This short walk, on a good day, offers a nice panorama over Loch Lomond and surroundings and is justly popular with walkers. It’s amazing how many Glaswegians, even those who walk, have never done it!

 Park at the Queen’s View car-park alongside the A809.

Most people will take the A809 to Drymen via Anniesland and the Switchback to Canniesburn, then up to Bearsden Cross (A809). Continue through Bearsden, swinging (carefully) right, at what was St Andrews College, into Stockiemuir Road. Continue straight on over two roundabouts including the old one with a service station on the left and after a several miles you will reach the Queen’s View car-park, situated at your left-hand side,

The walk

The walk up to the Whangie begins from the Queen’s View car-park and is clearly sign-posted with a step over a wall and boards across what used to be a very boggy patch. The path is very clear until you are two-thirds up to where the path divides. If you take the lower path (more accurately straight on) you come to the right-hand side of ‘The Whangie’ – the rock cleft. This is less demanding, especially if you come back the same way.

However, it’s almost as easy to go left at the fork and climb up on to Aucheneden Hill to the trig point. Here the 360° views are spectacular on a good day. The top of Aucheneden Hill is rounded and you can come off, more-or-less in all directions. However, if you want the Whangie, follow your nose about north west (or if facing the trig point at about 2 o’clock off to the right) and look for an easy way off the hill and on to a clear path below. Turn right and it will bring you to the left-hand side of The Whangie. It’s more difficult to enter the cleft from this direction so you might want to continue on the path below and then enter from the right-hand side.

Either way it makes a nice ‘lollipop walk’ to take the left-hand path at the fork, go on to Auchineden Hill, then down to The Whangie. Then take the lower path back to the fork (where you went off left on the way up) and then back down to the car park.

This walk starts by taking the train from Chatelherault to Uddingston (change at Cambuslang) and then following the River Clyde with beautiful views up and down an idyllically flowing river. Bothwell Castle perches dramatically above the path and the David Livingstone is well worth exploring. The Clyde walkway itself is currently closed, but it is possible to take a third train from Blantyre to Larkhall and walk back through Morgans Glen to Chatelherault Country Park. This can be combined walk with a second one from Larkhall to Chatelherault –So there we are  – three trains and two good walks. Check the trains from Chatelherault to Uddingston and Blantyre to Larkhall before you start.

 Park at the Park ‘n Ride Car Park at Chatelherault. The Satnav for Chatelherault Country Park is ML3 7UE. If you use the Satnav for the station (ML3 7UD) don’t turn into Valleyfield Road as directed. Go on for 100 yards and turn left into the car park.

To get there

This is the easiest of journeys for most people. From Glasgow take the M8 (or the M74 if you prefer) going East towards Edinburgh. From the M8 at Junction 8 (Coatbridge) take the slip road to curl round on to the M73. Then take the inside lane(s) to automatically take the M74. Of course, if you’re already on the M74 you go straight through.

Once on the M74, go past the A725 Interchange for Strathclyde Park and continue on to Junction 6 where you take the slip road sign-posted A723 to Motherwell and Hamilton. Get into the right-hand lane on the slip road to curl round towards Hamilton and down onto the A723. At the first roundabout take the second exit (it seems like the first) more-or-less continuing on the A723 towards Larkhall, Strathaven etc. At the next junction, keep left in a designated lane to take the A72, Townhead Road, towards Larkhall etc. At the next small roundabout go straight on.

Just after the Ferniegair village sign you come to a set of traffic lights. If you wish to use the toilets at the Visitors’ Centre, turn right into Chatelherault Country Park and drive right up the carriageway, following the signs to the Visitors’ Centre. When the Hunting Lodge is in view turn left up a narrow road to reach the back.  Curve round to the left as directed. There are three disabled bays on your right; three ordinary bays just below on your left followed by a further three. Park for a few minutes and go back to the Visitors’ Centre. Once inside, the toilets are through the glass doors to the right. Return to the cars, follow the one-way system back to the carriageway and then back to the traffic lights. Turn right here, and then sharp left into the free Park ‘n Ride by the station.

