Suggested Off-Road Trails

[james-maclaren]

Hi,

 

Keen to explore the local hills and trails on my mtb, I have borrowed an old book called “West of Scotland Rambles†by Sydney Smith first published in 1978. They are interesting to read, giving a bit of history of the area as well. I have copied some of the directions from the book as they may be of interest to some of you. Let me know if you like them and I might be able to produce more. Hopefully you can follow them on your bike or on foot.

 

Regards,

James

[james-maclaren]

_{The Covenanters' Hollow}

 

 

_{Start at Kilmacolm and finish at Bridge of Weir. Slight gradient leaving Kilmacolm, then exciting day's moor walking. 12 miles approx.}

 

_{(OS 1:50,000 sheet 63)}

 

_{Take the Gourock bus to Kilmacolm from Glasgow or Paisley; trains do not run on Sunday. Leaving Kilmacolm, once known as the village of millionaires, take the B788 Greenock road. Look out for a turning on the left to East Green about ½ mile past the crossroads; walk for a mile until the line of pylons cross the road and from here take an unfenced road leading over rising ground to the right. This leads to Blacketty Water and the Kilmacolm High Dam via Hardridge farm.}

 

_{Just before the dam is a metal shed which houses a small steam engine for a 'shooting railway'; the line will be seen stretching away over the moors. Although the reasons for it are obvious enough, the rambler will probably regard the whole affair with a quizzical eye, particularly the 'carriages' which consist of slatted seats mounted on bogies. At this point there is a platform for the convenience of returning sportsmen with a heavy bag, and further on are stone bridges over streams, and even points. One arm stretches away towards the Laverock Stone; another arm makes its way into the heart of Duchal Moor; the third branches south towards Coplie Hill, and this is the one to follow after a mile walk along the main line.}

 

_{Walking across the sleepers makes for speedier progress and one is at leisure to admire the novelty of the situation for nearly 2 miles until the Mill Burn is reached. From here keep to the higher ground at about 700 ft by heading for Craig of Todholes and Craig Minnan. From Thornlybank Hill look for a burn which leads down to Ladymuir reservoir. Somewhere along this flow of water 300 years ago the local Covenanters met to worship in their own fashion, while a lookout was kept on the moor above. Prepared food was brought down from Ladymuir Farm as a cooking fire would have alerted suspicion. Exactly where that hollow is to be found is now open to speculation, as the family whose descendants occupied the farm until recently have now moved away. The farm, which has 17th-century buildings, is at the end of a track leading to the B786.}

 

_{Take the road opposite to Auchensale farm and at the Locher Water turn left along the road into Bridge of Weir, where there are bus and train services. Although the ground covered will seem to have been prodigious, the distance on the map is as above.}

[james-maclaren]

Misty Law

 

Start at Lochwinnoch, finish at Kilbirnie. Very heavy going over rough moor and bog. Track as far as Muirshiel Country Park. 12 miles approx. (OS 1:50,000 sheet 63)

 

Misty Law (1,662 ft.) has always been a conspicuous point on the Renfrewshire uplands, and its name tells us that it must have had a history of more foggy days than clear. It is only surprising that more hills in Lowland Scotland do not bear the same name.

 

From Lochwinnoch, reached on the Largs bus from Glasgow or Paisley, walk up the Street facing the bus stop towards an old cinema. The first destination is Muirshiel Country Park, well sign- posted from the village. As the walker climbs by the River Calder he will see examples of a past way of life, such as small millstones doing duty as doorstep ornaments; a dry lade may be spotted further on. It is advisable to complete this stretch as quickly as possible, as there is sometimes a steady stream of cars going up to the Park.

In the exhibition hall at Muirshiel can be seen stuffed specimens and photographs of the area's wildlife and other items; also of interest will be the tea room. Prepared for more strenuous activity, the rambler will check on the map the point where Raith Burn enters the Calder and climb along its southern bank; in about a mile you will be level with the top of Misty Law.

 

From here it is a steep climb of about 600 ft.; as he reaches the top the climber will find that the Law is only one of a daunting array of peaks. Nearest are Hill of Stake (1,712 ft.) and East Girt Hill (1,673 ft.); on a clear day Ben Lomond is to hand, together with the Cobbler and the Arrochar Alps. To the north are Ben More (3,843 ft.) and Stobinneoin (3,821 ft.) from the Gaelic words for 'anvil' - and behind them can be glimpsed more distant peaks. To the east is the hazy Clydeside conurbation, while further south can sometimes be seen outliers of the Border hills.

 

Now continue south and descend to Lairdside Hill and from there to Muirfauldhouse farm. This route is one of the wettest on the moors and for this reason many prefer to undertake it during a cold snap when the ground is harder. From the farm a track leads back to the main road and the way to Lochwinnoch is obvious; you should reach it within 3 hours of leaving Misty Law.

 

If there is time to spare, look out for the cemetery just back from the junction on the right. Turn left inside the gate and look for an upright stone carved into a life-size figure. Known as the Dumb Proctor, it is probably Pictish although far from other discoveries of a similar period.

