Car Park in the Sky


Gleniffer Braes Country Park


Hiking with kids

What do you do on your birthday? Some people like to celebrate with a party or a meal. My choice has always to go for a hike or a walk somewhere. So this year I decided to choose Gleniffer Braes Country Park. This park is located just outside of Paisley, near Barrhead. We actually parked at the car park at the furthest end, next to the information hut. The idea was to walk the Tannahill walkway which would take in the impressive Craigie Linn waterfall and the viewpoint over looking the surrounding area. 

The Route

From the car park we headed along the path that wound up through the woods. We had managed to get a map from the information hut and that helped to navigate our way. The first stop was to walk to the waterfall. The weather in Scotland had been mixed, very warm with large downpours of rain. Our way to the waterfall only took about 20 minutes, it took us up some large wooden steps. There is a signpost and this leads you down more wooden steps to the waterfall. The Craigie Linn as it is known is 8m in height, it was as I had hoped, a powerful waterfall which even the locals had said was the best they had seen. 

As the Sign Says

Steps down to the Waterfall

Craigie Linn Waterfall

We doubled back up there steep steps and from the waterfall filled there path east. We followed signs for there Robertson Car park, also known as the car park in the sky. A car park perched up in which to command the views over the local area. Or aim was simple, find somewhere to stop to eat. The wooded path was gloriously cool and the light filters through the leaves hanging on the trees. 
Car Park in the Sky

A Walk in the Woods

More Woods

 Finally the woodland ends and you cross over to open hillside, that has some lovely views of Paisley and the surrounding area. The track stays consistent throughout the walk, wide and sturdy. It ascends slightly and curves around to the left. There are a few benches placed to give people a chance to rest and take in the view. We had some lunch before our final short walk to the top. 
Paisley

On to the viewpoint

View of the surrounding area

Lunch

Viewpoint

 We basically followed the same route back to the car, well almost. We took a parallel path on the opposite side of the waterfall which gave a different perspective on it. It would also be a good location to take some long distance photos of it. 
Another Sign

More Steps

The Walk Back to the Car

Total Distance Walked: 4.9 km/3 miles
Time Taken: 2h and 13mins
Highest Point: 177m

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Dechmont Hill

Image
Walking With Kids At last, after a weekend where it barely stopped raining there was a break in the weather, and a chance to get out. Dechmont hill is our closest climb and measures just under 200m, which gives the kids a chance to get to the top. We parked on the road that runs parallel behind Gilbertfield road. The walk started on the track that leads to Dechmont farm and the shooting range. They are now turning this area into housing, so be careful of builders lorries etc. We took a left turn at the road which leads to the farm, and then a right at the Dechmont Range House, now abandoned. The track ends at a small compound, but takes you past the ruins of Gilbertfield Castle. Gilbertfield Castle The compound contains a couple of old houses which acts as a control station for the shooting range. There is no access through it, instead take a left turn before the end of the track and make your way through the grass. There is a path through here but can be obscured by the tall grass sur
Read more

Bike and Hike

Image
"It was a shame that for all the beauty of the scenery that the top of the mountain was covered in mist." Ben Alder and Ben Bheoil  These two Munros stand south of Dalwhinnie in a remote part of Scotland. The best way of getting to them is to cycle out to Culra bothy, some 17km, which, I suppose is one way of warming up before a lengthy hike. These hills were not even on my radar for possible hills to visit but something happened that changed all that. I have had a mountain bike for over 20 years now, for over 15 years it has been covered up, sitting, rusting out the back. A few years ago I did replace the main gear cassette and chain however frustrated at not getting the gears working properly I gave up and left it. That was until the start of the summer. I had decided on not worrying about gears, all I wanted to do is to cycle and to have a bike that would be a low maintenance as possible. With that in mind I took the gear shifters off, pushed the rear mech back and fixed t
Read more

Cort-ma Law

Image
  Cort-ma Law Less than an hours drive from Glasgow, just north of Lennoxtown are the Campsie hills, which allows for a quick days hike.  Starting Point The best place to start is at the Campsie Glen waterfall car park. This can get busy, so it is best to try and get a parking space early. The walk itself starts directly opposite the car park.  Car park location Location of hill Route The track ascends immediately from the carpark travelling east, go past the old shelter covered in graffiti. Shelter Hike up from the car park The track continues upward and the track could be tricky at this point for younger walkers. The first part of the walk ends at a small cairn marker.  First marker cairn From there the hike undulates for 2km as it snakes it's way slightly south of the actual top. Here you will reach a bigger cairn marker.  Second marker cairn From this marker turn north east to the trig point 4.5 km distance. The height of the summit is 526m. We reached the top with 4 kids in 1
Read more