 The walk

Take the train from Chatelherault to Uddingston. The first part of the walk begins by exiting the station at Uddingston, walking up to the main road, crossing the railway and turning left down the other side of the line. This comes out at Anne’s Pantry, where you cross over, go straight on for 100 yards and then take a path with an Information Board (The Miners’ path originally) to the left which leads down to the river. Here you turn left under the railway viaduct, ignore the Clyde walkway coming in from the right, go past the new Uddingston Grammar School, and very soon you are walking along a beautiful stretch of river. It is worth pausing at Bothwell  Castle to go up the little hill to look inside. If you go towards the castle and then take the right hand circuit, you’ll be between the castle and the lower path and can return easily to your route.  However, the best views are from below, on the path you’re taking anyway.

A little further on the route forks with the main path going left over a hump and a small path hugging the river on the right. Anyone young would have no problem and it is prettier. However, the main route goes over the hump to join up with the little path and then continue to the great iron bridge which takes you into the David Livingstone Memorial. Even if you don’t visit The David Livingstone Memorial the grounds are beautiful; there are seats and picnic tables; and you can get a good external view of the tenement in which he grew up in Blantyre.

From the memorial, turn back left and then cross the road to follow the Clyde walkway a little (a bit of urban grot here but not too bad) exiting at a green space where you turn right and sharp right again to come into the car park for Blantyre Station.

Here you have a choice of trains to take us straight to Larkhall. The train stops at Chatelherault so if you’ve had enough, you could get off.

 At Larkhall alight and take the pedestrian footpath at the end of the platform straight on to the cycle track running past the Leisure Centre on the left. Carry on along the track and, at a very muddy path to the left by a football pitch, go straight on. Then as the path straightens take a better track down to the left and then continue in the same direction.  Any of the local paths to the left will take you across a green open space or you can continue right to the end and turn left. This increasingly pleasant path takes you to the top of the 100 steps which you, go down! At the bottom you’re in Morgan’s Glen walking along the River Avon.

All of a sudden it’s it’s beautiful again. Coming out under the arch at Millheugh you’ll reach the attractive hamlet and the old bridge. Cross the bridge and turn immediately right along side the Avon. The path has been substantially upgraded with proper footways and bridges. It takes you to the end of the circuit above the Green Bridge in Chatelherault Country Park where you can turn left or right. If you go right, go down to Green Bridge, up the steps and along the edge of the ravine on the Claybank Braes Path. Continue to Claybank Steps where you go back down to the river side. Here we take the Hoolet Row Path along the river, under the Duke’s Bridge, pick up Mineral Rail Path along the river and then turn back along the Deep Park Path towards the footpath down the carriageway and down to the cars at the station. The walk is about 9 miles in two halves!

This walk is close to Glasgow and, at eight miles, is slightly shorter in length than usual. Part of its charm, however, is that it links up well – known and lesser-known paths, for example the West Highland Way, part of which you follow home. A walk for the memories, then, as much as for the views.

Park at the public car park in Drymen.

Most people will take the A809 to Drymen via either Anniesland and the Switchback or Maryhill Road to Canniesburn, then up to Bearsden Cross. Continue through Bearsden, swinging (carefully) right, at what was St Andrews College, into Stockiemuir Road. Continue straight on over two roundabouts including the old one with a service station on the left. A 20-minute drive follows past Queen’s View, Croftamie etc. This road becomes the A811 at the River Endrick but most people never notice as they drive on over the bridge across the river. However, just before Drymen, swing left (on what is actually the B837) which is well sign-posted to Drymen and the east side of Loch Lomond. Swing right at the village green along the A811 and then right again into the car park. The public toilets are closed but you are welcome to use the toilets in The Winnoch which have been made available for public use.

