A  convoluted walk around Colzeum

Getting there: about 21 miles, 40 minutes.

Park considerately in the roads around ‘The Swan Inn’ in the village of Banton where there is a small shop.

There are various ways of getting to Banton but this route gives you a feel of where you will be walking. Take the M8 east from Glasgow, then the M80 towards Stirling etc. At the sign indicating Kirkintilloch/Stepps etc turn left to a very large roundabout with traffic lights. Turn first left off the roundabout and come down to a smaller roundabout where you go straight (second exit) up Initiative Road signposted Kirkintilloch. Follow this straight road crossing all roundabouts and ignoring all exits until you come to the A803 at major traffic lights. Turn right and follow the A803 (past the road to Twechar) through Queenzieburn and Kilsyth and past the signs and gates of Colzeum Country Park. Ignore the first road on the left and take the second left (at Kelvinhead) clearly marked ‘Banton’.

The walk
Take the Mill Road almost opposite ‘The Swan’ turning right along a sign-posted path which leads to Banton Loch. This very picturesque mill-workers’ path takes you into Colzeum (pronounced Coal-zee-um) Country Park. At the junction at the end of the loch, turn right and then left  to follow a convoluted route along a canal feeder to a small bridge across the canal feeder.  The path heads up towards the main House (where the toilets at the restaurant may be open). Continue past the restaurant and up a wooded glen around a magnificent waterfall, returning through a pets’ cemetery. Turn left (vehicular – take the pedestrian path across a bridge) then left again and right to go straight down along a pedestrian path over an ancient bridge and out on to the A803. Crossing carefully, start on a vehicular road but quickly enter a gate and go past boulders, an old bath etc to a gate and footpath on the right. This goes down to the ruined Craigmarlich House and out to a car park on the Forth and Clyde Canal. Turn left here and follow the canal to a sign-posted footpath on the left up to Kelvinhead and, crossing the A803 again, up to Banton. The total distance is about 7.0 miles.

The story of Glasgow’s Clyde Bridges reflects the development of Glasgow from its earliest settlements alongside the River Clyde. As the city flourished in the 18th and 19th centuries this resulted in Bridges being built which encouraged trade and prosperity. This Bridges walk starts on the South Side of the Clyde at the pedestrian Bridge at Cunningar Loop (East) and follows the Clyde walkway (West) and criss-crosses the river utilising various Pedestrian and Road Bridges. It goes through Glasgow Green, into the City Centre and to the finishing point near the Millennium Bridge.The walk concludes with a short train ride from Exhibition Centre to Dalmarnock and a walk back to the starting point.

Starting Point for the Walk:
The best place to park for this walk is Cuningar Loop Car Park (Cuningar Avenue).

Getting there: 7 miles/20 minutes
Take your favourite route towards the M8 [Greenock/Kilmarnock] and then take M74 towards Carlisle.  Exit M74 at Junction 2 and turn left onto Cambuslang Road (A724).  Turn right into Duchess Road which, as the road bends left, becomes Downiebrae Road.  Turn right into Cuningar Aveneue

The Walk – Glasgow Bridges – 7.8 miles (12 km)  The walk can be shortened as required)
Head north from the parking area and turn right into Cuningar Avenue, continuing into the Cuningar Loop.  Cross the River Clyde, from the south bank to the north bank, at Cuningar Pedestrian Bridge and turn left to join the River Clyde Walkway.  Continue westwards and at Rutherglen Bridge cross to the south bank.  Continue to the Polmadie Bridge and cross back to the north bank turning left towards Glasgow Green.  Cross to the south side of the river at Albert Bridge and return to the north side at South Portland Street Suspension Bridge.  Cross once again to the south side at George the Fifth Bridge before taking the IFSD Tradeston Footbridge back to the north bank.  Continue on the north bank until the Clyde Arc and cross to the south side heading towards Glasgow Science Centre.  At the Millennium Bridge cross back to the north side and follow the pedestrian route to the Exhibition Centre Station.Trains run regularly from the Exhibition Centre to Dalmarnock. The final leg of the walk is from Dalmarnock Station (see map at top).  Head south down Dalmarnock Road, cross the Dalmarnock Bridge and turn left into Downiebrae Road to return to the starting point.

This well-visited country park provides many and varied opportunities to walk within its boundaries and beyond.

Starting Point for the Walk:
OS Reference NS 546 779 .

Getting there: 10 miles/25 minutes

Take your favourite route to Milngavie and then take the A81 (Strathblane Road).  Continue along until you see the sign for Mugdock Country Park (NB the sign is some distance from the left turn).  Turn left onto Craigallian Road and keep following the signs.  At the T junction, turn right and continue until the car park on your left.  The best place to park is the overflow car park (sign posted) as it is far less busy.

