This is an interesting circular walk around Inverkip, which takes in the daff and Kip Glens and makes use of a local path to the Scout Hut at Everton which you should approach on foot only. For this reason the walk described here starts at Inverkip Station which, obviously, you can reach by train or car. There are cafe’s and a hotel nearby.

To get there

To get to Inverkip from Glasgow take the tunnel/Kingston Bridge across the Clyde on to the M8 towards Greenock and stay with the motorway. Go straight on at the Langbank roundabout. 2.5 miles from Port Glasgow, a roundabout takes you easily on to the A8, a dual carriageway. At the super-Tesco roundabout, follow the signs to Greenock, getting into the middle lane at the next roundabout still sign-posted Greenock. The simplest way to avoid Greenock town centre is to follow the route you know!

At Inverkip, from the A78 just before the marina, turn off left as signposted to go into the village and park.

Your walk

From the car go to the bridge over the River Daff and take the sign-posted path on the left-hand side of the river up the Daff Glen. At the top, on the road, turn right, and go up to Langhouse. At Langhouse take the path on the left which continues beside the Daff Burn. At ‘The Bell House’ (understandably marked ‘private access’) continue along the track on the right. Continue to the end of the track where you can actually see the Scout hall on the right. Through the gate on the right, there’s a faint path making for the Scout hall which, about 50 yards from a wall, turns suddenly left and comes down to a burn. There’s a path up to a good bridge along the burn and here the  fun begins. Don’t cross the bridge, but step over to the fence on the right which has barbed wire across it. Between the third and fourth posts the barbed wire is tied with yellow string. This can be unknotted, the barbed wire dropped and you can step over the fence. The yellow string and barbed wire should then be replaced. Take the path which leads up the side of the Scout camp.

At the cross-road of paths in the centre of the campsite, with your back to the sea and facing Leapmoor Forest, take the right-hand path (not the apparently obvious concrete path going straight up) but across some rough ground making for what looks like a bridge but is a hefty stile (with a entrance for dogs!). Immediately over is a good, rocky, if muddy and steepish path beside a burn which soon levels out as you reach a LRT at Leapmoor Forest. After taking in the (hopefully) fine views across the Firth, turn left and begin the long slow descent which eventually comes out at the shore. First though, you follow the forest track down past the waterworks and then round Langhill Farm (you’re directed away from the farm itself) and out on to a country road with a sign-post pointing back the way we’ve come. (The country road actually runs from Inverkip to Cornalees if you’re following this on a map.)

Turn left here and then almost immediately right along a tracked marked ‘Private access’. Cross the railway bridge and continue along in the same direction with the railway line on the right out of sight beside you. At a huge railway viaduct slither down (there are steps but I wouldn’t trust them) on to the path below. Turn left along a broad and well-beaten path with the Kip river way below you. At a fork, keep right, following the river. The next bit needs care but emerges at a good bridge across the Kip. Cross the bridge to the little hamlet with the stables, and, just before the A78, turn right as signposted to the Ardgowan Coastal Path. Then go sharp left through the underpass. The Underpass is hidden at this point, it’s just behind a pile of sand about 50 yards on the left from the gate with the horse-shoe handle.

Once under the road, turn left as directed, hidden from the road but going in the same direction. The leads gently out on to Cloch Road, which you cross using the traffic islands provided and go straight into the Ardgowan Estate. Here, take the path down to the right, then right again along a smaller path in about 500 yards, on the first good path and follow this down to North Lodge.

At North Lodge you can now go straight down to the shore where you turn left and keep walking parallel with the shore. There are glorious views on all sides. At the ever-expanding Inverkip Marina, where there is a rope tied to a tree and a notice saying that this is a ‘Family Beach’, you must turn left, inland: the good path goes on to the marina itself.

The path now becomes a muddy lane where the contractors have been working, but you’re soon on a pedestrianized path which leads to a bridge across the River Kip: look for the Daff coming in at the confluence. Go straight over, straight on to the foot bridge, and down into old Inverkip village and your car or the station.

This is a lovely, and gentle, circuit of The Stank Glen below Ben Ledi. The steady but gentle climb up the track from the car park at Kilmahog soon gives you unexpectedly lovely views of Loch Vennachar to the south and then Loch Lubnaig to the north. You continue along a much-changed path below Ben Ledi to Stank Glen. Despite it’s off-putting name, Stank Glen, an alternative route down from Ben Ledi, has stupendous views both up to the rugged top of the mountain and down to the magnificent depths of Loch Lubnaig. There is a real mountain feel to this part. The path continues up over a mountain which can be full-flowing in winter but is which was just about navigable. The way back is a muscle-achingly long flat trek  along the Strathyre to Callander railway path!

Park at the Forestry commission car-park on the A821 just before it joins the A84 at Kilmahog near Callander.

To get there, go to the roundabout on the A81 at Aberfoyle near the Rob Roy Motel. (To get there take either the A82 (Great Western Road) to Anniesland and then the A739 (the Bearsden/Switch Road); or the A81 (Maryhill Road) both of which take you to Canniesburn Toll. Here, take the A81 through Milngavie, Blanefield, Strathblane, Dumgoyne, etc. to the Rob Roy Motel and the mini-roundabout) At the mini-roundabout, the quickest way is to turn right towards Callander on the A81, driving past Braeval, the Port of Menteith, turning left with the A81 and following the signposts to Callander. At the traffic lights at the main street in Callander turn left; drive through Callander and just past the Kilmahog Woollen Mills, turn left on the A821.

There are TWO car-parks. Kilmahog is the one  on the left; a little further on is the less-frequented Bochastle car park on the right.

The walk

Depending on where you’ve parked, the walk begins either by taking the safe, off-road path from the Kilmahog car-park to the Bochastle car-park and going straight up the LRT (with the car-park on the right); or by returning to the entrance of the Bochastle car-park and picking up the LR to the right. The LRT gently winds its way up through the forest on a clear LRT. There are several places where the trees have been cleared and a quarry which you’re warned not to climb!

