themselves provide good walking. West of Killearn is the Pots of Gartness, a series of rocky pools which provides a great place to watch salmon on thier way up river to spawn.
George Buchanan, the 16th-century historian, schoolar and tutor to King James VI and I, was a native of Killearn and there is a obelisk memorial to him in the centre of the village.
Accommodation, places to eat and local convenience stores can all be found in the village.