West Highland Way: Trailblazer Ochils and Campsie Fells

 Bearsden & District

Mugdock Loch

West Highland Way - Map West Highland Way: Footprint Map

Photographs of a circular walk around Mugdock Loch

in Mugdock Country Park


Mugdock Reservoir from Mugdock Country Park

Mugdock Reservoir

from Mugdock Country Park





Smith's Folly at Mugdock Country Park

Old Photo of Smith's Folly

 at Mugdock Country Park

Smith’s Folly which stands on a hill above the
 South Lodge car park at Mugdock Country Park.

 This was the start of a tree-lined avenue leading
 to the home of James Smith at Craigend Castle.

 The castellated tower or gazebo
 was built for him about 1816.

The small octagonal tower had two storeys
 and was once finely decorated with Gothic windows
 and vaulting and trefoil decoration.

The folly had no roof or floors
but had a an open-sided staircase
 that wound its way to the top,

 from where the visitor could enjoy good views of Glasgow,
as well as Dumgoyne and the Campsie Fells.

 The tower was repurposed as a watchtower
 for the nearby reservoirs during the war years.

 In the 1980s it was demolished due to becoming unstable
 and sadly only the base of the tower remains.

 In 1981 Royal Mail issued a 50p booklet of stamps
with a picture of Smith’s Folly on the front

 but erroneously called it Mugdock Castle.





Remains of Smith's Folly at Mugdock Country Park

Remains of Smith's Folly

 at  Mugdock Country Park






Remains of Smith's Folly at Mugdock Country Park

Old photo of Smith's Folly

 at  Mugdock Country Park






Mugdock Reservoir from Mugdock Country Park

Mugdock Reservoir

from Mugdock Country Park





Mugdock Reservoir from Mugdock Country Park

Mugdock Reservoir

from Mugdock Country Park






Campsie Fells from the trig point in Mugdock Country Park above Mugdock Reservoir

Campsie Fells

from the trig point

 at Mugdock Country Park

 above
Mugdock Reservoir



Horses on moors at Mugdock Country Park

Horses on moors

 at Mugdock Country Park





Sheep on moors at Mugdock Country Park

Sheep on moors

 at Mugdock Country Park






Campsie Fells from moors above Mugdock Country Park






Campsie Fells from moors above Mugdock Country Park






Kilpatrick Hills from moors above Mugdock Country Park







Mugdock Loch in Mugdock Country Park

Mugdock Loch

 in Mugdock Country Park





Mugdock Loch and Castle in Mugdock Country Park

Mugdock Loch and Castle

 in Mugdock Country Park




Mugdock Castle  - old photo

Mugdock Castle  - old photo






Campsie Fells beyond Peitches Moor and quarry loch in Mugdock Country Park

Campsie Fells

beyond Peitches Moor

and quarry loch

 in Mugdock Country Park



Campsie Fells beyond Peitches Moor and quarry loch in Mugdock Country Park

Campsie Fells

beyond Peitches Moor

and quarry loch

 in Mugdock Country Park






Campsie Fells beyond Peitches Moor and quarry loch in Mugdock Country Park

Campsie Fells

beyond Peitches Moor

and quarry loch

 in Mugdock Country Park






Mugdock Castle in Mugdock Country Park

Mugdock Castle in Mugdock Country Park

Mugdock Castle was the stronghold of Clan Graham.

The original castle was built in the mid-14th century.

 It comprised four towers
around a courtyard with high walls.

The main gate was in the middle of the south wall.

The castle stood on a mound of volcanic rock
 on the edge of Mugdock Loch.






Mugdock Castle in Mugdock Country Park






Mugdock Castle in Mugdock Country Park







Mugdock Castle

Mugdock Castle




Mugdock Castle

Mugdock Castle




Mugdock Castle

Mugdock Castle







Snowdrops in Mugdock Country Park




Kilpatrick Hills from Mugdock Country Park






Swans in Mugdock Loch beneath Mugdock Castle in Mugdock Country Park

Swans in Mugdock Loch

 beneath Mugdock Castle





Swans and cygnets in Mugdock Loch in Mugdock Country Park

Swans and cygnets

 in Mugdock Loch






Campsie Fells from Mugdock Loch

Campsie Fells

from Mugdock Loch





Campsie Fells from Mugdock Loch

Campsie Fells

from Mugdock Loch







Map of Mugdock Country Park

Map of Mugdock Country Park

( Note:- Click here or on above for large format copy )




Map of Mugdock Country Park

Map of Mugdock Country Park

( Note:- Click here or on above for large format copy )





Location Map for Mugdock Country Park

Location Map for Mugdock Country Park





Map and Walking Route for Mugdock Country Park

Map and Walking Route for Mugdock Country Park





Map of Lochs and Reservoirs in Bearsden and Milngavie

Map of Lochs and Reservoirs in Bearsden and Milngavie





MUGDOCK COUNTRY PARK - ROUTE DESCRIPTION:



