Details of next walk:
As the details of the next walk become available, it will appear below
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Walks 2024:
Short Walk: Newarthill Circular
Date 17th May
Walk Leaders Janette Bryce & Jeanette Swann
Distance 3 miles Grade C Circular
Walking boots essential poles optional.
There is parking behind the community centre and also on the road up to the school. Local 254 bus from Motherwell Station.
We will meet at Newarthill Community Centre at 10.30 where (if open) we should be able to use facilities. There is a little deli cafe across the road from Community Centre for tea and coffee if required.
We will commence the Walk at 10.45
We walk from the centre past the school and enter Newarthill Woods. The paths are a bit rough in places with a few serious potholes. Care will need to be taken. We carry on round the woods with (if the weather is good) some stunning views across the valley and into Glasgow. We then leave the woods and make our way on a short section of a main road until we enter back into a park. We continue through park and enter back into woods. The walk will end at the community centre.
For those wishing lunch or tea/coffee and toilets Greenside Garden Centre is a few minutes drive.
Recce completed by: Janet Bryce & Jeanette Swann Date: 26 April 2024
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Long Walk: Loch Leven Heritage Trail
Date: 3 May 2024
Walk Leaders: Patrica Clark & Irene Brownlie
Distance: 8 Miles Grade “C” Linear
Terrain: A good level path, hard core and firm mud around Loch Leven.
Boots & poles recommended.
Map Ref: O.S Explorer 369.
We start the walk at Kinross Pier. We turn left at the loch side and follow the path, passing a swing park on our left and then Kinross House comes into view on our left. We leave the loch side and continue along the path between fields and trees. At the junction we keep right and then on our left we pass a habitat hedge which is made out of twisted willow. Unfortunately a bit worse for ware now. We cross Pow Burn and then back to the loch side where the path veers left over a board walk and we then follow the path to the right through some trees. At Loch Leven Larder sign we keep to the right. Again we walk through some trees and a gliding airfield comes into view. If we are lucky we may see some gliders. Along this stretch is our lunch stop. We continue along the path and cross a metal bridge over the River Leven Cut where ,we believe, when the water is clear, it is possible to see oyster and mussel beds. We follow the road to the right and just before Sluice House we turn left and then sharp right and continue with the loch on our right. We come to a short incline and continue till we reach a tunnel on our left. This takes us under the road and then up some steps to arrive at Vane Farm RSPB.
This walk has woodlands, farmland and panoramic views across the loch and the Ochill Hills. , plus a wide variety of birds.
The terrain is very flat so poles not required unless your choice. Walking shoes/boots recommended.
Please note there are toilets at the beginning of the walk but no tea or coffee available.
At the end of the walk at Vane Farm there are toilets and a cafe.
Recce done on 24th April 2024 by Patricia Clark and Irene Brownlie
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Short Walk : Garrion Bridges to Cambusnethan Priory
Date: Friday 19th April 2024
Meet at Garrion Bridges at 10am.
Walk Leaders : Wilma Stewart and Joan Brown
Terrain: Pavement, Tracks and Rough Road. Paths could be muddy.
Distance: 4.9 Miles Grade C Circular OS Ref 343
Please note : If you are parking your car at Garrion Bridges, we have been requested to use the high level car park.
Boots and poles are recommended.
As the walk is slightly longer than usual, drinks and snacks are suggested
Our walk starts at Garrion Bridges. Walk along the exit road and turn right onto the pavement.
Cross at the pedestrian crossing and turn left onto rough road. Follow this road, pass East Lodge on left
and take next left, cross wooden bridge down to Clyde. Follow this path till we pass farm on right. At metal
gate take right leaving the Clyde Walkway. Pass the farm on right then up past Wilbert’s Legacy. Take right
towards Cambusnethan Priory where we will have a short break. After leaving the priory take first right.
Follow this track to road end. Cross at pedestrian crossing and head back to Garrion Bridges.
Recce completed 22nd March 2024 by Wilma Stewart, Joan Brown, Janice Donaldson and Janis Whitefield.
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Long Walk: Bowling to Maryhill
Date: 5th April 2024
Walk leaders: Grace Gentles and Pamela Colligan
Terrain Canal: Paths and level walkways
Distance : 8 Miles Grade C+ Linear .OS Ref 342
Poles are only necessary for walkers who like them in all conditions
The walk will be reversed so we will start at Tesco Maryhill for our toilet stop before the walk.
The bus will then take us to Anniesland cross where the coach will drop us off. We then cross at the lights and follow Crow Road until we reach the Forth and Clyde Canal at loch 27, we turn left and make our way along the path. At one point we will have to leave the canal path for a short time due to work being carried out. Once back on the canal path we follow the path until we reach Clydebank Shopping Centre. This will be the lunch stop. There is ample seating and toilet facilities.
