The Double Hedges

This walk starts at Memorial Hall and takes you across fields to the Double Hedges, returning along the Railway path. Distance 3.5 miles (5.5 km) WALK Lennoxtown

N

There is a small car park by the Memorial Hall. Some on-street parking START from Memorial is available in Chestnut Walk and walkers can park their cars in the Hall, TR along Main Street to Glazert Country House Hotel car park, but please call in and check at by going through next gate (beside war memorial gates (adjacent reception first. The X85 bus service runs from Buchanan Bus Station in big sycamore tree). Ahead you will to Campsie Glen, via , , to Co-op). Cross road and SO see the Double Hedges. In winter through gates, uphill towards and Lennoxtown. The X86 service runs between Glasgow and Campsie you can walk through the middle of Glen, via , Torrance and Lennoxtown. The Sunday 88C High Church. Bear R as path them, but in summer they become service runs between Glasgow and Campsie Glen, via Bishopbriggs, overgrown so keep them to your R. forks and, keeping R, follow Kirkintilloch, Milton of Campsie and Lennoxtown. path through churchyard to Over stile at end of hedges. Continue top R corner and descend SO and over another stile leading out of field into wood with rhododendron steps. TR (German airman’s This leaflet is published by the Campsie Trails Heritage Group, part of the Lennoxtown bushes growing alongside path. Heritage and Preservation Trust. The local community selected and researched the grave against wall on R) along Follow path as far as vehicle track. routes. Design and typesetting Bob Vickers, cartography Nichola Goodliffe, path to hedge and gate into editorial and project management Cicely Frew. Printed by www.qspprint.co.uk. 5 High Park. TR down track to Campsie Road where TL and continue along All text and overlay route detail copyright © Campsie Trails Heritage Group pavement towards Milton of Campsie. 2010. Photographs copyright © Rena Shirreffs 2010. Base mapping reproduced 1 Through gate and downhill to by permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of HMSO. © Crown copyright and park gates. TL into North Birbiston database right 2010. All rights reserved. Ordnance Survey Licence Number 6 Cross road opposite Valleyfield Road and follow road to end. and SO into Valleyfield. TR and then 100020774. diagonally L to far corner of end Every care has been taken in the preparation of this leaflet. However, the 2 TL up Bencloich Road. house and take path downhill to publisher accepts no responsibility whatsoever for any loss, damage, injury or 3 Near top of road, just after river. Follow path over bridge to join inconvenience sustained or caused as a result of using this leaflet. Bencloich Crescent on L, cross to R Strathkelvin Railway path. and descend narrow steps leading into field. Walk across field, keeping 7 TR along path and follow it to fence on your R. road. Cross road and rejoin path. After crossing second bridge, TR and 4 At ruined house, cross wall by follow path around playing field to going through gate. Continue join Station Road and complete Seven walks in and heading E. Cross back through wall the walk. around the village Lennoxtown nestles in the strath between the magnificent D Lennox Castle When John Lennox Scottish Outdoor Access Code backdrop of the to the north and the fascinating Kincaid-Lennox succeeded to the From Lennoxtown Memorial Hall Woodhead estates in 1833, he (www.outdooraccess-.com) elevations and depressions of the undulating South Braes. Whether to Clachan of Campsie and back commissioned Glasgow architect David you are a keen walker or just want a leisurely stroll, this beautiful The outdoors is where land managers Hamilton to design and build Lennox via Hole Farm, along flat tracks make a living. It’s the home of valley has something to offer. Castle to replace Woodhead House as and footpaths. Scotland’s diverse wildlife and is the family seat. Work began in 1837 The walks are circular and have been graded according to difficulty: enjoyed by the many people who Distance 4.5 miles (7 km) and was completed in 1841. The live there and visit it. You can Gentle generally undemanding, over flat ground. fortunes of subsequent descendants exercise access rights responsibly N were, however, sadly depleted, resulting Moderate rougher underfoot, there may be a climb. if you: More demanding steep, rough ground. in the sale of the Lennox family estates in 1927. Glasgow Corporation ! Take responsibility for your own The walks start from either Lennoxtown Memorial Hall or the purchased the castle and surrounding actions. Glazert Country House Hotel (see map on back cover), but walkers grounds, and developed a Mental ! Respect people’s privacy and peace can join the routes at any point convenient to them. Note that the Deficiency Hospital which opened in of mind. When close to a house or 1936. Initially the castle was used to paths and tracks are often muddy. There is a public toilet in garden, keep a sensible distance house patients and staff, but eventually from the house, use a path or track Clachan of Campsie. became the nurses’ home. It closed in if there is one, and take extra care at All of the walks follow sections of the Strathkelvin Railway path, 1987, was damaged by fire in May night. 