 The walk

Your walk begins by walking back to the village green and then left down the main street towards the Buchanan Arms etc. The usual route to Home Farm goes up a narrow path on the right just opposite the Buchanan Arms Hotel. There’s a signpost on the lamp-post on the left pointing up the path on the right. However, you may take the alternative route up to the well-signposted ‘Viewpoint’ which is just before this also on the right. This metalled path leads up to a quite astonishing viewpoint overlooking the southern end of Loch Lomond. The villagers, bless ‘em, have beaten down a path from the viewpoint on the left to join the other path. So from the viewpoint step over a fence on the left, follow a firm beaten path to the right and then curve left down the hill to the other path. This route is a lot less muddy until you hit the low ground at the entrance to Home farm. The path comes out at a metalled road going down left but if you are courteous you might be given permission to turn right and then almost immediately left through the farm which keeps you off the Buchanan Castle road for a little while. (This is a riding stables: if you should meet with a horse and rider here, or further on, it would be courteous to hide your walking sticks.) If no-one is about to ask, turn left down to the main road and then right.

The farm track emerges on the main road, where you turn right up to Buchanan Castle and the Golf Course, so expect some traffic. Most of the traffic will soon go left to the golf course but you continue straight up to the most romantic gothic ruins of Buchanan Castle. Take the right-hand path round the castle and follow the road, past some delightful houses, to a T-junction. Here turn left and go down to a meeting of four paths with an old ice-house on the corner. Go straight on to Buchanan House which is now the Club House of Buchanan Castle Golf Course. Go straight past the entrance to the Club House and at a T-junction turn left down a lovely track to the golf course. Turn right here and follow the golf course round, stepping over a vehicle barrier, and continuing on what is now a cinder track across some scrub land. You might make a slight detour to the River Endrick partly for the view and partly to see where you could come in from the Balloch Road.

Re-trace your steps and take the track now on the left (on the right if you don’t go down to the Endrick) which is variously called Maggie Lapslie’s Loan or Maggie Leckie’s walk depending on the map you’re following! This takes you to High Mains where you turn right (see notes below). Turn next left down Gort Daraich which emerges at two white gate posts sign-posted Stuc-an-t-Sagairt. A right turn takes you on to the Drymen-Balmaha Road just east of Milton of Buchanan. Turn left and cross to the pavement opposite making for the telephone kiosk on the corner of Creity Hall Road.

At Creity Hall Road turn right and begin the long, gentle climb up to the West Highland Way. At the WHW (where the left-hand track goes off to the Conic Hill) turn right on an open track with good views of Loch Lomond and the route you have been following.

Turn right at the track to Coldrach Farm. Where the main forest track turns right there’s a small path going straight down, round a pylon, and this brings you out at a junction with Coldrach Loan. Turn left here, through Coldrach Farm and out to the Old Gartmore Road. A right-hand turn brings you down to the village green and the car-park!

This is a pleasant if unexciting walk linking up a few rivers, canals, places and footpaths which you will sort-of know. The canal is lovely, although the metalled bit is sore on the calves. Cadder Church and graveyard are a treat as is the walk alongside Cadder Golf Course. The walk along the River Kelvin is geographically enlightening and the route through Torrance and along the railway line is fine with open farmland on both sides, unfortunately accompanied by the dubious smell of rotting sprout stalks. At Hayston Golf Club you can opt out for the delights of Kirkintilloch. Otherwise you take a circuitous route to Birdston, which officially gives this walk its name, and a tedious walk along the Glaizert River. The path is almost entirely flat and firm underfoot apart from an occasional short muddy stretch.

Despite calling itself a ‘Walker-Friendly’ town, Kirkintilloch has no convenient car park which will allow you to park for more than three hours and you really need longer than that, especially if you are stopping for coffee or food anywhere along the route. We parked at ‘The Stables’ restaurant, and the notes below assume you are parking nearby. There is a layby on the main road (and you might be lucky to get a drink from a mobile van here). Opposite the layby and across the canal from The Stables is a large overspill car-park. If you are eating at The Stables afterwards, as we did, you might ask permission to park in their car -park.