After lunch we pick up the canal path again and after a short time we cross the road at traffic lights. A busy road so care is needed. We rejoin the canal path and make our way to Bowling Basin. On the way we might be lucky to spot some wild life. Care is needed as this is a popular Cycle Path. On reaching Bowling Basin we have arranged with a lovely Coffee and Cake cafe who will be delighted to accommodate the group. Overlooking the harbour , the area has been regenerated and if the weather is dry is a lovely spot to end the walk.
Recce completed: Friday 29 March by Grace Gentles and Pamela Colligan.
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Short Walk: Glasgow Murals, Town Walk.
Date of Walk: 15th March 2024
Walk Leaders: Jeanette Swann and Janette Bryce
Distance: 3 miles Grade: C LINEAR
Time to Complete: 1.5 - 2 hours
Terrain: - Main Road Pavements and cobbled lanes
Footwear: Good Walking Shoes required. Walking Poles: Optional
Underfoot conditions are in the main good but this is dependent upon the weather. Risk of slipping.
MEETING POINT: - Buchanan Street Bus Station Glasgow at 10:30 on Friday 15th March.
This is a linear route using roads and public footpaths
Details of any features of the route that require any special caution: Busy Roads Slippery Surfaces etc.
GREAT CARE MUST BE TAKEN WHEN CROSSING ALL ROADS
There are some inclines to negotiate in order to view some of the murals.
THE PATHWAYS ARE OPEN TO BOTH PEDESTRIANS AND CYCLISTS
Meeting Arrangements and the route:
The initial meeting point is as stated on the published programme. The walk is advertised as a circular walk, however following the recce the walk will finish at St Enochs Centre in the city centre where there are toilets and various eating places. Anyone unsure of the route back to the Bus Station please see myself .
There will be no planned toilet stops during the walk. Please take advantage of the facilities within the bus station. To accommodate this, the walk will commence at 10.45.
Initially we will make our way to High Street. From High Street we go towards George Square and then the Clyde Walkway via various roads. From the Clyde walkway we return to the central part of Glasgow.
Recce completed by Jeanette Swann and Janette Bryce on 23/02/2024
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Long Walk: Culross Vallyfield Woodlands
Date: Friday 1st March 2024
Walk Leaders: Patricia Clark and Alison Mochrie
Distance: 6.5 Miles Grade C+ Circular
Terrain: Tarmac roads, hardcore and grassy paths, muddy or very muddy in places.
Boots and poles necessary.
MAP REF: OS EXPLORER 367
From Culross East Car Park follow the Fife Coastal Path Route eastwards alongside the railway line which you will cross at a level crossing. Although it is a quiet line, it is used by freight trains so take care. At the path junction take the right hand path staying close to the shoreline and follow the path for a short distance. This reclaimed land of Preston Island is now the site of ash lagoons for Longannet Power Station now closed. We retrace our steps and at the path junction go right and follow the path along until we reach a footbridge on the right hand side. Cross the footbridge over the railway and turn right and down some steps into a car park and turn right. When this path joins a public road, turn right for a short distance to reach a road junction. Take care when crossing this road. There is an information board at the entrance to Valleyfield Woods and this is our lunch stop. Take the path into the woods and follow the path above the river which will take you under the A985 road bridge. The path continues on the other side of the bridge now at river level. Stay on this side of the river until you reach an obvious junction with a core path sign (purple arrow). Bear right at this junction to stay close to the river and cross the river at a bridge. Continue along the path until you reach another junction and turn left to cross back over the river over a stone bridge. Follow the path as it goes uphill slightly and continue on through more open ground until you go under the A985 via an underpass. Stop and look at the murals. After the underpass stay on the same path until you reach a path on your right hand side leading into a new housing estate. Take this path and walk through the houses to reach the B9037 road. Take care in crossing the road and on the opposite side, slightly left, take another path. This path goes gently uphill with open stretches giving views over the Forth. At the end of the path you will join a quiet road. Follow the road (in the same direction as you were walking) until you reach a junction where you turn left onto another quiet road. These roads are narrow so care is needed. This road goes downhill into Culross. On your left is the Abbey and immediately after the Abbey take the narrow grassy path which takes you back to the main road in Culross. This path is quite steep downhill and care should be taken especially if the grass is wet.
There are 2 short gentle uphill stretches and 1 downhill stretch at the end of the walk.
Please note this walk is shorter than on the programme due to flooding on the path.Toilets but no tea facilities at beginning of the walk. Cafes at the end of the walk.
Recce completed on 17th February 2024 by Patricia Clark and Alison Mochrie
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Short Walk: Strathclyde Circular
Date: 16th Feb 2024.
Distance: 4miles Grade C Circular.
Walk Leaders: Harry Corbet & Alan Nicholson.