Please note: If using SatNav make sure to enter Mugdock Park Visitor Centre, as Mugdock Park will take you to one of the outlying car parks, miles from where you want to be!

Toilets are available at Mugdock Country Park Visitor Centre as well as coffee.

The Walk:  Mugdock Country Park – 8.25 miles (13 km) (Shorter options available)

Leave the Visitor Centre and head down the track leading to the remains of the house for the old zoo.  Just past the ruins, turn left and walk straight along, skirting the edge of Mugdock Loch and then turn right, signposted Mugdock Castle.  At the T junction at the end of the loch, turn left.  (Option A – For a very short walk turn right at this point, explore the castle, and follow the signs for the Visitor Centre).

Continue on towards the South Car park and, just past the path for the car park, look carefully for a path on the left which runs parallel to the road and eventually emerges onto the road.  After a short distance on the road turn left into Milngavie Waterworks.  There is a lovely, wooded path along the edge of the reservoir which is reached by following a path over the measuring pond on the left.  Continue round this reservoir until a crossing point between Milngavie Reservoir and Craigmaddie Reservoir.  After crossing the reservoirs, turn right past various buildings and instead of continuing round the reservoir, take the access road down towards Mugdock Road.  (Option B – For a 4-mile walk continue round the reservoir (passing Drumclog Moor Car Park) and retrace the outward route back to the Visitor centre).

Turn left onto Mugdock Road then take the second road on the right, Craigallian Avenue, to re-enter the country park.  Continue along Craigallian Avenue towards Craigallian Bridge, the path becomes the West Highland Way (WHW) near Allander Park.  (Option C – For a 6-mile walk turn right, off the WHW, and follow the signs for the Visitor Centre).

Continue on the WHW past Craigallian Loch as far as Carbeth.  Just past the first few cabins and Carbeth Loch on the left, turn sharp right (before reaching the B821) through a gate and onto an upward path – now the John Muir Way.

Continue on this path as it ascends slowly then evens out, and eventually comes to a T junction.  Turn right and continue on until a small parking area on the edge of a road.  Cross the road and, veering slightly to the right, follow the path into the country park crossing a foot bridge and eventually turning left to head to the Visitor Centre and Car Park.

Doune is one of those Scottish towns that we have driven through numerous times, but never visited!

The walk  starts  close to the site of the former Doune Railway Station and heads past the nearby Doune Ponds then meanders through some lovely woodland. In due course you pick up a section of the former ‘Callander & Oban Railway’ for a couple of miles. After walking through the eastern side of the town, you pass through the grounds of Doune Castle before picking up a path along the River Teith. The final couple of miles include some more woodland and open countryside.

Starting Point for the Walk:

Doune Ponds Car Park, Doune – OS Reference NN 725 019 [Sat Nav: FK16 6EH].

Getting there: 36 miles/45 minutes

Take your favourite route to the M80 (Stirling).  Exit M80 at Junction 10 (Doune [A84]).  In Doune (on the A84) take a right turn [Town Centre/Doune Castle] onto the A820 (Balkerach Street).  Almost immediately after joining the A820, take a left turn onto Station Wynd and continue past Pistolmakers Row for about 100m before turning left into Doune Ponds Car Park.

Toilets are available at Stirling Services (M80, Junction 9, FK7 8EU), approximately 40 minutes drive from Glasgow.

The Walk:  Doune Loop – 7.5 miles (12 km)

The walk starts at the Doune Ponds, a 40-acre Nature Reserve (which was previously a gravel and sand quarry), by following a network of paths through the woodland that surrounds Doune Ponds.  The route eventually leaves the woodland via a steep hillside climb that takes about 5 minutes.  Soon after reaching the highest point in this locality, there are good views across the town of Doune.  Then follow a network of paths and quiet country lanes through the countryside to the NE of Doune.

In due course, pick up a faint path through a small area of dense woodland – this leads onto a former railway line.  Follow the old railway line in a westerly direction for about 1.25 miles then head in a southerly direction, through a park, past the kirk then through a housing estate.  A few minutes after passing the housing estate, reach the grounds of Doune Castle.  Skirt around the east side of the Castle and pick up a path that runs along the side of Ardoch Burn.  After about 0.25 mile, the Ardoch Burn joins the River Teith.  At this point, turn right and follow a path that heads in a WNW direction alongside the River Teith.  After about 0.5 mile turn left onto the A84, then cross the road to join a footpath to rejoin the river.  Take care when crossing the busy A84.

Continue through an area of woodland that runs alongside the River Teith, which soon leads to a path on the right and a gentle climb away from the River Teith.  The final 1.5 miles is along a path and farm access track which leads to the west end of Doune.  After about 1 mile, cross the A84 again and then head into an area of woodland at the southern edge of Doune Ponds.  Rejoin the outgoing route to end up back at the Doune Ponds Car Park.