2008 and, despite being a listed which runs between Kirkintilloch and following the old ! Help land managers and others to building, is now in an advanced state of railway line. The path is suitable for walkers, cyclists and wheelchair work safely and effectively. Do not disrepair. The hospital closed in 2002. START from Memorial users. To access the path from Lennoxtown Memorial Hall head hinder land management operations E and follow advice from land Hall, head R along along Station Road briefly and then veer L off the road and into the Mealybrae This area is either named after mealy zeolite rock or managers. Respect requests for Station Road briefly and football park. Walk down the side of the pitch, staying parallel to ‘mealy’ meaning lush grass. reasonable limitations on when and then veer L off road and Station Road, until you meet the Strathkelvin Railway path. Either where you can go. into football park. Walk F Red Hills This area was formed by TR here and follow the path through open countryside towards ! Care for your environment. Do not down side of pitch, staying Strathblane or TL and follow the towards Kirkintilloch. the mining of red shale which was disturb wildlife, leave the parallel to Station Road, until used by the local Alum Works. The environment as you find it and works, established in 1805, were an you meet the Strathkelvin different types of minerals, including follow a path or track if there is one. Points of interest important industry in Lennoxtown Railway path. coal, lime, sandstone and slate. The during the 19th century. Long since ! Keep your dog under proper control. A Strathkelvin Railway Path The rocks are of great interest to redundant, the area was eventually Do not take it through fields of 5 To continue route, take 1 TR and follow path until it two-arched stone bridge in Station geologists and are regularly visited by levelled and the Red Hill Dam (also calves and lambs, and dispose of dog Crosshouse Road. Continue through emerges onto road. Cross road and Road is all that remains of the once university students as part of their called the Works Dam as it was the dirt. gate and follow track towards rejoin path. busy station complex that served studies. Blairskaith Quarry (now water supply for the Alum Works) Crosshouse. Lennoxtown. The Blane Valley Railway disused) was dug for lime and is now was filled in. The area now forms the 2 Cross wooden bridge and line opened in 1848 and was an riddled with mountain bike trails. 6 At Crosshouse, bear R and pass Redhills Community Woodland. immediately TR. Follow path extension of the main Glasgow to Hole Farm, Capieston House and alongside burn, around back of line. The line ran from C Crichton’s Cairn The best-known G Red Tub Tearooms Formerly the continue along track to Capieston Key to maps cottages to and main Lenzie all the way to Aberfoyle but cairn in the Campsies is Crichton’s, or Crown Inn, the tearooms were opened ruin. road. much of its business was to serve the Creighton’s Cairn. There are various in Clachan of Campsie in 1922 by a Route legends surrounding it. One is that a 7 Cross stile and continue across Lennoxtown printfields. Campsie Glen group of local ladies. Between 1936 Route direction number 1 3 Cross road and into Schoenstatt. 17th-century minister, the Reverend field (keep close to burn on L of field was also served by a railway station. and 1938 the world champion Point of interest Take footpath to R, across bridge, Crichton, climbed to the summit daily, A to avoid dangerously marshy Opened in 1867 it served the flyweight boxer Benny Lynch trained through woodland, across second placing one stone there each time. ground) and out through gate onto increasing number of tourists visiting at the tearooms, attracting thousands Distances are approximate. bridge, through garden and to R up to Another story is that the cairn was a Crow Road. the glen. The line was closed to of visitors to the already popular large wrought iron gates. memorial for Crichton, a local passenger traffic in 1951 but goods Campsie Glen. 8 Cross road onto walkway to ‘Hercules’, who climbed to the summit Abbreviations 4 continued to be transported until TR out of Schoenstatt onto High Park. Stay on path and continue with a bag of meal on his shoulder for H Schoenstatt Shrine This purpose- 1959. R right N north Knowehead Road. Follow road to end across park to park gates. a wager, but collapsed and died on built retreat and conference centre is L left E east and TL to arrive at Clachan of B Blairskaith The site of many old reaching the top. Another memorial run by the Sisters of Mary as a place to TR turn right S south Campsie (coffee and craft shops). To 9 TR out of park gates and follow mine workings. The shafts have been theory is that the cairn was built after reflect and find peace. The gardens TL turn left W west visit Campsie Glen, river and road around past school to Main filled in and appear as grassy hillocks. a local smuggler was killed at the spot provide pleasant walks (wheelchair SO straight on waterfalls, follow path R around back Street. TR to finish walk at Memorial The area was mined for many by custom officers. accessible). of bicycle shop. Hall. Roon the Moon Lennox Castle and Lovers’ Leap Fin Glen and the Allanhead Ruin