Terrain : Good paths throughout with some road walking ( single file on left)
There are steps early on the walk with wet leaves to be aware of. Recent weather has caused paths to be muddy
In places which be might frozen on the day.
Walking poles and boots are advised.
Good public transport from Hamilton and surrounding area.
Meet at car park at 10:30am.
The walk starts at The Watersports Centre at Strathclyde Park.
Toilet facilities and drinks at Watersports Centre.
Recce completed by: Harry Corbet and Alan Nicholson Date: 5 feb 2024
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Long Walk : Mugdock Country Park
Date: Friday 2 February 2024
Walk Leaders: Wilma Stewart and Janis Whitefield
Distance: 6.5 miles Grade C Circular
Ref : OS Explorer 348
Terrain : Pavements, tracks and roads.
Boots and poles are recommended.
**Please note walk starts and finishes at Mugdock**
Bus will take us to the Visitors’ Centre where there are toilets and facilities for takeaway tea or coffee.
Our walk starts from the Visitors’ Centre. We leave from the front and take the path for Gallowhill and play area. At Craigend Castle take a right turn. At the end of this path turn right again. At Kyber Car Park turn left onto a tarred road going downhill.
Keep on this road till the sign for West Highland Way and Milngavie. Turn left and follow this path. Turn left when we come to a path for Drumclog Avenue. Walk along Drumclog Avenue till Mugdock Road is reached. Cross the road and go through metal gates and walk up to Mugduck and Craigmaddie Reservoirs.
This will be our spot for lunch.
Walk past the Old Water Works and follow the path around Craigmaddie Reservoir. Cross the Causeway and turn right and walk along this path till a second causeway is reached. ( Please note this could change because part of the path could be closed off.)
Turn left out of the reservoir then cross the road and turn right. Walk up narrow pavement. Take left at the footpath opposite two metal gates. This path climbs gently up to South Lodge Car Park. Here take a left turn then right past Mugdock Loch and Mugdock Castle. Just past the castle turn right. Follow signs for the Visitors Centre. Walk up past Craigend Castle back to Centre.
Toilet facilities and tea/ coffee available at the Visitors’ Centre or Garden Centre.
Recce completed: Fri 10 Nov and 20 Jan 2024, by Wilma Stewart, Liz Meikle and Janis Whitefield.
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Short:Walk: Buchanan Bus St to Botanic Gardens
Date: 26th January 2024
Walk Leaders: Robin Stewart & J Strang
Distance: 3 miles Grade C Linear
Map: OS Exp 242
Terrain: Mostly Pavements & Paths, busy roads to cross, care required.
Walking poles are always helpful. warm boots & clothing are essential at this time of year.
Meet at Buchanan Bus Station at 10:30am
From the bus station we will walk along some city streets until we reach Charing Cross, We will then walk uphill through Park Circus & then proceed through Kelvinegrove Park. After leaving the park, we will walk through Kelvin Bridge & follow the river Kelvin until we reach the Botanic Gardens.
Recce completed by: Robin Stewart & J Strang Date: January 2024
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Long Walk: Castle Semple
Date of walk - Friday 12th January 2024.
Walk leaders. - Elinor Bones and Alison Mochrie.
Distance - 6 miles Circular C+
Terrain - loch side paths, woodland paths and tarmac cycle path.
Some very muddy paths. Some downhill paths could be slippery.
One or two fairly steep climbs. We will take our time on those.
BOOTS and POLES necessary,
Map - OS 341
We begin the walk at Castle Semple visitor centre where there are toilets.
From there we take the path past the sailing compound and walk along the shore path
turning L at the junction, crossing the cycle path and passing through a kissing gate to enter Parkhill Wood. Here we follow the path alongside the burn before turning L at at the first junction to cross a footbridge. After about 600m this path reaches a small pond and a stone grotto with seats.
Just beyond the grotto the path reaches a T-junction where we turn L then in a short distance L again to head uphill to the summit of Park Hill. Here we have views of 3 lochs - Castle Semple, Barr Loch and Kilbirnie Loch.
From the summit we continue along the path with the fence on the L before turning R and re- entering the woods. We take the LH path at the next junction as it climbs to offer views over the valley. At the RH fork the path heads downhill to cross a footbridge where we cross and take L at the junction to enter a section of dense canopy rhododendron beneath a small Yew covered hill. After crossing a footbridge we continue straight ahead to reach a T-junction next to a gate at the edge of the woods. We pass through a kissing gate and carry on along a farm track.
Soon the ruins of the Collegiate Church, founded in 1504 can be seen on the right.
The path continues towards an ornate former railway bridge. We don’t pass through this but turn R and proceed up a tarmac ramp to the cycle path.
On reaching the cycle track we turn L and walk along to view the temple before heading back along the cycle track then the shore path to the visitor centre.
Recce completed on 2nd January 2024 by Elinor Bones and Alison Mochrie.
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