You reach a wider part of the LRT where trees were being cleared on our walk. This should be less muddy and more attractive when the forestry work has finished. On the left is a little hidden sign-post up to Ben Ledi. On the right is a new path back down to the path alongside Loch Lubnaig. It is raw and new but well-made and will soften over time. (This is a good escape route for those not wishing to go further. This path goes down steeply, but very safely, to join the track at Loch Lubnaig. Turning left takes you to Strathyre while turning right takes you first to the bridge at the Stank Glen car-park, where climbers for Ben Ledi usually park, and then on to Kilmahog and Bochastle car-park. At this point, anyone who wanted to do Ben Ledi should continue on up, and either come down the same way or walk along the ridge and come down the Stank Glen. But beware, Ben Ledi is a strenuous climb which will take several hours. It’s much further than it looks on the map.)

 Your walk, however, continues straight on, below Ben Ledi but high above Loch Lubnaig, with lovely views up to the mountain ridge and down to the River Leny and then the beginning of Loch Lubnaig. Stroll along the LRT to a junction (with Coireachrombie written across it on the map) where you take the LRT to the left which initially curves round left and then right and then straightens out to reach Stank Glen. We had lunch at a magnificent viewpoint along this stretch.

At the next junction you can go straight on to cross the burn and begin the descent. For those opting to go higher you turn left up another shortish climb, again on a very well-made path, up the left-land side of the Stank Glen. Both routes open out with a real mountain-feel under the ridge above you.

After crossing the Stank Burn make our way down the other side of the glen, dropping all the way. The LRT eventually comes out on the cycle track along Loch Lubnaig and back to the car, which is easy walking but, I’m afraid, sore on the calves! To relieve the tedium, at a concrete seat supported by railway sleepers, you can leave the old railway track and take a path closer to the river which will bring you out at the picturesque Falls of Leny.

The Dunkeld countryside is stunningly beautiful, especially in October when the trees and vegetation are changing colours.  The paths twist and wind through deciduous woods of beech and birch, along three rivers, across open moorland and back through a wonderful gorge. On the way there are picturesque views of the Victorian station at Birnam and Dunkeld, Dunkeld cathedral, the Folly at the Hermitage and a lovely humorous introduction to Shakespeare’s oak ‘When Birnam Wood shall come to Dunsinane’. With good paths, sign-posts, stiles and gates and exceedingly photoesque opportunities this is a walk to repeat – maybe in every season!

To do it yourself

If you have a car there is ample parking in Birnam in which case take the path down the right-hand side of Birnam Hotel towards the River Tay. Alternatively, the train journey is part of a lovely day out and, with any kind of rail ticket (Senior, Student, Family etc), quite reasonably priced.

The walk

At the station, cross over the bridge to Platform 1. From the back of the ticket office you have the option of the picturesque route which runs from the north end (right-hand side facing the ticket office) of the station, down steps, turn left under the line, up beside the road (on an off-road track) to a signpost pointing towards the ‘Birnam Hill Path’ with red dots. Turn left to walk behind some huge houses. When sign-posted, go steeply down to the left and in the middle of a glade leave this track as directed to go back under the railway line to the cycle track.

Meanwhile, if you want to conserve energy, leave the station in the opposite direction, (left-hand, south) and pick up the cycle track which starts alongside the road and then goes slightly inland before emerging at the underpass where you will join the others. You will get there first!

You then have to cross the A9: there is a ‘chevroned’ lane in the middle where you could pause but basically you need to look for a gap in the traffic and run! This is the only time you cross this road.

You now join the Birnam Riverside Path (blue dots) which continues on the opposite side of the A9, down through the wood to Birnam, straight across the country road, down a metalled road which curves to the right, peters out into a track and then emerges at a seat on the River Tay. The next part is idyllic as the path, first narrow and winding alongside the river, broadens out into an extended woodland glade. You pass the famous Oak, continue under Dunkeld Bridge and on to a break in the vegetation which allows you to take photos of the cathedral on the opposite side.

At the junction of paths, turn right and leave the River Tay, taking the path alongside the River Braan, under the A9 this time, and immediately cross the River Braan to make your way beside a caravan park to Inver on, not surprisingly, the Inver Path (purple dots). Inver itself is rather attractive but the path less so. It emerges on the A9 again, but well behind a barrier on an off-road track. A very short distance lands you in the NTS site of The Hermitage with car park and information boards. Follow the River Braan on the Braan Path (green dots) through deciduous woods to ‘The Hermitage’. Although it looks as though the door is closed, it is always open and you can enter the Folly and go on to a little viewing platform to look at the waterfall.

Continue on the River Braan Path (green dots) past the Folly, beside the river, going westish! At a large black arrow pointing right, stop and turn round to see Ossian’s cave. Until the reccé I had always missed this! Then the path cuts away from the river a little, before exiting the NTS area by a gate, turning left on the road and walking downhill to finally emerge at the very famous ‘Rumbling Bridge’.

Cross the bridge and climb up the other side. A small sign points to the left to the continuation of the River Braan Walk (green dots). (If you miss, this a larger sign further on points to the same walk and the car park. Still on the River Braan Path, climb through woods, then unexpectedly cross a country road and continue on the other side. Go straight on, as signposted, on the Inchewan Path (orange dots). This climbs gently over open moorland in stark contrast to everything you’ve seen so far. Just before Balhomish farm turn sharp left, as directed, through a gate and across a field to enter woods. Turn right at this point and eventually pick up the Inchewan Burn which increasingly narrows into a ravine. Follow this path down to the station, but go straight on towards Birnam under the A9 emerging in front of the Hotel. If you have any energy left, wander through the Beatrix Potter Garden where you’ll see Peter Rabbit!

This is a wonderful circuit up the Fairy Glen across the Clauchland Hills, down to the shore and along to Dhunan and back to Brodick. The walk up Fairy Glen is astonishingly attractive and brings you to a magnificent viewpoint where the whole of the Cir Mohr range hoves into view.  The new LRT takes you out around Brodick Bay and, eventually to the Dun. The walk along the shore to Dhunan is quite difficult but a short cut is given below.

I should add that our Walking Club has never been to Arran without a crisis! we have never yet been to Arran without a crisis! Expect the unexpected!  Ah well … it is ever thus, bacon butties, fish ‘n chips, coffees, sunshine and sunburn and freckles, tired legs missing boats, paths, helicopters and people!