 

It is possible that the walker has veered too far south coming off Misty Law and mistakenly picked up the Maich Water, particularly if the mist is coming down. Eventually a path will be found that leads onto a track joining the road at Auchenhain; it is then a choice of taking the left fork and walking 2 miles back to Lochwinnoch or going straight on for about a mile to the A760 where a bus may be caught.

[james-maclaren]

Bishopton to Bridge of Weir

 

Minor road walking with gradual gradients. No trains on Sunday from Bridge of Weir, but 2-hourly bus service. 7 miles. (OS 1:50,000 sheets 64 and 63; 1":1 mile sheet 60)

 

Take the bus to Bishopton from Glasgow or Renfrew and continue along the Greenock Road until after about 1/2 mile there is a left turning past a hotel. Turn left at the next crossroads, although on the right are to be found the remains of a Roman fort just north of Whitemoss Dam. This was one of the first forts of the Antonine Wall. An unfenced road beyond the farm leads to it, although a better, bird's eye view of the ramparts can be obtained from a small hill to the south of the loch.

 

Return to the road where a ruin will be encountered on the right. Older walkers will remember this as an inviting residence with trim lawns and louping-off stones, whilst brass and copper gleamed in the hallway. On the other side of the road is a cemetery with some famous regimental graves. Light relief lies ahead as Formakin House is approached: to many ramblers this known as The Monkey House because of the carvings over the gatehouse. What is less well-known is that the wooden gates beneath are from Newgate Prison, brought here when it was demolished in 1904.

 

Turn left at the junction and proceed towards Barochan, beyond which the famous Barochan Cross is to be seen on a hill to the left. A notice on the railing gives details of its history, and it is worth close inspection. Returning to the crossroads at Barochan take the left turning to the curiously named Shovelboard farm and on to the old church at Kilellan. Study the 16th and 17th century headstones and look for the nearby well of St. Fillan and a naturally hollowed rock known as St. Fillan's Chair. It had been a tradition to bring sickly children to the well and bathe them in hope of a cure. It was also the custom to leave some offering to the saint in the branches of the nearby bushes.

 

Return to the road junction and carry straight on for 1/4 mile until a right turn will be found leading to Bridge of Weir, about 2 miles away. The observant rambler will notice that the approach to the village is named Warlock Road. About 40 years ago a tree stump was still to be seen that had been struck by lightning and the old legends of devil-worship were kept alive. Folk journeying to St. Fillan's well must have given this area a wide berth.

 

In Bridge of Weir look for the war memorial and, if you do not recognise the design, go back to Barochan.

[james-maclaren]

Bishopton to Langbank via Barscube Hill

 

Easy road walking to the hill and down again, or cross-country.

7 miles. (OS 1:50,000 sheets 64 and 63; 1":1 mile sheet 60)

 

Start as for Bishopton to Bridge of Weir. From the Roman fort follow the pylons across pasture, keeping an eye on the cattle and the nearest gate. Where the pylons take a sharp turn left do likewise and re-join the road, on the other side of which a farm track will be found leading up to where a side track goes off on the other side of a double-barred gate. After some minutes a wall will be reached where a rest can be taken and the fine panorama of the Firth enjoyed.

 

Continue directly west until another road is crossed and Barscube Hill (639 ft.) invites an easy climb. Here there is an even better view which takes in Greenock and distant views of Cowal and the Holy Loch, unless there is a sea fog rolling in. In that case you will have viewed the mist and missed the view.

 

Head downhill towards Gleddoch farm and re-join the road; to the left there is a road leading down to Langbank, about ½ mile distant. Although this walk does not appear to be very strenuous, the rambler will be glad to relax in a railway compartment for the ½-hour journey to Glasgow. There is also an hourly bus service.

[thejanullrichdietplan]

Will have a look at these, presumably the old shooting railway is what the cycle track was later built on?

[james-maclaren]

Will have a look at these, presumably the old shooting railway is what the cycle track was later built on?

 

If you are talking about the Hardridge trail from Muirshiel round, I would say that this is a farm track. I have not found the old shooting railway but I think it may still be there. I need to do some more exploring

 

Regards,

James

[Ramsay]

Will have a look at these, presumably the old shooting railway is what the cycle track was later built on?

 

Shooting railway is right out in the middle of Duchal moor. It was a private narrow gauge railway for grouse shooting.

 

Some of these routes have new tracks to them, for instance, Misty Law is possible from Lochwinnoch to Kilbirnie(ish) with only the top 200m on moor/bog. But good fun all the same.

[Ramsay]

 

 

If you are talking about the Hardridge trail from Muirshiel round, I would say that this is a farm track. I have not found the old shooting railway but I think it may still be there. I need to do some more exploring

 

Regards,

James

 

An offshoot from the Hardridge track goes close to the railway, but not quite to it. From memory (20ish years ago) there's not much to see anyway, so I guess it is now even more difficult to fully locate.