Starting at the railway station in Bridge of Allan, the destination is Dumyat (418m) where, weather dependent, there should be good views. Those wishing a shorter walk can opt for a smaller loop which excludes the climb to the Dumyat peak. The walk passes
through a variety of landscapes. This walk starts and ends in Bridge of Allan and is a moderate 8.3 mile loop.

Starting Point for the Walk:

Bridge of Allan station – OS Reference NS 785 977.

Getting there: 33 miles/41 minutes

Take your favourite route to the M80 towards Stirling and continue onto the M9 towards Perth.  Leave the M9 at Junction 11 and at the roundabout take the fourth exit (A9) to Bridge of Allan.  At the entrance sign to Bridge of Allan, note the Railway Station sign above the hedge on the right.  Continue slowly to the first mini-roundabout and turn right.  Note that there are no signs to the station.  Enter the station car park.  If you miss the first roundabout there is a second round-about at which you can do a U-turn and approach the first one and see signs to the station.

The Walk:  Bridge of Allan/Black Hill Loop – 7.5 miles (12km) (Shorter option available)

From the railway platform ascend the steps to the main road and turn left past the two mini roundabouts and after 100m, on the left, coffee and toilets are available at the Railway Café.  Continue down the main street and note The Westerton Arms pub on the right.  Turn left and after 20m turn left on a path marked “Mine Woods via Lovers Leap”.  Keeping to the right and ascend slowly to a grassy field and narrow road.  Crossing the road and turning right the path parallels the road to a four-way junction.  Turn left up a path with a big sign “Coppermine” – unfortunately this sign is about 10m up the path and not easy to see from the junction.  Now go slowly and steadily up a fairly steep path on the side of the hill.  Passing Wolfshole Quarry on the left approach a steep set of steps which can be bypassed to the left by an excellent path.  After 700m arrive at a minor road and turn left.  Ignore a road on the left and after 100m turn right on a path guarded by a green bar.  This path gently climbs up to Cocksburn Reservoir.  Continue to the right along the reservoir and at the end take a right fork with fences and a wall on the right.  The path eventually leads to a metal gate and a minor road (the historic Sheriffmuir Road).  Turn left and after 100m turn right onto open ground.

Option A:  Take main path for good views across the Forth and descend a good path on right to a break in the wall.

Option B:  Take the path on the right (heading for the edge of a wood on the right) that leads to a break in the wall.

Once through the wall turn left down a lovely path which continues down through a rhododendron tunnel passing a fence on the right.  At the end of the fence turn right and after 100m cross a burn to arrive at a minor road.  Turn right uphill round two hairpin bends to a locked gate which may be bypassed by a narrow path behind the fence to the left of the gate.  Keeping left, the path broadens and goes downhill to reach a track which follows the boundary wall of Stirling University.  Arrive again at the Sheriffmuir Road and turn left.  On the Sheriffhall Road turn right after 20m and the path wends its way through housing, then between high fences, to join another access road (Pathfoot Drive).  After 50m cross straight ahead near to broken down brown double gates and along another path between garden walls and fences.  After 100m this joins another access road.  Turn left and then right at the letter box along a main residential road (Kenilworth Road).  Proceed along Kenilworth Road for 400m and look carefully on the left for a path between garden walls (nearly opposite #13 “LIKARA”).  Take this path down 86 steps and turn sharp right.  After 400m arrive at Well Road and follow left until junction with Henderson Street.  Turn right and return to the station.

This is a lovely walk starting and finishing in the village of Eaglesham. It is a clockwise circular walk and passes through the village of Waterfoot before returning to the starting point.

At about 8.5 miles it is a pleasant walk with undulating elevations mostly on country lanes. There are shorter options of about 4.5 miles and 6 miles for those wishing a shorter route. There is a ford to be crossed on this walk but at this time of year there should be no problems. There is plenty to see in and around the village of Eaglesham including an equestrian centre, a golf course, an
environmentally friendly housing development, a dog gym exercise area, and quiet country lanes. There are good views
northwards to the Campsies, Ben Lomond and the surrounding hills when the weather is clear.

Starting Point for the Walk:
Mid Road, Eaglesham – OS Reference NS 572 518.

Getting there: 16 miles/25 minutes
Take your favourite route to the M77 (Kilmarnock).  Exit M77 at Junction 5 (East Kilbride/Eaglesham [A726]).  At the roundabout turn right (Eaglesham [B767]).  Continue into Eaglesham and at the traffic lights turn right into Montgomery Street.  Free parking is available in Montgomery Street which is adjacent to Mid Road.