To get to the Arran ferry

You need to allow at least 50 minutes to get to Ardrossan from Glasgow and a further 20 minutes to park and get your boots on. You need 10 minutes to wander across to the Ticket Office so, in other words, allow about 1½ hours!

The instructions start from the Clyde Expressway.

Leave the Expressway on the slip road to go through the Clyde Tunnel and then follow the signs to the M8 towards Greenock. On the M8, (just past the left turn to the Airport) take the next left turn marked A737 to Irvine. Follow this for about 20 miles by-passing Johnstone, Beith etc until you find yourself running up the main street of Dalry. At the traffic lights turn left and then immediately right – now sign-posted Ardrossan and Arran Ferry. You will be taken on to the B780. About 3 miles along, watch that you turn left with the B780 (the road straight ahead goes down to West Kilbride). The B780 now comes out at a series of new roundabouts all making down towards the sea. (Don’t be bamboozled by a ferry notice to the right – this is the Irish ferry from Troon!) At the bottom of the hill, at the main road (A738), turn left towards Ardrossan, and at the traffic lights turn right. Go right down through Ardrossan, cross the railway line and at the car park for the Arran ferry turn in left. Stop at the kiosk for a parking ticket (you £3 pay on the way out). The only exit for pedestrians is now marked about ¾ of the way up the car park (from the entrance) so get as near as possible.

You have to exit in the proper place, cross the road where the cars come off and on the boat, make for the Ticket Office and then make for the boat. You’re not allowed to wander around anymore!

The walk

From the pier cross at the traffic island and walk along the opposite pavement from the shore, past the Douglas Hotel to Alma Road. This is not named but the Co-op is on the right-hand side and it’s the first road to the left that you come to. Alma Road soon turns sharply right and you walk along with houses on the left and fine views of Goatfell and the Cir Mohr range on the right. Ignore two roads to the left (not counting the continuation of Alma Road – there’s Braithwic Place and Alma Park) and turn left into Mayish Road. The sign-post to Fairy Glen is on the right-hand side facing the other way as though you were coming up from the Post Office. You will see the Glen Artney Hotel a little way up Maynish Road. (All the official descriptions of this walk suggest starting from the Post Office but this is a long way round if you’re coming from the pier.)

Fairy Glen is lovely. The tarmac quickly becomes beaten earth which then becomes a path. It is a gentle climb but the views behind of the bay and the mountains make it worth stopping to get your breath! The path wanders through the little glen, across footbridges and beside clear running water. (There are additional paths to the right and left created by the Local Woodland Trust if you have time to explore them. Take a leaflet from the viewpoint if you intend coming back.) Your path suddenly emerges at a new viewpoint on the Brodick to Lamlash Road. You’ll want to takes lots of photos here! A new path continues towards Lamlash, very well-sign-posted, up to the much larger car-park where we have lunched before. There are picnic tables here but it is midgy!

Cross the road and make towards the Clauchland Hills. This is very different from previous walks. At a useless sign-post saying ‘Circular walk’ in both directions, turn left up the wide LRT which soon emerges high above the bay with spectacular views. The trees have been harvested and the views are clear. The LRT climbs gently and then suddenly stops at an un-harvested bit of forest but a very obvious new path continues on the right. This is the only real climb and it is fairly short. It emerges below, on the landward side, of Dun Dubh.

Continue on this path, however, and although it looks as though your way will be barred by windfalls it is clear and easy and emerges on what I think is the old path. Here a new useless sign-post directs you either back the way you’ve come, or down to the left which is the way you’re going! Turn left and follow the old path downhill as far as the fort with marvellous views of Holy Isle. You have a three way choice here.

1.The main walk turns right here on a clear path which then disappears across a field but makes for an obvious stile and signpost back to Brodick or on to Lamlash. Turn left through Clauchlands farm and go through the gate on the right turning left around the farmhouse and joining a road which goes down to the beach at Kerr’s Fort. Turn left here and go round Clauchlands Point. (If you wish, at the stile, you can follow an easy sign-posted path to Lamlash which emerges on the same road but you would turn right to Lamlash. You can get a drink at the Drift Inn (on the left going towards Lamlash and then get the bus back to Brodick

Otherwise continue round Clauchlands Point and follow the shore path to Dhunan whereyou pick up the road and continue walking towards North Corriegills and the main road (A841 Brodick-Lamlash). We turn right here and walk back down to the pier. This route is four miles long but takes ages –at least two hours.

1. The main walk turns right here on a clear path which then disappears across a field but makes for an obvious stile and signpost back to Brodick or on to Lamlash. Turn left through Clauchlands farm and go through the gate on the right turning left around the farmhouse and joining a road which goes down to the beach at Kerr’s Fort. Turn left here and go round Clauchlands Point. (If you wish, at the stile, you can follow an easy sign-posted path to Lamlash which emerges on the same road but you would turn right to Lamlash. You can get a drink at the Drift Inn (on the left going towards Lamlash and then get the bus back to Brodick

2. If you have never been to the fort (Dun) you have to go up and over the Dun and then follow an amazing cliff-top path which comes down at Clauchlands Point to follow the route above. This is actually a shorter route.

3. If you want to avoid the shore path, turn left at the bottom of the Dun and follow the path down to South Corriegills which then joins the road from North Corriegills down into Brodic

Beecraigs Country Park, full of picturesque surprises, is new territory for most Glaswegians.  The views from even quite small lumps are spectacular – mainly because of the clarity of the air and the positioning of the lumps (especially Cockleroy) with little around them to block the views. You can see as far as Arran and, of course, the Forth Bridges (nearly three of them) and Linlithgow lying below us. At first it seems rather douce for experienced walkers, what with surfaced paths, signposts, foot bridges and viewing platforms, to say nothing of a children’s adventure play area and an ice-cream van. But within 25 minutes you are wandering down attractive, less-peopled paths. It is making a detour through Witchcraig Wood to the only War Memorial in the UK which commemorates those killed in the Korean War (1950-1953) – a sobering number and mainly Scots. If you go  up to the top of the hill behind passing the Refuge Stone get tremendous views while the flat-earth-brigade can reach the memorials along the road.

