Milngavie to Drymen.
Start. Milngavie.
Route. Milngavie - Drumclog Moor - Mugdock Wood - Craigallian Loch - Corbeth Loch - B821 - Tinkers Loan - Arlehaven - Dumgoyach Farm - Blane Valley Railway - Beech Tree Inn - Blane Valley Railway - Gartness - East Drumguhassle - Gartside - Drymen.
Notes. On a day that promised rain rather than the sunshine we'd hoped, we stood in Douglas Street, Milngavie, opposite the granite obelisk that marked the start of this epic. We'd decided to use one of the luggage transfer companies, Travel-Lite, this allowed us to carry day packs, keeping the weight to a minimum,
The obligatory start of the walk pictures over we descended a way marked path allowing access to the Allander Water, on a dead straight path with many sign posts we wandered, passing through the ancient oak woods on Drumclog Moor, trees covered in lichen and mosses, the path shadowed the river for the next mile before entering Mugdock Country Park. This 260 hectares estate was once the property of the Grahams of Montrose, the park plays host to their strong hold, 14th century Mugdock Castle, the ruins of the Gothic 19th century Craigend Castle, ancient woodland containing dry oaks to wet birch dating from the 1600s, and a wonderful mettled track christened Craigallian Avenue.
Craigallian Avenue guided us north passing Craigallian Loch and Carbeth Lock before reaching a tarmac road, we turned left (west). Four hundred yards of road walking followed before entering Tinkers Loan, this short stretch of path rose to the crest of the hill gifting us with stunning views of the Campsie Fells over Strathblane. The path carried us down hill into the glen to join the Blane Valley Railway, closed in 1951 the old track bed makes for easy walking. The miles passed quickly, a pit stop at the Beech Tree Inn broke the monotony. Almost four miles of dead straight trudge before reaching the tarmac lane that lead to Gartness, with tarmac under foot we followed the lane to Drymen where we left the way to find our lodgings for the night, the excellent Bramblewood.
Day one over, if I had to sum up the days walk, say between 1-7, it was a seven day walk, this would get the one. Drumclog Moor and Mugdock Park make an excellent start, the views from Tinkers Loan also rate highly, but trudging along an old railway line followed by the final few miles over tarmac sucked, things can only get better, and they did, see you tomorrow.
The team, ready for the off.
The way ahead, within minutes we'd left the suburbs behind.
Drumclog Moor and the first climb of the way.
The path we're following passes through some wonderful wetlands.
Sue poses at the entrance to Mugdock Country Park.
About to step onto Craigallian Avenue.
Views over Craigallian Loch, the house on the hill is Craigallian House, the mettled path that's guiding us was constructed to service the house.
From Tinkers Loan our first view of Ben Lomond.
Looking to Dumgoyne guarding the western end of the Campsie Fells, to the left the sylvan slopes of Dungoyach.
Long straight and after a while boring, the Blain Valley Railway, the banking on the left is an aqueduct carrying Loch Lomond water to slack the thirst of the good citizens of central Scotland.
Dominating the view, Dumgoyne.
If your feet are punch drunk and you're loosing the will to live pay a visit to the Glengoyne Distillery, we declined our sights firmly set on refreshments at the Beech Tree Inn a little further up the path.
Nearing the Beech Tree Inn looking back to the Campsie Fells.
The Endrick Water at Gartness.
We may be trudging over tarmac but it dose keep to the high ground gifting us with views to Dumgoyne and the Campsie's.
Just before the descent to Drymen our first view of iconic Loch Lomond.