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KIRKINTILLOCH TO THE CAMPSIE HILLS

Distance: 48.3 km (30 miles), circular route.

Map: OS Landranger, sheets 64 and 57.

Start and finish: Townhead car park, Kirkintilloch.

Terrain: This route is a long distance with some very long steep hills, and is not recommended for children. The worst is the Tak-ma-doon Road, which ascends 263 m in 4.8 km (3.0 miles) with short stretches of up to 1 in 7 gradients.
However, the stretch along the Forth and Clyde Canal is flat and this part of the route can be tackled by everyone. Indeed, this 9.7 km (6.0 miles) out/9.7 km (6.0 miles) back route could be used in its own right.

Refreshments: Various places in Kirkintilloch, Kilsyth, Lennoxtown and Fintry. The Carron Bridge Hotel, Carron Bridge.

The route begins at the car park at Townhead in Kirkintilloch, adjacent to the tow path of the Forth and Clyde Canal, which forms the first 9.7 km of this route. The Forth and Clyde Canal follows roughly the same route as the Antonine Wall; the reason for this being simply that it is the shortest distance between the east and west coasts of Scotland.

Before the Forth and Clyde Canal was built, ships wishing to get from the west coast to the east would have had to sail round the top of Scotland: a distance in excess of 482.8 km and a very arduous and dangerous journey especially in rough weather. The proposed line of the canal on the other hand was only 56.3 km long. Digging began at Grangemouth on the River Forth in 1768 and took 22 years to complete, finishing at Bowling on the River Clyde in 1790, where the company chairman poured a hogg's head of Forth water into the Clyde. Commence along the tow path of the canal in a easterly direction.

The canal goes on by way of Twechar, a small mining and quarrying village, and passes close to Barr Hill and Croy Hill, which have a Roman fort on each. This area possesses the best stretches of the Antonine Wall to be seen within a short distance from the canal. These Roman remains are easily accessible. Leave the tow path and cross over the canal at the bridge which carries the road into the village of Twechar. Keep to the left side of the road for about 100 m then you will see a track going off to the left. Take this for 400 m up a long hill until a covered circular concrete reservoir is reached, then take the path to the left, through a gate and on another 50 m to Barr Hill Fort. From here there is a very good view of the canal and the surrounding countryside below.

After returning to the tow path at Twechar, continue east, and very soon Auchinstarry is reached. The canal passes under the B802 (the Kilsyth to Cumbernauld Road) at Auchinstarry, and is spanned by a non-opening bascule bridge. Some 300 m away in the direction of Kilsyth is a disused quarry which has been turned into a leisure area by Kilsyth and Cumbernauld District Council. The floor of the quarry is under water, forming a small loch surrounded by landscaped areas in the foreground with the backdrop of the 30.5 m high whinstone face exposed behind. This is also worth a visit, and, as there is a picnic area, it is an ideal spot for a welcome break.

On for about another 2.5 km to Craigmalloch, where the canal crosses the road to Dullatur. This is where the main source of water enters the canal, the inlet being right beside the road and running in a lade from Banton Loch 1.5 km away to the north. The loch is reached from the canal and the route continues, firstly by turning north for about 800 m, to the A803, the Kilsyth to Falkirk Road.

On reaching the A803 turn left and follow this road for about 400 m, taking care here for it can be busy, then turn right into Colzium Country Park, the entrance of which is signposted. On entering the park carry on along the road for another 400 m to Colzium House. Banton Loch can be reached by turning right on to a track just before the park car park is reached.

The Battle of Kilsyth (1645), which was part of the Civil War, was fought in the area where Banton Loch now exists. It was a resounding victory for the Marquis of Montrose with his army of Highlanders, who fought on the side of Charles I against the Covenanter Government of the time. Here we find such names as Slaughter Howe, Bullet Knowe and Drum Burn, testifying to the ferocity of this battle.

Colzuim House, formerly the 19th-century seat of the Edmonstones of Duntreath, is now a museum. On past the Clock Theatre, once the stables, to join the Tak-ma-doon Road 200 m further on. Once on the Tak-ma-doon Road the ascent into the Kilsyth Hills begins.

Stop at the top of this long hill to see the spectacular view over nearly the whole of the Forth and Clyde valley. Anyway, after the exertion of the climb a break at this time will be most welcome. It is also worth pointing out that for those who want to do the cycle run along the road at the top of the Campsie Fells, therefore missing out the rigours of the Tak-ma-doon Road, this is where to begin: for the view point has space for about 20 cars. From here it is possible to cycle some 16 km to Fintry and back without encountering any major hills, although the route is not entirely flat.

From here on, the area through which this route passes is one of peace and tranquillity. It is almost like closing a door and leaving the world outside. It is difficult to imagine, while surrounded by such a vast area of unspoilt beauty, that it is only 24 km from the heart of Glasgow and even less to Stirling.

Go along this unclassified road for 3.2 km, through the eastern extremity of Carron Valley Forest, to Carron Bridge, which was built in 1695 to replace a ford that had existed for many hundreds of years as part of the old drove road from Kilsyth to Stirling. This bridge looks larger than it needs to be, with its two span stone arches. This is because the River Carron was much larger before Loch Carron was dammed to make a reservoir.

From here turn left on to the B818. At this point you will encounter the Carron Bridge Hotel, where sustenance can be had.

Around 2.5 km along the B818 is the eastern entrance to the Carron Valley Forest, where an alternative route along forestry roads, skirting the south side of the reservoir, can be found. This route is very picturesque and well worth doing, although it adds a further 3.2 km and some more hills to the journey. However, the 6.4 km route along the B818 is also very attractive with a better surface for cycling.

The routes once again converge at Todholes on the western side of the reservoir and continue on another 5.6 km to the junction with the B822, passing first the Loup of Fintry, where the Endrick cascades over a height of upwards of 30 m from the high moorland into the valley below.

On reaching the B822 it is barely 800 m to the beginning of Fintry, a beautiful and sleepy little village with an ancient past. Back to the route. From where the B818 joins the B822 the road ascends another 150 m in the next 5.6 km, which is of course a mere bagatelle for those cyclists who have recently climbed the Tak-ma-doon Road, although it's still another major hill. But thankfully it's the last, for once at the top of this hill the road begins a steady descent down to Lennoxtown.

Before the final 3.2 km descent down Crow Road to Lennoxtown, stop at the car park, where on a fine day there are wonderful views south over the Kelvin Valley to Glasgow itself and west to Loch Lomond and the Arrochar Alps beyond.

Take care going down the long straight incline on Crow Road: for high speeds can easily be achieved and there is a sharp corner to be negotiated at the bottom. At the end of Crow Road is the junction of the A891. Here cross, taking care, into Station Road. This is where the route from Lennoxtown to Strathblane (see Route 2 of this book) began. Continue, as Route 2, down Station Road and turn left on to the cycleway for the last, flat, 8 km back into Kirkintilloch.