To get there

Make sure you park at the Visitors’ Centre and not Balvournie or you’ll be lost before you start. The Visitors’ Centre is off-centre to the north whereas Balvournie is right in the middle so it’s easy to confuse the two. You’ll find drinks, maps, ice-creams chutneys etc and venison to purchase and toilets here.

The post-code EH49 6PL works well with a SatNav and follows the route below. You may prefer to take the M8 and go north at the end rather than the M9 and go south. There’s not much in it. The following instructions go north and then drop south through Linlithgow.

Take the M8 east and then the M80 off left to Stirling, Kincardine Bridge etc. Follow the M80/A80 as per usual, until you come to the M876 marked Kincardine Bridge, Falkirk and Grangemouth. (Just before the blue motorway sign you’ll see the brown tourist sign for the Falkirk Wheel.) Take this motorway to the left: the inside lane goes off on the M876 while the M80 continues on towards Perth. About seven miles further on, ignore the M9 sign going north (on your left) and continue on for about a mile until the M876 merges with the M9 coming in on your right. It’s really very easy – just keep driving. When the motorways merge, the inside lane goes off to Kincardine Bridge so get into the middle lane and make for Linlithgow, Grangemouth etc. You sweep round Falkirk and make for Junction 4. Look out for the enormous horses’ heads (the Kelpies) on the Forth and Clyde canal. Leave the motorway at Junction 4 and come down the slip road to a large roundabout. Go right round the roundabout ignoring a road to a ski slope, a slip road back on to the motorway and take the A803 to Linlithgow with a brown signpost to Beecraigs Country Park. Follow the A803 as it twists and winds into WestPort on the outskirts of Linlithgow. At the obvious, attractive hotel, the WestPort, turn right into Preston Road.

Drive up the hill for a couple of miles until you see a sign post to Beecraigs Country Park Visitors’ Centre and Beecraigs Loch where you turn left. Drive along the road and turn right with the sign post. The Visitors’ Centre is on the left about 300 yards down.

If you’re coming up from the M8 and Bathgate you come to the Balvournie signpost first Don’t take this! Drive on about ¼ mile to the signpost to the Visitors’ Centre.

The walk

Some of the paths are separated into walkers and cyclists, but many are seldom used and others appear to go nowhere. It wouldn’t matter if you got lost but if you want to do the walk we did you need to follow the notes quite carefully.

 Your walk begins by taking the surfaced path (Sutherland’s Way) from the back of the car park at the Visitors’ Centre. (There is a viewing platform here giving not-very-good-views of the deer park and belted Galloways (cows) but better views of the River Forth.) The path goes downhill, turns sharp right at some locked gates and emerges at Beecraigs Loch. Turn left along a path to reach the surfaced dam very quickly. (The tempting path going straight on again comes to locked gates!) Cross the dam, with picturesque views of the loch, swans, fishing boats and a heron, and go down the wooden steps to the surfaced path in front of the fishing lodge. Now continue along the opposite side of the loch until you reach a clearly marked beaten path on the left with a red marker.

The route now becomes more rural. This good path crosses a bridge, wanders onwards then runs parallel with a vehicular road which it soon crosses. Follow the red-marked route. (The first two paths on the left, marked on the map, go nowhere!). Your path comes to a sharp corner where two forest tracks meet. Take the path to the left. (There are two paths here marked as one on the OS map: it doesn’t really matter which you take as long as you cross a burn by a foot bridge turn sharp left on a wide path and then sharp right.

The path leads down to a junction of forest tracks where you turn left. Pick up, for a while, orienteering flags of white and red triangles. Continue to a sharp bend and just past this, to the right, is a clear path which crosses a bridge and leads down to a sluice gate and pond and appears to stop. It does continue, however, veering left, over a tree stump and follows a sort of assault course beside a murky burn! The path gradually improves, so much so that a bridge across said murky burn seductively leads you astray. If you reach the bridge, you’ve gone too far. There is a path about 20 yards before the bridge on the right. This leads clearly down, across a couple of easy windfalls, to the path along the boundary of the Country Park where you turn right.

The boundary path is fine – with deciduous trees on the right and views of open countryside on the left. These make a pleasant change from forest walking. The path meanders for ages, crossing a vehicular road and then continuing to a clearing where bikes obviously keep left and walkers can avoid the bumps and keep right.

The path continues to a junction at a kissing gate marked Witchcraig Wood, a private wood with public access. Go through the kissing gate, among wild flowers, and over a long, complicated stile! The mown path (at least on the reccé) goes down to a cross paths. The path opposite goes up the hill, eventually reaching a lower ‘top’ where there are signposts pointing to the real top and the Refuge Stone or down the hill to the Korean War Memorial. At the top there are magnificent views, and a shelter with stones from all over central Scotland. You can continue over the hill and down the hill back to the stile but you would miss the War Memorial. It might be best to come back to the lower top and then on down steeply to the Pagoda. You then have a choice of road walking or going back up!

Meanwhile, the flat-earth-brigade turn right along a mown path which emerges on the road. It’s about 400 yards left along the road to the war memorial.

After the War Memorial make your way over the hill or back along the road (your choice) to regain Witchcraig Wood and then re-enter Beecraigs Country Park. Ignoring the path along the boundary, keep to the forest track for a little way. On the left you are urged NOT to use the cycle track and indeed, a little further on and running more-or-les parallel with the first path is a newly-created ‘walkers-only’ path with blue markers. This climbs a little and then, at a junction with a cyclists’ route, goes left on the walkers’ route and out to the open area with a pond, meadow, climbing area, ice-cream van and car park at Balvournie. There are toilets here.

After a break you can make for Cockleroy Hill, signposted from Balvournie. The path goes straight to the vehicular road, crosses it and enters a car park. From here you go straight up the hill. After Cockleroy Hill return to Balvournie and take the main route back to the Visitors’ Centre.

