The Fire at Craigallian Loch was
a beacon of hope to many poor,
out-of-work, young people in the Great Depression of the 1930s.
Many of those who sat around its flames were an inspiration
to a later generation of walkers and climbers. By
its flickering light were born famous mountaineering clubs
such as the Creagh Dhu, Lomond and Ptarmigan clubs.
The memorial on the
site of the fire
has been erected to commemorate this legacy.
Beyond
Carbeth the route meets the B821
then turns left for 300 metres
to reach a signposted gate on the right. On the
other side of the gate is the " Tinkers
Loan "
- named from a former encampment.
Location:
Stirlingshire
Map: OS Landranger 64 [GR 547 780]
Distance: 10 miles [1 6km]
Time: 4 hours 15 minutes
Terrain: tracks and paths This walk utilises
the West Highland Way ( WHW ) and
offers views north to the Campsies and Loch Lomond on the outward leg
and south over Strathblane on the return. There are several possible
starting points,
but Mugdock Country Park is as
good as any.
From the visitor centre follow the right-hand path round the west side
of Gallowhill. Descending towards the ruin of Craigend Castle, turn
right on a path over a footbridge and exit through a gap in the wall to
the
road.
Follow the road left past a track heading into forest on the right, to
a lower route signed Public Footpath to the B821 and Cuilt Brae. This
leads round through the forest and on to a point where it divides, the
public footpath continuing ahead.
Turn left and drop to the huts at Carbeth
and Carbeth Loch to join the WHW.
Follow the path ahead to the road, then left for a short distance to
where the route heads right across country. Go left at the Y-junction
and continue with views past the wooded knoll of Dumgoyach to Dumgoyne and the Campsies. Ben Lomond looms as you approach
Dumgoyach Farm, from where a track leads to a bridge over the Blane
Water.
After the bridge follow the WHW
left on the old railway line through fields to a stile on the right
near Glengoyne Distillery. Cross the field, walk through the distillery
to the road and follow it left for a short
distance then right on to an access road leading past houses into
woodland.
Where the track swings up left to the last house, go through a gate
into meadow and ascend to a track below Dumgoyne. Follow it down to
Strathblane, keeping left at the only junction and passing the bungalow
of the Haggles. The track becomes Campsie Dene Road and leads to the
main road through Strathblane. Cross over, turn right then left into
Wood Place and follow a tarmac walkway on the left round to a three-way
junction with a wide trackway, the continuation of the old railway
line. Go straight ahead to a gate and metal stile and ascend the field
to
skirt the reservoir. At the top turn right on to a track and follow it
past the aerial, where a path goes left. This leads to a gate from
where you head up and right [ marshy in places ] to gain the crest of a
small
escarpment on the edge of the moor. Turn right and follow the edge of
the escarpment until the path veers left across the moor past Dumbrock Loch and below pylon wires to a
stile on the road opposite the entrance to the country park.
::
West
Highland Way 
:: Dumgoyne
& Campsie Fells 