From Glazert Country House Hotel to South A walk to Lennox Castle and Lovers’ Two walks above Campsie Glen, one into Fin Glen, Brae, returning via Lovers’ Lane. The first Leap, returning along Strathkelvin the other to the ruin at Allanhead. Both routes will section of the walk is roughly surfaced and Railway path. take you along rough, hillside tracks. fairly steep. The views across the valley are, Distance 4.5 miles (7 km) Distances Fin Glen 7.5 miles (12 km) however, enchanting. The route can easily be Allanhead 5.5 miles (9 km) walked in reverse, starting from Lennoxtown

Memorial Hall and up Station Road. N Some people believe that the name ‘Roon the Moon’ arose because on bright nights, when the moon was clearly visible, it was said to feel like walking around the moon. Others believe the half-moon shape of the route is what gives rise to the name. Distance 1.5 miles (2.5 km)

START from Glazert N Country House Hotel, TR along Chestnut Walk and START from Lennoxtown over stone bridge. Continue Memorial Hall and follow past first opening on R. Clachan of Campsie walk to end of direction 3, which will 1 TR along second opening on R N on R. It occupies a high and bring you to the wrought iron (Lovers’ Lane). Follow this path as it commanding position and is bounded runs parallel with Glazert Water and gates at the back of Shoenstatt on three sides by iron railings. This on Knowehead Road. From here: Strathkelvin Railway path, lofty vantage point offers striking maintaining a higher position for views of the picturesque valley below. entire length of path. 1 Exit gates and TL along 5 Retrace route back to castle. START from Glazert Country 2 Leave Lovers’ Lane at crossroads. Knowehead Road. Follow track to at around 750 feet (228.5 m) above House Hotel, TR along Go SO into Castle Road (also known 6 Continue along road, bearing L of abandoned buildings of Knowehead 3 To visit Allanhead, turn sharp R on sea level, affords panoramic views of Chestnut Walk, over stone as Back Road). Follow road, passing castle. Pass ruins of Woodhead House Farm. Pass by the buildings, keeping leaving Knowehead farm buildings and the valley below. (To extend walk, them on your L to enter a field. Here follow grassy track up towards top bridge and Glazert Water, large house (Baldow) on L, Netherton on L. Follow road downhill as far as a follow forestry walk sign posts.) you have a choice: corner of a wood. Continue on this keeping SO. Oval and lodge house on R. stone bridge. 4 Follow road downhill, passing rising track, eventually fording 3 Arrive at fork in road (just 7 TL over bridge, through small 2 To walk up Fin Glen take grassy house (Southfield) on R. Aldessan Burn. You will see Allanhead beyond large red house on L). Take L wooded area until you reach track on L, heading uphill keeping ruin and shoulder of the hills above 1 Continue along track past Red burn on your L until track bends to L 5 Arrive at crossroads. TR into fork and follow path to just beyond Strathkelvin Railway path. Crow Road ahead of you. Reverse your Hills woodland, and then veer R, and crosses burn. Continue on this Lovers’ Lane (signposted Glazert white house on L. route to descend hill. passing farm and forestry tracks 8 TR onto path and continue E rough track until it ends. On return Bank). Continue along Lovers’ Lane on L. 4 Follow road to R, down to back of towards Lennoxtown. Cross over small journey it is possible to vary route by as it follows the course of Glazert To return to Lennoxtown, walk back Lennox Castle. On L you will see a wooden bridge, then diagonally L heading steeply up on rough ground 2 Follow track as it rises more Water and runs parallel to through Schoenstatt grounds to few stone steps into a forest clearing. across road to rejoin path. Follow just before the waterfalls of Almeel steeply to join the tarred road at Strathkelvin Railway path. Haughhead. Cross road and follow Ascend steps and continue along Strathkelvin Railway path back through Burn to find an old indistinct track top or ‘arc’ of the moon. Strathkelvin Railway path back to well-trodden path for approximately Lennoxtown to junction with Chestnut 6 TL at junction with Chestnut which leads back down to Knowehead football park, Station Road and 250 yards until you find Lovers’ Leap Walk where TL to finish walk at hotel. Farm. 3 TR to walk along arc. This point, Walk to finish walk at hotel. Memorial Hall. Crichton’s Cairn and the Campsies Mealybrae