This is yet another  astonishing walk in an industrial area. You strike out along Loch Thom and quite suddenly come upon the lovely views of the Argyll Hills for which the Greenock Cut is justly famous. When you reach the Greenock Cut (or canal if you don’t know this) unusually you turn right and walk along a very-much-disused stretch of canal to the road to the golf course at Whinhill. The Old Largs Road (which you will have come by) hikes you up to the track to Corlic Hill. On the best bit of the walk you pass two ruined hamlets, the first of about six cottages and the second of about four. The path then brings you down to the two Gryffe Reservoirs and back to the Old Largs Road through Dowries plantation. The last slog back to Cornalees seemed heavy going on the reccé and, indeed, on the walk itself. For almost all the walk of just over 9 miles you’d never believe that the two industrial conurbations of Greenock and Port Glasgow are just below you. Since it’s circular, it’s an easy walk to access from Drumfrochar Station but this description assumes that you have come by car

Park at Cornalees car-park. There are toilets are usually open from 10.00 and  there’s a very good ‘hut’ nearby selling coffee and tea for £1.00 from dawn till dusk!

To get there

You can approach Cornalees from the A78 just past IBM.  A signpost the next on the left, past the last entrance into IBM. directs you to Cornalees. However, it’s quicker and prettier to take the advertised ‘Scenic Route’ to Largs along the Old Largs Road, some of which you’ll be walking.

• take your favourite route to Greenock and  continue to the traffic lights on the way into Greenock with the Fire Station on the left and the tug dock on the right. Turn left past the Fire Station, on the B7054 (Baker Street), go up to a roundabout, then straight on under the railway line, past the old Tate and Lyle factory and turn right along Drumfrochar Road. Keep going more-or-less straight on (Cornhaddock Road, Dunlop Street).
• The Satnav takes you up Ratho Street (by a huge crane on the right and new flats created from the old flour mills) then turns right into Belville Street and then left on Baker Street and right on Drumfrochar Road Just follow the satnav!
• For both routes the Old Largs Road is signposted from Dumfrochar Road just as it becomes Cornhaddock Street by a brown tourist notice. Follow the signs to take you along Drumfrochar Road, past the golf course. Turn right when sign-posted to Cornalees Visitor Centre.

The walk

 Your walk begins from the car-park turning left, as sign-posted, towards Overton (two miles). The first part is along the edge of the Compensation Loch and then the edge of Loch Thom. At the cottage take the left-hand track (not the right-hand track which leads to the dam). (Just before White Hill is a clear Scottish Rights of Way notice down the hill to a LRT on Loch Thom. The first part is apparently pathless, but the LRT along the edge is quite clear. This will take you past Killochend and on to the Old Largs Road and back to Cornaleees if you want a short cut.) At White Hill, a track from a radio mast and reservoir comes in from the left, but you should continue on, breasting the hill and then on down to wonderful views of the Argyll Hills and Greenock. Keep to the left of two small reservoirs and emerge at the canal cottages at Overton and the usual end of the Greenock Cut with the Drumfrochar car park just beyond.

Across the bridge turn sharp right through an old, rusty, wrought-iron gate, and on to a clear path beside a very reedy canal! This follows the canal a short distance apparently to a stop at a railing. However, on the left of the path, before the railing, there are some wooden steps which bring you out on to the road to Whinhill Golf Course. Turn right here to High Murdieston, then keep on the Old Largs Road, ignoring the left turn to the Golf Clubhouse.

At the track sign-posted ‘Corlic Hill’ turn left and climb gently up past Whitelees Cottage and a radio mast with ever-opening views of the River Clyde. There is a clear track going off to the right, just before a five-bar gate and kissing gate, but you should go through the gate and continue on towards Corlic Hill (sign-posted 303 metres/1200 metres – one being the height and the other the distance to it). Just below Corlic Hill the LRT goes clearly onwards and upwards, but if you don’t want to climb up take a wooden stile beside a five-bar gate just above an extensive copse of trees surrounding the first of the two hamlets.

It is essential that you find the LRT here. It is well to the right of the outer horse chestnut tree of the hamlet. If you have wandered into the hamlet, you must come away to the right and then look for the beginning of the track. It is on a line looking towards a bluff rocky outcrop to the right of the next copse with its hamlet. Don’t try to cut across the reedy bog – it is difficult and very wet.

The LRT, once found, winds very clearly to the next copse of trees with the second of the two hamlets. This is surprisingly wild. At the cottages, I don’t think it matters which way round you go, but on the second reccé I took the right-hand path, then crossed in front of the cottages, down to a gate which opened and then over a low wire fence. There are sheep dipping fences which rather get in the way but you should be able to find a way round. You are making for a bright green path which is actually the top of a pipe leading to Gryffe No. 2 and the dam between the two reservoirs.

The path goes straight across the dam, with a reservoir on either side, and over a stile or through a five-bar gate on wheels which does open. Turn right on the forest path.

The forest path winds through a harvested plantation giving views on the left of the farm at Dowrie. At a T junction, turn right – there’s no other way through to the Old Largs Road from Dowrie. Your LRT now skirts Gryfe No. 2 reservoir before coming out on to the Old Largs Road again.

Turn left here and follow the road beside the reservoir to the junction. Here turn right towards the Cornalees Visitors’ Centre away from the Old Largs Road. Another mile and you’re at the cars.

Calderwood Estate was once dubbed ‘one of the loveliest of western glens, magnificent in its grouping of craggy heights, sprinkled with trees and with the amber-tinted Calder winding through the richly wooded and festooned valley’. The history of the Calderwood estate can be traced back to the first half of the 13^th century. The Castle, originally built in 1790, was the stately home of the Maxwell family. In 1845, the then owner, Sir William Alexander Maxwell, added a grand gothic frontage. The death of Sir William Alexander’s Widow in 1900, marked the end of the Maxwell lineage. The Castle subsequently passed through a number of owners, including the Scottish Co-operative Society, who worked the land and opened the grounds to the public. Sadly, by 1951 the castle had fallen into such a state of disrepair that it had to be demolished. Traces of the formal gardens and the family mausoleum are all that now remain of this once majestic country estate. Most of these paths are aggregate (plastic bottle (!), packed bark or grit ‘n stone), and are sheltered, fenced, bridged and boarded as appropriate. The exceptions are a country trail on the way to Langlands and a very muddy, but I think worthwhile, stretch at the back of Langlands Moss. Inevitably, East Kilbride intrudes occasionally but there is a surprisingly countrified bit on the way to Langlands. The route we did was about nine miles including a short wander up towards the Castle Falls a little way – towards either Trough or Black Linn and really the best bits of the park. There are several trails to suit all tastes and abilities.

