This is such a familiar spot. I’ve lost count of the amount of times I’ve slung a leg or mountain bike over that gate.
It marks the boundary between estate grounds and open hillside, or I should say between regular and adventure.
The weather doesn’t start until you’re past that gate, no rain or snow or sun can reach you in any volume you until you’re out from under the trees, the westerlies can’t buffet you until you’re a few steps beyond it.
I hop over and think “Right, that’s me now, where will I go?”
The crags climb away at your right, the land slips down to the gorge on your left and then back up to natural woodland which cheekily blocks your view of the Luss Hills until you’re higher up. The highest ground is just up and round there, out of sight.
“Ach, I’ll see where my feet and nose take me”.
Be it a local park, a canal tow path, a quiet back road, a disused railway line or even just the long way round to the shop and back. I hope we’ve all got somewhere to stretch our legs and imaginations.
Ah, noo yer talking
Thats written oot of frustration !
Never mind just get the work done and think of the money that you can give the Tax man
V true
Now we have moved back to the area I grew up in, it’s a 5 min walk, less if I run.
No crags or high places, but its my special place.
Quiet footpaths and rolling countryside, the private road where I learnt to ride motorbikes, the brook we went hand lining for trout in( coats for goalposts etc).
Now it’s my training run or dog walk but no less special.
Badger tracks in the snow, flash of a Kingfisher, rain drumming on my hood or sunbeams breaking through the clouds.
Yep we all need special places.
Hey up bobinson
You posted that as I was typing, broke the spell when i read your reply.
Back to reality eh.
Nah! bo****ks to that. I am going out with the dog.
Bubble Burster Bobinson.
That gate is the entrance to my cardboard box spaceship and you can’t spoil it!
I like reading your posts about the Kilpatricks and I was wondering which spot you normally start your ascent. I found a small footpath right beside a house on the road off the A82 in Dumbarton. (Barnhill?) Takes you through the woods and then right past Overtoun. It’s only a 5 minute walk from my doorstep but I was wondering if there’s a better spot, maybe with more nature and less pavement? I just wish I knew the area like the back of my hand already!
Are you allowed to find new areas? I’m starting to explore somewhere fairly close to me thats turning out to be an outdoor delight.
Looks familiar – Overtoun?
BBF, new is good. Spill the beans.
Del, aye, the gate up from Overtoun house.
Candice, I know more or less the route you take, it’s good fun going down that way on the bike.
One other option is walking the cycletrack out to Milton and walking up Milton Brae to Overtoun or taking the diversion behind the Milton Inn and coming out halfway up that same route.
A cracker is to take the train to Old Kilpatrick, walking up to Loch Humphrey and following the trails over to Overtoun. You’ll need a map for that, it’s a longer route, the trails are clear, but there’s junctions where you’ll have to watch which way you go. It’s beautiful along the south side of the loch, but very muddy.
And…I’m working on a Kilpatricks webside for later in the year.
Will I have the time, will anybody give a shit about such a thing? We shall see at some point :o)
nnice one – a Kilpatricks website would be something I’d check out.
Used to take the bike up a lot, but I mainly run now. Did Duncolm acouple of weeks ago on a Friday morning and didnt see a soul
Id be interested in that PTC, Kilpatricks arent that far for me at all. We’ll need to get out for another wee wander with TBW soon.
I’ve been walking a lot recently around Muirkirk, theres loads of moor land, loads of forestry tracks and even though the hills arent particularly big there are some nice views to be had.
http://www.outdoorsmagic.com/gallery/image.asp?sp=&v=8&uabn=2133&uin=19340
The best thing is that to get back to East Kilbride I’ve got to go through Strathaven, and that’s where Grannie lives. So its tea and scones or homemade soup and sandwiches etc after every walk ;o)
I used to build the Grouse Buts down at Muirkirk !
The hills might not be big but they can be bloody steep!
Have not been down there for ages
Aye they can be steep alright, I was sweating buckets in that photie. I took my own route up to the Cairn Table instead of the path and it was a lot harder than the map made it look!
My Grampa who died recently was from Muirkirk and worked in the Kames Colliery.
http://www.scottishmining.co.uk/367.html
Apparrently when he came up out of the pits the first thing he always did was go a get my Gran who’d be waiting with a lunch all packed and they’d head off over the moors.
For me its a way of getting closer to my Grampa and being in the great ootside whilst doing it.
Nice link BBF, I’ll pass that one on to my faither. It’s amazing how mining has almost completely disappeared from Scottish life. When I was very young the central belt was full of bings and wee steam trains shunting coal wagons.
Sorry to hear about your Grampa. It’s good that you know some of his history and have connections to a place as well, that’s worth its weight in gold that stuff and you’ll be able to pass it on.
I’ve a wee story with Overtoun House in the Kilpatricks. During the war at some point, aircraft spares were hidden there in the coucil sheds to avoid the bombing just up river and my Grandad was one of the RAF mechanics involved.
You can still see some of the installations if you know where to look.
I’m goin up the Cairn table and surrounding areas tomorrow with my wee cousin. We’ll have a natter about memories and such over hot chocolate, cookies and a nice view. Should be good.
You’ll need to include some of your Grandads stories in the forthcoming Kilpatrick website and also the next time we’re oot that way. I like stuff like that, its interesting and makes a walk more memorable.
Will do BBF, Bobinson had a taste of that during the week, I’m always pointing at stuff and imparting “interesting facts”.
Have a good day tomorrow.