N To Mealybrae and past the trig point, the walk goes through forestry (some of which is being felled and replanted) on rough terrain. It can be started from Lennoxtown Memorial Hall (encountering steep walk) or by driving up to the forestry parking (by Newlands) and A hilly route heading up and along the starting the walk from there. Superb views. Campsie Fells with one long steep ascent over rough ground. The hill Distance 5 miles (8.5 km) paths are unsurfaced and can be boggy START from Glazert Country House Hotel. Cross Main Street and indistinct. Great care should be START from Memorial Hall, TR into Station Road. Continue SO and walk up Bencloich Road. taken on the Campsie Fells and this up Station Road and South Brae, following road up round past walk should only be taken during fine Muirhead Farm and on to forestry car park at Newlands. 1 Nearing top of road, just weather. OS maps Explorer 348 and after Bencloich Crescent on Landranger 64 cover the area. L, cross to R and descend 1 Take forestry road straight ahead and follow it downhill until it splits. Distance 7.5 miles (12 km) narrow steps leading into field. Walk across 2 TL and follow this track, crossing ford and then field keeping fence on 11 Take L fork. This is stile across path. Continue along track and go your R. the Strathkelvin Railway through gate, enjoying wide-reaching views of the path. Follow it back Clyde Valley. through Lennoxtown to 2 At ruined house junction with Chestnut 3 Follow rough track SO down Mealybrae cross wall by going through gate. Walk, where TL to finish until you reach tarred road leading Continue heading E. Cross back walk at hotel. to Tower Road. through wall by going through next gate (beside big sycamore tree). Ahead you will see the double hedges. In winter you can walk through the middle of them but in summer they become overgrown so keep them on your R. Cross wooden stile at end of hedges. Continue SO and over another stile leading out of climbing uphill fields into a wood with rhododendron heading NE at first, bushes growing alongside path. then path takes a wide sweep round and up to head NW. Continue N 8 3 Reach vehicle track and TL. Follow uphill on diminishing path until you Pass by a few cairns, this track as it winds up hill. come to wide metal gate in fence that including Crichton’s Cairn. runs along length of hill. Cross gate Continue along path as it pheasants, sheep and ponies. 4 Take L branch of track just before and walk up faint path, straight ahead descends to Crow Road car park. Blairskaith Muir on L contains a block of tall conifer trees is reached. remains of World War II anti-aircraft at first then in NE direction until 4 TR along Tower Road and walk Continue uphill through fields on prominent cairn is reached. 9 Cross car park, through batteries. Notice something unusual grass track, towards narrow waterfall gate onto path that shortly along road as far as Easter Blairskaith about this path – at some point it has Farm. tumbling down cliffs straight ahead 6 At this point you can head out bends L and down to Clachan been covered in Astroturf! of you. Go through three gates before NNE to the trig point at Cort-ma Law of Campsie. 5 TR. At farm take L fork, through 8 TL over stile to visit trig point emerging onto open hillside. Continue (1,742 feet/531 m). Otherwise head wooden gate and follow old road 10 Head SO down minor road with wonderful views all around, SO towards green metal box and NNW following faint path to junction which passes Blairskaith Quarry and waterfall. with wider path. to main road (or walk through including N as far as Loch Lomond on Schoenstatt – see Clachan of reaches junction with another track. a clear day. Otherwise, to continue 5 7 Campsie walk). Cross road and Veer R, following main path TL here and follow meandering, 6 TR along track. route, keep SO along path to return uphill. (Look back W and, if light is undulating route W along tops of TR to end of first cottage. TL and to Newlands and forestry car park. If at end of short access road L right, raised mound of an Iron Age hill Campsie Fells with fabulous views 7 TL through gate (forestry you walked up from Lennoxtown, fort, Meikle Reive, is apparent.) Follow over Lennoxtown and W along valley onto footpath. Follow path signpost) and follow path through retrace route past Muirhead Farm, path as it becomes indistinct and to Strathblane. On a clear day look around back of cottage and fields, uphill and around to R. There is down South Brae and Station Road there are side shoots off it. Continue SW to islands of Arran and Ailsa Craig. alongside burn until path forks. a lot for children to see here, including to Memorial Hall.