Park in the car-park in Calderglen Country Park, G75 0QZ

East Kilbride is not for the faint-hearted! If you take a wrong turning you have to turn around via Carlisle (for the geographically illiterate this is somewhat exaggerated!) so getting into the appropriate lane, remembering you’re going to Calderglen and not Calderwood and being prepared to go twice round the roundabouts is helpful!

For the adventurous: if you use the postcode (G75 0QZ) with your Satnav it will take you quickly and directly, making use of the new stretch of the M74. Generally speaking, keep in the left lane until I suggest otherwise! This route takes only 25 minutes from Glasgow!

Take your favourite route to the Kingston Bridge (get into or stay in the left lane), then exit at Junction 20, West Street (left lane) and at the bottom of the slip road, at the traffic lights, stay in the left lane turning left (Wallace Street), and then left again (Dalintober Street) as directed towards the M74. Stay in the left lane to curve naturally on to the M74 (signposted Carlisle and Cambuslang). Keep in the left lane, going past Junction 1A (to Rutherglen and Polmadie) and continuing on to Junction 2 to Rutherglen and Dalmarnock. At the bottom of the slip road turn left (sign-posted City Centre/ Dalmarnock) and then sharp left again on the A724 on Cambuslang Road ‘towards the City Centre A724 (A749) Drive on to traffic lights at a major crossroads with ‘The Laurels’ opposite with a clock on the wall and Lloyd street on the right. Turn left here along what is Farmeloan Road (but not named) and drive up to traffic lights at Farmeloan Cross. (Rutherglen High street is to the right and Boots is on the opposite corner).

Go straight across (A749), signposted ‘Burnside, East Kilbride and Rutherglen Shopping Centre’, up Stonelaw Road, past the Bowling Green on the left and curving to the right beyond some woodland into Burnside. At some shops, go underneath the railway and turn sharp left along East Kilbride Road (A749).

Follow this, going straight over at the first roundabout, straight over Nerston roundabout (first exit) and straight over the next roundabout (second exit) following the A749.

At the Whirlies Roundabout (with big metal golf balls) go straight over, third exit (but it looks like the fourth) and you must be in the middle or outer lane signposted A725, Town Centre, Strathaven, etc. (The inner lane takes you off to Calderwood.) Go along what is now Kingsway to Whitemoss Roundabout where you pick up the first brown tourist sign for Calderglen Country Park. Go straight over and turn left at Burniehill Roundabout, signposted A726, Strathaven and Calderglen Country Park. You must now get into the right-hand lane (the left lane is local.) This becomes a single lane and you turn into Calderglen on the left. Drive along the estate road until you reach a no-entry sign, turn right and you’ll come to a large car park by the main entrance.

For the afeart: It’s much longer but easier to take the M8 east towards Edinburgh and then, at junction 8, take the M73, quickly followed by the M74 at Junction 1 towards Carlisle etc. (Don’t let the Junction numbers confuse you, follow the signs to Carlisle, the South etc.) Come off on the A725, just past the Bothwell service station, and keep in the right-hand lane of the three-lane slip road as you come down to a huge roundabout controlled by traffic lights. Go all the way round the roundabout (The left lane of the slip road goes off to Bellshill etc. and the middle lane becomes the inside lane and leads off into Strathclyde Country Park.) Ignore the slip road back up on to the motorway, and keep in your lane which leads to a roundabout and a dedicated lane to East Kilbride. All this should be sign-posted A725 Expressway to East Kilbride. Follow the Expressway up and you’ll come to the Whirlies Roadabout (as above.) In your case, take what is the second and main exit signposted the Town Centre, Strathaven etc. Go along what is now Kingsway to Whitemoss Roundabout where you pick up the first brown tourist sign for Calderglen Country Park. Go straight over and turn left at Burniehill Roundabout, signposted Calderglen Country Park. You must now get into the right-hand lane (the left lane is local) This becomes a single lane and you turn into Calderglen on the left. Drive along the estate road until you reach a no-entry sign, turn right and you’ll come to a large car park by the main entrance.

The walk

The walk begins from the car-park turning left at an Information Board and then right at a junction of paths sign-posted towards the BBQ area and Horseshoe Falls. At a T junction, turn left and go straight down to the Rotten Calder (so-called because of it’s colour – red – not it’s smell). This is a glorious path (snow-drop covered in March) leading to the top of wooden steps which zig-zag down to the river. Turn right at the bottom and left over the river. Turn right, away from the Horseshoe Falls and BBQ area. Then follow an all-too-short sheltered stretch by the river.  At the obvious end of the path, turn right and back over a bridge, but head off left towards Langlands Moss. (You could leave here, following the top path back to the Visitors’ Centre.) Your path climbs high above the river but you are safely fenced and eventually it drops down to the water again, to wind under the Strathaven Road (tunnelled and bleak). Once under, however, the path becomes increasingly attractive. It follows the river round to a wooden bridge and a junction of paths. Turn left here – you can come back the other, shorter, way if the weather is bad. You now enter open countryside and continue following the river to Hurlawcrook Road. A dogleg right and over, takes you past the information board at the entrance to Langlands Moss. This is a gravel path and, at the junction with a board walk, you turn left along the boards. Do not step off – you are now walking over bog! There are information boards along the way and, in summer, the bog would be awash with heather! It’s a bit bleak in winter! The board-walk enters a wood where you turn left and follow the path to a clearing with picnic tables and benches.

Continue in the same direction, turning right down a path marked ‘Routes around Roots’ to a bridge. Turn right here. This stretch is very squelchy – just plough on!!! At a T-junction, a marker, again ‘Routes around Roots’, directs you right and up through a lovely path through woods and back to the board walk. Go back along the way you came.

At the T junction you can turn left and follow the track back to another entrance on Hurlawcrook Road but this way was a bit bleak and urbanised. It’s prettier to go back to the same entrance you came in. Follow the route you took on the way out. At the bridge, if you’ve had enough, go straight on to the Visitors’ Centre. We crossed back over the bridge we took in the morning to the foot of the wooden steps. There are other routes but this was the prettiest so you might as well do it twice!

