Mugdock Country Park

 29 November 2025

It was a few years since I had visited Mugdock Country Park but it seemed an ideal place for me to add to the list of places that I am visiting to create photograph records. Mugdock is, in my view, the best of the Country Parks which are situated around Glasgow. It comprises 270 hectares of moorland, heathland and woodland gifted to what are now Stirling and East Dunbartonshire Councils in 1981 by Sir Hugh Fraser (House of Fraser family). The Park includes a couple of former castles in differing states of disrepair, WW2 gun emplacements, a loch, and a plethora of paths so lots of different walks are to be had. The weather was quite atmospheric, mostly cloudy but with the sun breaking out from time to time.....

There is courtyard building which serves as a visitor centre and includes toilets and cafes so I was able to purchase my usual latte at the end of my walk.....

There is not much remaining of Craigend Castle, indeed, it has been fenced off for a number of years as it is now in a dangerous state. I suppose that it's main claim to fame is that the final occupants used the ground round about as a zoo!

My route then took me to the high ground to the south of the Park to visit the remains of the WW2 defensive bunkers.....

They certainly commanded a good view south over Milngavie towards Glasgow and north to the Campsie Fells......

Mugdock Castle was the next point of interest, It was originally built by the Graham family in the mid- 14th century and was abandoned in the 17th century. There are connections to the Marquess of Montrose. The remaining tower has been renovated and apparently now contains a museum. It is open to the public at times during the summer so I will have to go back on one of these days.....

Mugdock Loch lies below the castle. A sign says that it is reckoned to be a "kettle hole"......

After walking around the east and north side of the loch, I made my way back to the visitor centre and the car park passing a pretty little waterfall and a pond......

An excellent walk!