West Highland Way: Trailblazer Ochils and Campsie Fells

 Bearsden & District

Mugdock Country Park

West Highland Way - Map West Highland Way: Footprint Map

Photographs of Mugdock Country Park

  - partly traversed by the West Highland Way

Mugdock Country Park in Winter

Craigend Stables

Craigend Stables



Craigend Stables above Craigend Pond

Craigend Stables

 above Craigend Pond




Campsie Fells from Mugdock Country Park

Campsie Fells

from Mugdock Country Park




Scots Pine in Mugdock Country Park

Scots Pine Trees

 in Mugdock Country Park






Khyber fields in Mugdock Country Park

Khyber fields

 in Mugdock Country Park






Mugdock Castle

Mugdock Castle

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

Mugdock Castle

The south west tower,
connecting curtain wall,
 and the remains of the north west tower

 - the remains of the original stone castle
that was completed in 1372.





Mugdock Mansion

The former Mugdock Mansion

now demolished





Mugdock Mansion

The former Mugdock Mansion

now demolished







Mugdock Castle

Mugdock Castle




Mugdock Castle

Mugdock Castle




Mugdock Castle

Mugdock Castle





Mugdock Castle

Mugdock Castle






View from Mugdock Castle

View from Mugdock Castle





View from Mugdock Castle

View from Mugdock Castle






Swans in Mugdock Loch beneath Mugdock Castle in Mugdock Country Park

Swans in Mugdock Loch

 beneath Mugdock Castle




Mugdock Castle  - old photo

Mugdock Castle  - old photo




Mugdock Loch

Mugdock Loch





Craigend Castle






Craigend Castle






Craigend Castle as it was in the 1950s

Craigend Castle as it was in the 1950s

 A plain house was originally built by John Smith
 ( of John Smith & Son, booksellers ).

His son, James,
subsequently incorporated this house
 in the ornate mansion shown in the photograph.

 This mansion was designed by Alexander Ramsay
 in what is described as Regency Gothic style.






Craigend Castle - Old photo

Craigend Castle - Old photo





Craigend Castle - Notice

Craigend Castle - notice






Craigend Castle Zoo

Craigend Castle Zoo

William Wilson and his son,
 the proprietors of a miniature zoo in Oswald Street,
opened a new zoo at Craigend in 1949
with various exotic creatures
including an elephant, lions, monkeys and crocodiles.

 It failed to attract significant numbers of visitors
 and closed in 1954.





Craigend Castle Zoo - Old photo

Craigend Castle Zoo







Victorian Walled Garden

Victorian Walled Garden




West Highland Way signpost at exit from Mugdock Country park at the Khyber Pass

West Highland Way signpost

at exit from Mugdock Country park

 at the Khyber Pass






Winter sun in Mugdock Country Park

Winter sun in Mugdock Country Park

Photo by Rick Adam

 (
https://www.flickr.com/photos/rickadam/6314078923/
 )




Mugdock Country Park in Winter






Old photograph of the courtyard in Mugdock Country Park

Old photograph of the courtyard

 in Mugdock Country Park






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 )




Map of Mugdock Country Park

Map of Mugdock Country Park





Map of Mugdock Country Park

Map of Mugdock Country Park





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




Route Map for Mugdock Country Park & Mugdock Reservoir

Route Map for Mugdock Country Park

 & Mugdock Reservoir





MUGDOCK COUNTRY PARK WALK - 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 Mugdock 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 surrounding 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 COUNTRY PARK & MUGDOCK RESERVOIR WALK - ROUTE DESCRIPTION:

Location: Milngavie, north-west Glasgow
Map: OS Landranger 64  ( GR 557758 )
Distance: 5.5 miles [9km]
Time: 3 hours
Terrain: signposted paths

Mugdock Country Park, north of Milngavie, provides a good starting point for this walk. From the main visitor centre car park follow the signposted path round to Craigend Castle, from where a path leads right, signposted to Khyber car park.
Follow the track left from here towards Mugdock Castle to the old gun ernplacements, built in 1941.
The track continues to a junction of paths outside the main entrance to the castle.
Before exploring the fort, remember that the route goes on to the right at this junction. After leaving the castle, followthe already identified path to where it divides and continue right, following signs for Mugdock Wood. This leads down through broadleaf woodland and a wall sculpture to sections of board walk.
Walk down past a mined building to a junction signposted right to Khyber Pass and continue down to a main junction with the West Highland Way
. Turn left to Milngavie and Drumclog Moor and follow the Allander Water beside Milngavie golf course to a four-way junction.
Go left here and ascend onto Drumclog Moor to join a main path and follow it right to a car park on the minor road beside Mugdock Reservoir.
Gain the tarmac path beside the reservoir and follow it anti-clockwise, with southerly views at the dam end over
Milngavie and Tannoch Loch to Glasgow. Cross the causeway between Mugdock and Craigmaddie Reservoir [ or continue around Craigmaddie for a longer walk], and continue the circuit through woodland to the bridge at the northern end of the reservoir.
Cross the bridge, exit to the road and turn right, following the pavement north at the end of the pavement take care on a short section of road before taking a path on the left into woodland beside the burn in a pleasant little gorge. This path leads up past the South Lodge car park to a junction.
Turn right and continue to another junction signposted left to Mugdock Castle and right to the visitor centre.
At the T-junction, turn left beside the loch with views across to Mugdock Castle.
Past a small cliff on the path and the end of the loch, a path turning on the right leads up to parkland and views of Craigend Castle. A right at the next junction skirts the right side of the small loch below the walled garden and the car park.




Mugdock Park Gallery Photo Gallery :: West Highland Way Photo Gallery :: Dumgoyne & Campsie Fells Photo Gallery

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Guide Books & Maps - Scotland:-


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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










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