However, we didn’t climb up the steps (you could leave here and go back to the Visitors’ Centre) but continued along the river. This bit is lovely again – and we followed the path up to the junction with the Tor Loop (yellow route). If the weather is kind and you have the energy, go on a bit and then return to this junction. The Tor Loop climbs up a little and then turns left to follow the Kelvin Burn. Again, this is lovely. The Tor Loop crosses the drive way by which you entered the park and enters woods. The path is dry and safe and has a pretty bridge across a nameless burn. There is a diversion to ‘The Tor’ (hence the name of this loop) which is the ‘motte’ of a ‘motte and bailey castle’. Soon it parallels the outward drive from the park and brings you plump back into the car park.

The route is a picturesque ‘lollipop’ including all the ‘best bits’ of an old and fascinating walk known, presumably, to the locals but only now hitting the wider literature. I would guess that you will have beeen as astonished as I was to find this lovely walk just off a busy dual-carriageway thoroughfare, not far from Barrhead and running parallel to the M77. One minute you’re in a very busy, urban centre among the supermarkets and traffic and literally five minutes later you’re standing in a picturesque glen. East Renfrewshire has formed a number of paths around three picturesque reservoirs and we added two more lochs and a woodland walk. It’s totally surprising and lovely.

PARK in the car-park of ‘The World Buffet’ restaurant who have kindly agreed with East Renfrewshire to allow parking on their premises. You should park neatly in the larger car-park, fronting the main road (the A726), and well away from the entrance to the restaurant which will be very busy at lunch-time.

TOILETS The World Buffet toilets are for customers only and the usual practice, mentioned on every website, is to use the toilets at Sainsbury’s. To get there follow the instructions below to The World Buffet but as you come off the M77 and turn right on to the A726, look almost immediately for a large Sainsbury’s sign on the left and turn in JUST BEFORE SAINBURY’S. This takes you up to a roundabout which you go round to exit on the right, and then up the ramp, past a huge car park on the right, to the car park for Sainsbury’s itself. Afterwards, come back to the A726 and turn left to continue past the first road (Southpark Village) to the SECOND LEFT which has a large ‘World Buffet’ cylindrical advert on a pole. Turn left here, left again into the restaurant, and then park as above.

To get to The World Buffet Restaurant car park

(Note, the Post Code, G53 7RN, takes you too far. Use it to get to the A726 to Paisley and then follow the instructions below.) It will take about 25 minutes from Glasgow.

Otherwise begin by taking your favourite route to the Kingston Bridge and the M77 towards Kilmarnock and Ayr. If you come over the Kingston Bridge keep in the lane third from the left with the M77 on the gantry above. (The first two lanes on the left go down to West Street etc.) Stick with the inside lane on the M77, ignoring roads beside you which seem to be the M77 and which will soon join you. Stay on the M77 past Silverburn, with the Park and Ride and the brown Burrell notices, and go on to Junction 3 signposted ‘A726, Paisley and Barrhead’. I would keep in the outside lane on the slip road until you approach the junction when you should get into the middle lane of the three so that you are in the middle lane as you turn right signposted ‘Paisley and Barrhead’ to go back underneath the motorway. Keep in the middle lane and ignore the slip road going off on your left (to Southpark and Darnley) and go straight on towards Sainsbury’s. Turn left at the traffic lights for Sainsbury’s if you wish to use their toilets: otherwise continue on past a road on the left to Southpark Village and take the next road on the left to turn into the World Buffet Restaurant. You’ll see the cylinder advertising the restaurant on a high pole on the left, just before the entrance.

The walk

The walk begins by turning left on the lane outside the restaurant, away from the main road, and turning left again at the first entrance into a picnic area with various signposts. We ignored the direct route and took the path sign-posted for the Southpark Village entrance, crossing a picturesque bridge and turning right at the next junction to go alongside the left hand side of the little pond. At the end, the ‘pond’ path climbs a little to re-join the Southpark Village path and you follow this up to the main route up through the glen. Dog-leg left and right here, going between two piles of grit, to pick up a slightly higher path and, at the immediate junction, turn right to follow a lovely path through the woods and along side the rushing Brock Burn..

(The grit is going to be used for planting to prevent fly-tipping! If you miss it, or it’s planted, go on up the main route just a little, take the path on the right and then double back to a junction: this time the take the path on the left.)

A set of sturdy steps helps you to gain height easily and at the top bends left to the main route again. However, as the path bends left, look out for a path on the right. Turn right here, across some duckboards and follow a pretty, but muddy, path wiggling up through the woods. This is much preferable to slogging it up the road!. At the top, it re-joins the road at an idyllic view of a spectacular waterfall!!! (Well it was in February!)

The road curves round right and then left to the first of five reservoirs, this one the Waulkmill Glen Reservoir. Again the signpost gives a number of options. Follow the ‘road’ beside the reservoir, and you soon have Littleton reservoir and the Brock Burn on your right. The road ends alongside the Ryat Linn Reservoir and another lovely waterfall just below the Aurs Road. THIS IS THE END OF THE STICK and a nice place for a picnic.

To do the lollipop, your path turns left and goes up to a safe place to cross the Aurs Road. Cross over and for the next mile and a quarter you are walking round the Balgray reservoir to a car park with two picnic tables another nice , but rather bleak, place for a picnic. It is usual to retrace your steps from here.

If you want to do the full round, continue alongside Balgray Reservoir, as sign-posted, over the railway line, with fine views across Paisley, and come down to Springfield Road. A slight dog-leg left and right will take you t across the road to take some steps down to a safer road which you follow downhill (to the right). Where the side road runs out make for the Aurs Road (a continuation of Springfield Road) coming out at Albar Estates. You have to cross this road at a terrible bend so be prepared to nanny each other! At two lamp-posts up the hill a little (10 yards?) is a small path running alongside the Albar Estate entrance. The path soon grows up, goes into some trees, across a burn on a plank and up a track. The next bit is fine, with open views to Dumgoyne and Knockupple. It continues up to the railway line AND THEN GETS LOST! THE PATH CURVES ROUND AND FOLLOWS THE RAILWAY LINE BUT THE PATH YOU WANT, MARKED ON THE MAP, HAS BEEN OBLITERATED. Immediately under the railway line go straight up a muddy bank and pick up a path which makes for what we have come to call the ‘Oblong’ Reservoir. Cut through left to higher ground and take a come-and-go-path towards the wall on Aurs Road. As you get near the wall, you can see a gate on the left which you may as well make for since it’s open. Through here turn left and come back to the stick.

