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Never boring Kilpatrik Hills

Never boring Kilpatrik Hills


Postby MNovak » Tue May 23, 2023 2:56 pm

Route description: Duncolm and the Slacks, Old Kilpatrick

Sub 2000' hills included on this walk: Duncolm

Date walked: 23/05/2023

Time taken: 4 hours

Distance: 15 km

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I really needed a fairly mindless wonder at a familiar place and this route seemed just perfect. I walked the usual path to Loch Humphrey several times with friends so knew it can be a straightforward, easy, mind cleansing. It is a popular place, so I expected to see others, which makes it ideal for solo walk for a beginner too.

I decided to do the full route this time and it did not disappoint. There is enough ups and downs to have some challenge, bit of bog hopping even though it'd been a rather dry spell. I really like the Old Kilpatrick walk because you can choose a slightly different path and angle every time. There are steep hillsides but usually there is a way to go around them too. Here is where I dare to go pathless just cut across the field and this is how I found wild blueberries one year. Delicious!

This time the fern was just about to open fully, having all sorts of shapes
Kilpatrick Fern copy.jpg


This time getting off the train was already an experience, being mid- May, the station smelled of all sorts of flowers.
Followed the signs to Kilpatrick walks, turning left after the bowling field, cross the road, under the motorway and here it is. I chose to do the steep uphill walk, and a shortcut, so turned right just after the gate. It is a comfortable and clear, path on the grassy hillside, up to the top. There were plenty of path crossings, so had to look into the map few times.

Forst top paths.jpg


First top.jpg


From here there is slim and there are slight ups and muddy- boggy downs until get to the descent to Loch Humphrey. I got shouted at by wild geese for bothering their afternoon nap - in the middle of the walking path! - but we cleared the misunderstanding and carried on.

Not sure they were completely happy though
The Geese.jpg


The path behind the loch was new to me. The beginning few hundred meters was very muddy and boggy (again, it was after a rather dry spell, so I can only imagine if it wasn't) but cleared once upwards again. The path climbs first up to middle Duncoln, with a short and steep descent on the other side before goes up to The Duncoln. Although it was cloudy, there was good visibility all the way to Loch Lomond. The wind got up and brought clouds and a little drizzle-mizzle so started putting layers on. I begun the walk being too warm in short sleeves but suddenly three more layers felt just right.

Loch Lomond close up (Klick on the pic to zoom)
Image

The view from Duncoln, Loch Lomond on the left and Lily Loch and Burncrooks Reservoir on the right and happy to be helped out with the mountains in between (Klick on the pic to zoom)
Image

The walk back is the same way with going around the peaks all the way to Loch Humphrey. From here just follow the wide pebbly road back to Kilpartick, with great views over the Clyde Estuary and Glasgow in the distance. Whilst on the path after the loch I was completely on my own, it gets busier again once back.
On the way back Clyde.jpg


On the way back Glasgow.jpg
MNovak
 
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Re: Never boring Kilpatrik Hills

Postby Fife Flyer » Tue May 23, 2023 5:30 pm

We were there a couple of weeks ago and the highlight was watching mother duck trying to control this little lot.

Image

And a boat heading up the Clyde.

Image
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Re: Never boring Kilpatrik Hills

Postby MNovak » Tue May 23, 2023 6:47 pm

They are so cute! Must have grown up by now, I saw a duck couple but no ducklings. Although they seemed to be relieved :lol: I see you had similar weather, hope you enjoyed the walk.
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Re: Never boring Kilpatrik Hills

Postby johnscot55 » Tue May 23, 2023 9:13 pm

I did it today too, between 10.40 and 14.50. Didn't see anyone after a guy fishing at the loch. Thought I was on my own!!!
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Re: Never boring Kilpatrik Hills

Postby MNovak » Thu May 25, 2023 3:41 am

johnscot55 wrote:I did it today too, between 10.40 and 14.50. Didn't see anyone after a guy fishing at the loch. Thought I was on my own!!!


You most probably were, I didn't change the date (just realising that's a thing), was there last Thursday. It was similar situation, the part after the loch seems less popular than the one up to it.
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