Semple Trail Nature, heritage, landscape and leisure

Welcome to the Semple Trail

Take time to enjoy all that the Semple Trail offers: wildlife and flora, history and heritage, vistas of land, water and sky.

The Semple Trail Heritage Project from mute swans and greylag (STHP) recognises connections geese on the loch to great spotted between the land, its natural history woodpeckers drumming in the and its human heritage. Visitors woods. can now enjoy access to the trail’s Whether you use the trail to enjoy its carefully conserved treasures, natural history, its heritage or simply landscape and wildlife. for a country walk, this booklet will The area offers the simple pleasures add a new dimension to your visit, of outdoor walks, sports and leisure. providing the background to the It forms a circular route, 14km natural and human history of (9 miles) long, with shorter walks Castle Semple. leading off it. Paths wind through To find out more about the trail, farmland, woodland and loch please visit www.clydemuirshiel. sides—all of which vary in mood and co.uk/semple-trail where you can interest as the seasons change. also complete our short survey and The trail is home to a wide range of add your comments. wildlife including otters, badgers and roe deer. Over 100 bird species are known to visit the nearby reserve, The history of Castle Semple

The landscape we enjoy today has been shaped over 500 years by the work of three families. The Sempills, the MacDowalls and the Harveys sought to improve and develop the land to support their business and leisure interests. The Semple Trail is rich in the built and natural legacy of the families.

William MacDowall, Robert Hunter of Ayr Scotland’s ‘Richest is commissioned Commoner’, sugar to build a mansion planter and slave house in place of trader, buys the the original Castle estate Semple

1314 1474 1505 1727 1730

The Sempills were James III of Scotland Lord John Sempill rewarded for grants land in builds the first Castle their support for Howwood to and the Collegiate Robert the Bruce at Lord James Sempill Church Bannockburn with lands in the Lothians and Largs

THE SEMPILLS THE MACDOWALLS Images clockwise from top-left: Castle Semple House; plan of Castle Semple Estate 1907; curling on Castle Semple Loch.

The Semple Trail The mansion house Heritage Project is demolished and is delivered to its remaining wings conserve some restored as private of the estate’s residences remaining treasures

1814 1905 1924 1960s 2015

Major John Harvey The railway is built The mansion house buys the Castle through the estate is largely destroyed Semple portion of by fire the estate

THE HARVEYS MODERN DAY A designed landscape

In the late 1720s and early 1730s new owner William MacDowall demolished the original Castle Semple.

In its place, he built Scotland’s Local landowner James Adam, who first Palladian mansion. Wings of in 1813 purchased Barr Loch and the mansion still remain as private 100 acres of Castle Semple Loch, residences. More evident today oversaw a drainage scheme to drain is the work of the garden expert Barr Loch but keep Castle Semple William Bouchert. Between 1727 Loch full of water. Thanks to some and 1730, Bouchert diverted the clever water engineering, Barr Loch burn behind Castle Semple to create soon became Barr Meadows and and feed the fish ponds and three Adam's scheme kept 170 acres of cascades. It is thought that much former loch-bed dry and under crop of the stone used to construct the for more than 131 years. However, cascades came from historic local the structures that kept the quarries located immediately south meadows dry were not adequately of Lochwinnoch, by Barrbank Wood. maintained and, in 1946, the sluices at the end of Barr Meadows failed, Beside the ponds an ice house flooding the land once more and was built to serve the mansion’s recreating the Barr Loch that we kitchens. Intricate carving over recognise today. a nearby cave suggests that this might be an earlier attempt at an ice By the early 19th century, the estate house. The MacDowall family altered had been heavily forested with the landscape for both pleasure tree plantations, including exotic and profit. In the early years of their species like Portuguese laurel, ownership, the MacDowall’s partially Swedish whitebeam and Turkey drained the loch to create more oak, some of which still flourish valuable agricultural land. However, today. The plantations on the by 1800 a new weir had been built estate were so extensive that below Castle Semple loch to raise in 1809 they had been valued the loch’s level to provide water for at £30,000 (around £2million in the mills on the banks of the Black today’s money) and were deemed Cart water. the largest in the country. Historic structures

Collegiate Church The Collegiate Church The Collegiate Church was founded John Sempill was killed fighting in 1504 by John, Lord Sempill. One the English at the Battle of Flodden of only 42 such churches in Scotland in 1513 alongside James IV and and outwith any bishop’s control, 5,000 fellow Scots. His son had it was served by a college of priests the Collegiate Church extended to whose chief duty was to offer up house his father’s tomb. The church prayers for the souls of the fell out of use after the Protestant Sempill family. Reformation of 1560 but survived as a burial enclosure.

The grotto The Cascades The grotto was originally built spot reminded visitors of the family’s during the time of the 2nd William wealth. A more contemporary form MacDowall as a fashionable addition of the grotto currently sits in to the grounds. This peaceful picnic Parkhill Wood. Kenmure Temple The temple was built in 1758 to 1780s this area doubled as a formal provide the MacDowall’s and their park for the family’s deer which at guests with another vantage point the time were considered to be an over the impressive estate. In the exclusive asset. The cascades, ice house and cave John Sempill's Tomb The category B listed cascades The cave would have been another were established in the early 18th desirable feature when it was built century. They were created at a in the 18th century. Both it and the time when it was very fashionable nearby 19th century ice house were to have formal gardens with water used to store ice which would have features. Surviving examples are rare, been cut out from the adjacent especially in Scotland. cascade ponds. Ice would be stored through to the summer to help preserve perishable food.

The grotto "Lookooteries"

Tod's Seat

The landscape, history and natural delights of Castle Semple are illustrated by "Lookooteries"; individually designed features located around the trail, each taking inspiration from the area’s rich wildlife, heritage and industry.