This time, take the road straight down, ignoring the little path through the woods. Just past a ruined building and through two pillars, turn left and either go down the first on the right (shorter) or take the path you came up (longer but prettier!). You come out by the two piles of grit and either cut through here or a little further on to the main route. Turn right and then immediately left for the ‘official’ path off the road (between two round stone pillars) which is shorter and prettier to come back to the start of the walk.

The Almondell and Calderwood Country Parks have been created from two adjoining estates and amount to just over 200 hundred acres of rivers and woodland hidden to the east of Livingston between the M8 and the A71. The Almondell Estate is exceptionally well-laid out with beaten bark paths, tarmac driveways, bridges, play-areas, toilets and a Visitors’ Centre. The Calderwood Estate is also way-marked and bridged, but is much wilder and rougher. In both, you would never dream that you are a few miles from the capital city and the rivers Almond, Linnhouse and Murieston are spectacular in spate. There are numerous waterfalls, weirs, tumbling rivers and burns, islands and quieter mill lades. It is all exceedingly photogenic and picturesque, not least the various aque-and-via-ducts and bridges of various kinds.

Park in the NORTH CAR PARK of the Almondell and Calderwood Country Park. To get there the postal code for the park is EH52 5PE and worked well with the satnav. Otherwise, getting to the North Car Park is very simple and should take about 40 minutes from Glasgow. Leave Glasgow on the M8 heading east towards Edinburgh, and stay put for about 30 miles until JUNCTION 3 (not Junction 3A which you come to first) where you leave on the left to take the A899 to Livingston (and West Calder). You swing around the slip road, back over the motorway and come to the roundabout with a whalebone structure in the centre. Take the first exit down the main Livingston dual carriageway but after 800 yards take the road to the left sign-posted Pumpherston and Uphall Stations. (There are a pile of Livingstone estate names – ignore these!). You come down to a main road where you turn left and at the next roundabout also take the first exit on to Houston Road and the Houston Industrial Estate. At the traffic lights, turn right on the B8046 (Pumpherston Road) towards the unprepossessing village of Pumpherston. The road on the left beside the Bay Leaf Restaurant,  has been blocked off and is now a dead end. Instead, at the traffic lights in Pumpherston, go straight ahead and take the sign to Almondell and Calderwood Country Parks.

Turn left here left here and continue until you reach s big sign to Broxburn pointing left, but the sign for Almondell and Calderwood Country parks is hidden until you’ve actually turned right! Drive down this single-track country estate road till you come to the Estate Entrance with two traditional pillars and a lodge. You are not allowed to drive any further, but are encouraged to enter the North Car Park on the right.

The walk

When you are booted up and kitted out then make your way to the other side of the large car-park, opposite the car entrance, to a path between a dog-pooh bin on the left and a recycling bin on the right. Follow this made-up path as it curves round and down to the left (ignoring a small local path which goes straight on) to a set of steps down on to the main drive way. At the bottom of the steps you’ll come to a sign-post pointing right down the driveway to the Visitors’ Centre. At the Centre, you can have coffee, pick up a map and other useful information and use the loos.

 After coffee, leave the Visitors’ Centre at the front entrance and turn right, through the garden past the toilet block and turn right again to the Nelson Mandela suspension bridge across the River Almond. A path along a mill lade continues to the left but you strike up the series of wooden steps straight on and up. On our walk these were muddy and slippery but there’s a good hand rail. At the top turn right to follow the course of the river, but high above it. This excellent path meanders through larch woods, with open fields on the left and the river below. By-pass the Nasmyth Bridge and come out on the main drive way to the South Car Park which is currently closed. Turn left to continue along this driveway to the imposing exit/entrance. Turn right for 50 yards along the pavement and then cut back into the estate on a path sign-posted ‘Camps Viaduct 0.4 miles’. (Your path is just by the metalled entrance to some houses – look for the angled sign-post on to the path.) The old railway line takes you through pleasant countryside straight on to the viaduct high above the River Almond. Immediately over the viaduct is a set of steps on the left leading down to a path across a hump-backed bridge (the Dale Bridge) across a mill lade and on to the main estate path along the river. You will see an attractive shelter to the left, and look up to appreciate the remarkable workmanship of the viaduct. If you dog-leg slightly left and right you can pick up a grassy and lovely path alongside the river.

At the Pipe Bridge, turn left across the bridge and then follow the path through a particularly attractive area. There’s a sewage farm on the left but you don’t see much of this on the outward leg. Just before a metal bridge going straight into the village of Mid Calder turn left down a lovely path, and just before it emerges on the road turn right, down some steps, under the road and across a purpose-built metal bridge. Almost immediately you turn left again across another such bridge and you’re into the Calderwood Country Park. There’s an information board and map, and the return path is seen coming in from the right. Go straight on here, following the path west, on the south side of the plateau and high above Linnhouse Water, to a junction of paths. Oakbank is sign-posted to the left and Murieston to the right. Turn right and at the next junction, continue downhill to the Murieston Water (sign-posted Murieston), turning right at the river bank. This muddy but delightful path takes you along an idyllic stretch of the river and then back up to the higher path at the Spottiswood junction and Information Board. Continue straight on here.

At the time of writing, there was a huge puddle but you should follow the general line of the path. It is easy to wander too far into the central part of the plateau which is pathless. Keeping in line with the direction of travel around the puddle will bring you back to the information board at the entrance to the Estate mentioned above. Then cross the first metal bridge, turn right across the second, under the road, up the steps and back along the path round the sewage works to the Pipe Bridge where you have to turn left to cross the bridge and right to take the path home. Go past the hump bridge which brought you down from the Camps viaduct, under the attractive wooden shelter to the aqueduct. You have a choice of routes here – either is pleasant. But to vary the walk cross the river at the aqueduct, walk up the side of the Mill lade, cross the Nasmyth Bridge since you by-passed it in the morning and take the Red Route path alongside the river. This is a lovely stretch, going along the back of the Visitors’ Centre to the path you took in the morning. Turn left here, go up to the driveway and turn right to go back to North Car park and the cars.