As an alternative, buses run regularly from the city centre to Eaglesham (FirstBus: Service 4a).  Journey time is about 60 minutes.  A regular train service runs from Glasgow Central to Clarkston.  Journey time about 20 minutes.  There is a regular bus service from here to Eaglesham (FirstBus: Service 4a). [Information correct at May 2022]

The Walk:  Bonnyton/Hill of Dripps Loop – 8.25 miles (13 km)
There are two points at which there is the option for a shorter walk of either 4.8 miles (8 km) or 6.5 miles (10 km).

Starting from Mid Road, turn right into Montgomery Street and continue up the street towards the edge of the village where it becomes Moor Road.  Turn right into Kirkton Moor Road and take the gentle inclined road to pass the equestrian centre and golf course.  At the end of the road turn right into Bonnyton Moor Road.  This stretch of road provides fines views over Glasgow to the Campsies and Queen’s View on a clear day.  At the bottom of this road, the road turns right at a 90° corner, it then becomes Humbie Road.  At the roundabout (Point A) there are two options.  For the full walk turn left and go under the A726.  (See Option A below for 4.8 mile walk).

At the next roundabout turn left again and at the third roundabout turn right into Floors Road which leads into Waterfoot.  At the end of Floors Road (Point B), at the junction with Glasgow Road [B767], there are two options.  For the full walk turn left.  (See Option B below for 6.5 mile walk).

Continue until the intersection with Waterfoot Road [signed Newton Mearns] and turn right to cross the Waterfoot Bridge and pass Dripps Mill.  Continue with caution up this road (now without a pavement – keeping to the right side of the carriageway) and take the first turning on the right.  After about 2km, and after a 90° bend to the left, turn right to join the Holehouse Road.  Follow the Holehouse Road down to the ford, cross the ford and follow the road under the A726 and then up the long hill to the start of Eaglesham village.  At the junction with the B767 turn left and *after passing the Eglinton Arms turn right into Polnoon Street and left into Mid Road to return to the start point.

Option A:  Turn right at the roundabout (onto Humbie Road).  At the end of Humbie Road, at the junction with Glasgow Road [B767], turn right.  Continue south on Glasgow Road into Eaglesham and follow the route from * above.

Option B:          At the end of Floors Road, at the junction with Glasgow Road [B767], turn right.  Continue south on Glasgow Road back into Eaglesham and follow the route from * above.

This  loop around Kilmaurs, East Ayrshire is an easy 7 mile walk on quiet country roads, passing through a gentle agricultural landscape. The walk has some interesting places including Chapeltoun House. The house was designed for Hugh Neilson, the owner of Summerlee Iron Company in Coatbridge. The walk also passes Watermeetings Bridge.
Check these websites from your browser – They provide some interesting information about Chapeltoun House.

Starting Point for the Walk:

The car park near Weston Tavern (Fenwick Road) – OS Reference NS 410 412.  Parking is free.

Getting there: 23 miles/35 minutes

Take your favourite route to the M77 (Kilmarnock).  Exit M77 at Junction 7 (Kilmaurs [B751]).  At the exit roundabout turn right and go under the M77 and turn left to join the A77.  At the next roundabout turn right towards Kilmaurs (B751 – Kilmaurs Road).  Continue on this road and enter Kilmaurs.  Just after the 20 mph limit sign turn left into the car park which is just down the road from the Weston Tavern which is visible from the car park.  Street parking is also available.

Trains run regularly from Glasgow Central to Kilmaurs.  Journey time is between 33-49 minutes.

The Walk:  Kilmaurs Loop – 7 miles (11 km)

This an easy walk along quiet country roads behind Kilmaurs.  It passes the Annick Water, alongside the Glazert Burn, and cross the local beauty spot known as the Watermeetings.  There are several lovely cottages (and mansions!) to admire, including those around the Chapeltoun Estate area.  The route crosses the East Ayrshire / North Ayrshire boundary 4 times!

From the car park, return to the Fenwick Road and turn left.  At the junction turn right into Main Street and continue until a road on the left called Standalane is reached.  Continue along Standalane for 1.7 miles to reach the B769 and cross this road continuing straight ahead.  After another mile (and passing through Chapeltoun), reach a T-junction and turn left onto Kilwinning Road.   After 0.6 miles look out for a left turn (it can easily be mistaken for a road leading to some farmhouses).  This quiet single-track road follows the course of Glazert Burn until it flows into the Annick Water at the Watermeetings Bridges.   It then emerges at the B769 again.  Continue straight ahead.  At High Langmuir Farm turn right and when it reaches the Irvine Road turn left and continue for about half a mile to arrive back at Main Street, Kilmaurs.  Then turn left and first right back to Fenwick Road and the car park.