This is a circular walk of about four miles and two hours duration from the South Lodge Car Park at Mugdockbank.
The walk takes in the Visitor Centre, Drowning Pond and Craigend Castle in Mugdock Country Park.
The walk leaves the car park ( located at the top of Mugdock Road above Mugduck Reservoir ) and enters the country park through the
gate on the left. lt turns right at the T-junction and after a short distance, follows the sign ‘Visitor Centre’ to turn right and cross the
wooden bridge onto the path along the south side of Mugdock Loch.At the next junction the path leaves the lochside and continues straight ahead to climb up rocky ground onto a tarmac path. lgnore the stile on the right over the wall and take the path as it swings round to the left
along the side of the wall to enter Peitches Moor, a lovely open area with fantastic hill views on either side.
At the end of the tarmac the walk takes the grass track on the right to a sign, ‘Steep Drop Do Not Cross’ which is attached to a fence surround-
ing an impressive water filled quarry. It turns left along the side of the fence and crosses over a walkboard into the heart of the moor.
Continuing west, optional paths are available before crossing another two walkboards, leaving the moor and entering Pheasants Wood, a
small wood of mostly rhododendrum bushes and with an internal circular path.
The walk takes the left path round the wood, it being the shortest route to the exit point on the left for the steps down to Craigend Pond.
It turns right passes Craigend Victorian Walled Garden, built initially to provide food for the estate, and takes the left path up to the
Visitor Centre, initially the stables and coach house.
If time allows it is of interest to browse around the centre, visit the gift shops and perhaps have a snack and coffee in one of the two cafes, all
converted from the original stables.
Leaving the centre, the walk follows the sign ‘Gallowhill BBQ Site’ into an open field now used by youth clubs for barbeque activities.
It goes round the edge of the field into the rhododendrum wood and takes the path on the right for the Drowning Pond.
This was where in medieval times those accused of witchcraft would be tied to a ‘dooking stool‘ and if they survived the drowning in the pond,
would be declared witches and burnt at the stake.
It is an interesting area steeped in history and has been recently designed with a viewpoint which looks down on Craigend Castle.
The castle itself now dilapidated having been destroyed by fire.
At one time it was a stately home built by James Ramsay in the early 19th century for the Smith family and in the 1950s it was used as a
restaurant for Craigend Zoo.
The walk leaves Gallow Hill along a zig-zag path and turns right on joining the main path, above Craigend Pond.
It passes the rocky hillside on the right which supported some of the zoo animal cages and then, at a U-bend with an open field view, the front of
Craigend Castle.
On the return route, the walk continues along the tree lined avenue which was the original drive entrance to and from the castle, passes the signed paths to Khyber Car Park and Mugdock Castle on the right and the Visitor Centre on the left. It then reaches Mugdock Loch and turns right onto the
lochside outward path and back to the South Lodge Car Park.


Mugdock Park Gallery Photo Gallery :: Dumgoyne & Campsie Fells Photo Gallery

<< Back : Bearsden Walks Index :: Next >>



Scotland Index :: Scottish Peaks :: Scotland Walks

Glencoe | Ben Nevis | Knoydart | Isle of Skye | Isle of Arran

The Eastern Highlands | The Central Highlands | The Southern Highlands | The NW Highlands


Adventure Travel : Worldwide Mountaineering : Site Index

fb icon  google+ icon Linkedin icon  twitter










Guide Books & Maps - Scotland:-


West Highland Way: Footprint MapWest Highland Way - Map West Highland Way - Map Western Scotland & the Western Isles OS Road Map Northern Scotland OS Road MapSouthern Scotland OS Road MapGlasgow Popular Hills - Map





  

Ochils and Campsie Fells

Glasgow Visitor Guide - Colin Baxter Itchy Insider's Guide to Glasgow Glasgow Footprint Pocket Guide Glasgow Insight Pocket Guide Glasgow Guide Pub Companion Glasgow Scotland's Highlands & Islands - Rough Guide Scotland - Rough Guide

Glasgow Insight Pocket GuideCollins Street Map of GlasgowGlasgow: Then & NowThey belonged to Glasgow Phillips Street Atlas of Glasgow & West Central Scotland Glasgow: The Photographic Atlas100 Hillwalks around Glasgow 50 Walks in Glasgow & SW Scotland

Visit Scotland - Touring Guide Scotland: Where to Stay - Hotels & Guest Houses Scotland: Where to Stay - Bed & Breakfast Rough Guide ScotlandScottish Highlands & Islands - Rough Guide Scotland - Lonely PlanetScotland's Highlands & Islands - Lonley Planet Great Glasgow StoriesGlasgow & Surroundings - Insight Guide

West Highland Way: Official GuideWest Highland Way: Rucksac ReadersWest Highland Way: TrailblazerThe West Highland WayWest Highland Way: Footprint MapWest Highland Way - Map West Highland Way - Map West Highland Way Wet Highland Way - Official Guide

Munro Almanac The High Mountains of Britain and Ireland The Munros: Scottish Mountaineering Club The Isle of Skye The Isle of Arran Wilderness Walks Ski Mountaineering in Scotland

More Wilderness Walks 50 Best Routes on Skye and Raasay Skye - W.A.PoucherMagic of the Munros Mountaineering in Scotland and Undiscovered Scotland by W.H.MurrayA Long Walk on the Isle of Skye

Classic Climbs - Central & Southern Highlands The Isle of Arran Lonely Planet, Walking in ScotlandPathfinder Guide: Skye and NW Highlands WalksPathfinder Guide: Fort William and Glen Coe Walks Rambler's Guide: Ben Nevis and Glen Coe50 Best Routes on Skye and Raasay - Chris Townsend










Google Analytics








Google Analytics

extremetracking
 eXTReMe Tracker


extremetracking
Sitelock caingram.com
SiteLock
Sitelock
Sitelock caingram.info
SiteLock
Sitelock