Bow Hill (Greenock)

 26 May 2021

Participants: Just me

Where: Bow Hill (Greenock), 136m/446', P 55m, Tump, OS 63, NS 257 766

The promised sunny weather did not arrive and there were spots of rain at times but visibility was good. I had a dental appointment in Glasgow so after my checkup, made my way to Central station and took the train to Fort Matilda. The road up to the Lyle Hill viewpoint was steep so what would have been an easy tick if I'd been driving turned out to be a good walk. The high point is in the middle of a golf course which is accessed up some steps from the viewpoint. I had to walk the length of a couple of holes to reach the broom covered top which stands above the 9th tee. There were a lot of golfers about but I followed golfing etiquette by standing still when they were playing a shot and there was no problem. The highest point was in the middle of gorse but had obviously had visitors as the gorse was trimmed back on the way to the high point.

 

Approaching the high point.....

looking back down the fairways to the upper Clyde.....

The hills of Arran in the distance.....

the best views were over Gourock to Cowal, Dunoon and the Roseneath peninsula.....

The Darn Walk- Bridge of Allan to Dunblane

 22 May 2021

Participants: Just me

I took the train to Bridge of Allan, followed the course of the Allan Water to Dunblane and caught a train home from there. There wasn't much in the way of views but it was a pleasant riverside trail. The walk has literary connections, it was a favourite of Robert Louis Stevenson and a cave around the halfway point is said to be his inspiration for Ben Gunn's cave in Kidnapped. The walk begins a few hundred yards from the railway station on the east side of the river. It follows a street for a bit then you turn downhill on a path between two fences to reach the river. There were banks of bluebells and the general vegetation was very green.....

I reached the cave.....

and shortly after left the river behind as the path became a rough track between two old stone walls.....

it then ran between a couple of fields before briefly hugging the edge of a golf course. There were views of Stuc a'Chroin from here.....

before dropping down into Dunblane. Simply cross the dual carriageway and the road opposite takes you to the station and for me time for a coffee before my train arrived.....

Recommended!

Kilduff Hill (Drem)

 18 May 2021

Participants: Just me

Where: Kilduff Hill, 138m/453', P 47m, Tump, OS 66, NT 514776

It took 6 trains to get me there and back, but it was worth it to avoid the Edinburgh City Bypass!

The track to the hill started at Drem station.....

It was a very pleasant walk with views of North Berwick Law to the east across the extensive East Lothian farmland.....

I left the track where it turned sharply east and headed straight up through the wood; I was pleasantly surprised at the easy going. High up, I spotted a deer.....

There is a good path running east to west along the ridge line, I followed it east on the way back joining the road a few hundred yards from where I had left it. But first a visit to the high point which was just off the path to the north.....

No view from the top but that didn't matter as once back on the track it was open views towards Fife with the Lomond Hills clearly visible all the way to the station......

Two West Kilbride Tumps: Drumilling Hill and Law Hill

 11 May 2021

Participants: Just me

Where: Drumilling Hill, 104m/341', P 52m, Tump, OS 63, NS 206 492 and Law Hill, 178m/584', P 35m, Tump, OS 63, NS 216 484

Another trip by train.....

These are two easy hills with good views. I visited Drumilling Hill first, following the road to the cemetery, over a style into a grassy field with some sheep in it. There were some nice old trees near the top, bent over and demonstrating the power of the wind in this exposed spot, and nice views of the hills of Arran.....

To the south was my next target, Law Hill, which I reached by following my steps back to the station and following the narrow road to it's south past Law Castle and then past a number of huts to reach a track that goes to the mast near the hill high point.....

Being higher, it was the better all round viewpoint. The track to the top was signposted and appears to be a popular local walk. Some views, of the Crosbie and Knockewart hills, and of West Kilbride and Arran on the descent.....

A pleasant day out.