To get there
The postal code for The Stables Inn (G66 1RH) worked well but takes you along the M8 towards Edinburgh, then off at Junction 15 towards Springburn and the A803. Follow the A803 straight through Colston and Bishopbriggs. At the roundabout at Cadder take the first exit (i.e. go straight on) and at the next roundabout (with Torrance and Lenzie options) take the second exit i.e. continuing on the A803 along Kirkintilloch Road to Kirkintilloch. You will see the Stables Inn on your left as you go over the canal. The layby is on the right, before the canal; and the overspill car park on the left.h

The walk

The walk as described here begins immediately in front of the Stable Inn, where you turn right towards Cadder, Bishopbriggs, the Leisure Centre etc. The canal can be joined from the main 803 on either side. Just BEFORE Cadder Church (up to the right, and a particularly picturesque spot) turn right up the hill, with the church on your left. It is worth stopping to look in the graveyard – and especially at the two railed graves and the heavy iron coffin ‘lid’. to prevent grave-robbers stealing the bodies. The road becomes a path and levels out through the Kelvin Valley. Once past Cadder and then Keir Golf courses (keeping going straight on a narrow path), at a bridge on the left, and sign-post right to Torrance, take a good track right along the River Kelvin.

The path comes out at a set of pedestrian traffic lights on the A807, Torrance Road, and you should cross the road and turn left up towards the Torrance roundabout and the main street of Torrance. Go up to the second bus stop on the right, just by a little children’s play-park. Go through the park taking a path on the left which then straightens to take an old railway track across farmland. At a disused railway bridge, turn sharp right and at the next corner, signposted Kirkintilloch and the Forth and Firth Canal, go sharp left. At the end of this track you reach Hayston.

You can turn right here, sign-posted Kirkintilloch and make your way back down to the canal. A path to the right leads onto a bridge which you will cross over to take you onto Hayston Road. At the end of the road cross over and head to the right and join Campsie View. At the end of this road there is a path leading to the canal with another small bridge to cross leading to a short steep hill to the canal. Turn left and return to Kirkintilloch or right to return to The Stables.
If you’re doing the whole circuit, go diagonally left (not the main track sharp left) up a red path towards the Hayston Club House where you turn left to take the driveway down to Campsie Road. You have to turn left here and walk along this country road for about 300 yards and there is no pavement. It is normal to face oncoming traffic (i.e. walk on the right) but you are going slightly uphill at first so I suggest you stay on the left so that you can see the traffic more easily, and then cross over when it is safe. You come to a very dodgy set of wooden steps on the right going down to the railway line you were on before. There is an equally dodgy hand-rail until the bottom where you are left to your own devices. At the bottom is a path to the right going round Kirkintilloch Golf Club! At a very sharp left-hand turn, turn left on an improved path and this leads up to a huge kissing gate and a T junction on a track with Wetshod Farm to the right.
At this point you could be seriously lost, since the map goes blank and the East Dunbartonshire notes leave you stranded! However your bold reccéist followed her nose and with the help of the USA satellites, turned right and eventually emerged on Birdston Road. Turn right here, cross the road, and at the bottom of the hill continue, as signposted, towards a Heritage cycle track. This bit was short but attractive. You reach an astonishing bit of railway industrial architecture with information boards about same and then turn right along what turned out to be the Glaizert Water. I found this bit boring, but it isn’t long and you eventually reach a foot bridge across the River Kelvin. Cross this, and continue on to pedestrian lights at Kilsyth Road (and the Indian Cottage if you’re still with me!). The path continues (dog-leg right) on the other side and emerges at the Hillhead roundabout. Take the second exit to the right (NOT up Canal Street – I got lost here) on the Peter D. Stirling Road and then almost immediately turn left into the grounds of the Nursing Home. Just before the tunnel, take steps up on the left to the Firth and Forth Canal and turn right towards Kirkintilloch. Cross the Barleybank car-park and the main road and continue along the canal, noting the John Muir Information Board as you go down the steps. Continue to The Stables.

About 9 miles: almost entirely flat and therefore boggy in winter!