Tod's Seat | A flight of steel birds Johnshill | The striking high-backed marks this Lookooterie which sits in seats at Johnshill face south over the a peaceful spot at the end of the Aird loch and offer tranquil views of the Meadow Trail path. trail and the village of Lochwinnoch. Lochshore | Located a short stroll Parkhill | Take shelter in the seats from Castle Semple Visitor Centre, beneath the giant Semple Trail map the imposing folded map plots the at Parkhill. The map illustrates how site and lists its wildlife while carved water shaped the landscape and Lochshore stones translate birds’ names into points out Castle Semple Loch, Barr the Lowland Scots tongue. Loch and Black Cart Water. Visitor Centre Curling Rink | The Courtshaw Hill | This Lookooterie loch was used for winter curling and interprets the rich local textile this Lookooterie pays tribute to the heritage. A woven metal seat refers "Roaring Game." Lochwinnoch was to the former works in Lochwinnoch one of very few places in Scotland and Howwood whose industrial where curling stones were made. pasts include blanket making, silk and linen weaving, carpet making, cotton spinning, bleaching and finishing.

Visitor Centre Curling Rink Johnshill

Parkhill

Courtshaw Hill Heritage restoration

In 2015 work began to conserve the important historic features in Castle Semple Country Park to safeguard them for the future. The category B listed cascade complex was in particular need of attention, with the original elements now almost 300 years old.

Much of the sandstone used in A substantial amount of debris had the upper and middle cascades built up in the ice house pit and this was showing signs of decay. was carefully removed, recorded A significant amount of damage and the underground drain cleared. had been caused by sprawling Some of the excavated material has vegetation and in the case of the been left in place at the ice house middle cascade, extensive tree entrance, including evidence of an roots. Specialists in conservation old internal door and associated undertook the delicate task of ironwork. removing this material whilst It is assumed that the nearby cave managing the flow of water in and is an example of an earlier ice around the cascades. A significant house. During the conservation amount of existing stone was works a substantial drain was reused and complemented with uncovered approximately three feet new stone of similar appearance. below ground level which ran from The adjacent ice house was the cave and deposited into the in relatively good condition cascades, adding large weight to and showed no signs of water this theory. Like the ice house, the penetration. Over the years, cave is in relatively good condition attempts to repoint the outside and required only minor works had created a messy exterior and to clear and improve its floor and this was removed and re-done in a remove overhanging vegetation. traditional lime mortar mix.

Wildlife

The mood of the Semple Trail evolves with the changing seasons. No matter the time of year, there’s always something to look out for.

Spring In spring the Semple Trail starts preferred breeding sites. Watch out to come alive. Wildflowers like for them around ponds and Castle snowdrops, wood sorrel and marsh Semple loch. marigold bring vibrant colour to Spring gives rise to new life on the the landscape. Parkhill’s amazing trail as farmers in the nearby fields bluebells burst into life towards the are busy with lambing and calving. end of May, forming a beautiful blue Look out for the newborns on the carpet on the woodland floor. surrounding meadows and make Frogs and toads become very active sure dogs are on a lead or under as they make their way to their close control. Summer By the time Summer arrives most wild flowers including ragged robin, migrant birds have arrived and their clover and Scotland’s national young have fledged. Watch out for flower, the thistle. swallows swooping over the loch or The ponds come alive with listen for chiffchaffs calling out their dragonflies and damselflies and own name in the woods. dazzle with flashes of brilliant Beautiful butterflies such as the colour as they dart and hover peacock and orange tip can be seen looking for prey. feeding on the increasing amount of Autumn As the year progresses, the Autumn is a time of change for woodlands turn from lush green to birds with summer visitors such the golden browns and oranges of as the swallow and willow warbler Autumn. Fungi appear from the dark flying south making room for those and damp corners of the forest floor, coming down from the North such feasting on what no longer grows. as fieldfare and redwing. Look out They can be extremely colourful for whooper swans and geese who such as the bright fly agaric or quite become very busy travellers at this large like the birch bracket fungus. time of year. Winter Seasonal flooding sometimes makes hide close to tree trunks such as it possible to spot otters on the the treecreeper and the noisy great Castle Semple and Barr lochs during spotted woodpecker. the day. At other times of the year, If you look closely at the trees you dawn and dusk are the best time to can see next year’s buds already see them. developing. Winter is not a dead The woodlands look a little bare time, just a preparation for spring without their leaves but this makes it easier to see those birds that

Further information

Contact Castle Semple Visitor Centre Lochwinnoch PA12 4EA 01505 842 882 | www.clydemuirshiel.co.uk/semple-trail ClydeMuirshielRegionalPark @Clydemuirshiel @clydemuirshiel

RSPB Visitor Centre Lochwinnoch, PA12 4JF 01505 842 663 | www.rspb.org.uk/lochwinnoch RSPBLochwinnochNR @RSPBLochwinnoch Know the code before you go www.outdooraccess-scotland.com You will encounter a variety of surfaces from lochside and woodland paths to farmland and quiet country roads. Please note that there may be grazing cattle or sheep on the farm land at any time of year. Care should always be taken around farm animals as they can be unpredictable. Please keep your dog on a lead or under close control. Project support The Semple Trail Heritage Project was supported by Renfrewshire Council, Clyde Muirshiel Park Authority, RSBP, Scottish Natural Heritage, Sustrans, Lochwinnoch Community Council, Howwood Community Council, Lochwinnoch Millennium Events Group, and Howwood Wildlife and Woodlands.

THIS PROJECT WAS PART FUNDED BY THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT AND THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY RENFREWSHIRE LEADER PROGRAMME