Around Snypes Dam

This is a roughly four-mile walk out to a small local reservoir and back again.

The route initially follows the same path as that for Neilston Pad, then heads round the edge of the Pad and down to Snypes Dam. From there, you head round the dam a little before joining the small country road to Snypes Cottage and the walk back via Kirkton Road.

Snypes, possibly named after the Snipe birds that were once common in the area, was built between 1847-49. It was one of three dams that were built to store the water of the Kirkton Burn that once supplied Arthurlie Bleach Works. The other dams were Craighall Dam and Kirkton Dam, although the latter was drained back in the 1980's.

These days Snypes Dam is a somewhat dilapidated looking fishery. It was once a popular trout fishery but now seems to be held by a private carp fishing syndicate.

Snypes Cottage appears to date back to 1750-80.

Part One - To the Fork

1. Starting from the old bank building on Main Street, cross over Main Street, then turn left into Station Road and follow that to the end.

2. Turn right on Kingston Road, go past the railway station, car park, and Kingston Park and keep going until you're past the housing.

3. Cross over Kingston Road and turn left into the farm track just a little further on from Glen Shee Avenue.

4. Follow the farm track, turn right at Craig of Neilston Farm and go through a kissing gate onto the track beyond then head up the slight slope until you get to a fork in the path where you'll get a good view of Neilston Pad.

5. From here, the right fork will take you to Craig of Neilston and Craighall Dam, but left is the way we want to go.

Part Two - To Snypes Dam

1. Take the left fork, keep along the track and you'll eventually see Snypes Dam and Snypes Cottage appear in front of you.

2. Keep on the track and just past the next copse of trees on your left, turn left onto a small grassy path, leading down to the dam.

3. The path will take you to the South end of Snypes Dam, where you'll need to climb over a small metal gate over a boardwalk.

4. You'll get a good view of the dam from here but don't be tempted to stand on any of the fishing platforms as they're all in very poor condition.

Part Three - Back to the Bank

1. Head towards the cottage and keep to the grassy slope heading left along the edge of the dam until you reach a small boat harbour with a gate onto the path beyond and another gate on your right into a small car park.

2. Enter the car park and cross it to the gate onto the road. You'll find the gate is likely locked so you'll need to hop over the small wall onto the road.

3. Turn left onto the road and head along that until you reach Kirkton Road. Be wary of free-roaming cattle on this little road - there were a lot of cows and calves around when we walked it and they were very noisy and charging in groups from one side of the road to the other. There was a bull but he didn't seem bothered.

4. Once you reach Kirkton Road, turn left and head back along that until you reach Kingston Road. Be careful here as Kirkton Road is narrow and can get quite busy with traffic.

5. From there, just head right, cross over and turn left onto Station Road then back to the old bank.