Killing Time in the Campsie's! The Whangie, Pulpit & Earl!

[JimboJim]

Had a quick look for a walk somewhere near Glasgow, which would provide some exercise and interest, while my young fella was off to Stranraer to play footie and the wife was killing time and our bank balance, in the shops of Braehead. Came up with an idea to combine a few ideas found on WH, namely visit The Whangie & Queen's View (looked interesting), The Devil's Pulpit (sounded scary) and The Earl's Seat (smelled malty?)

You can't beat a good view of The Whangie on a Sunday morning!

Nothing is complete without a wee bit of human art!

Didn't take too long driving out past Bearsden/Milngavie (A809), to find the car park for The Whangie. Path certainly a bit squishy - and squashy here and there. I stuck to the low route, on the north side, which gradually turns round to reveal The Whangie, a strange, narrow gap/split through high sided rock, providing a sheltered passage of some 30-40 yards? What is 'a whangie?' I could only guess. Took a wee detour round top, but not easy to get a bird's eye view. Carried on to top of hill, but Queen had moved on since having her view. Hope she was wearing her wellie's as it's equally mushy on top. Think whole trip to just less than an hour and a half, but would have been much less, minus scrambling for photo's.

Into The Whangie!

Looking down on The Whangie.

Dumgoyne/Earl's Seat from Queen's View.

Next stop was Finnich Glen, probably about a couple of miles north of the Whangie. Road drops down to a bridge among woods, either side. Wee parking spot here, but I moved on about a further hundred yards, to the turn off for the B834, where there is an old junction, where one can squeeze in a few carefully parked cars. This does present the downside of walk back along main road, where caution is required - though there may, may be a track heads through the field from here??

Finnich Bridge.

All I wanted is a photograph.

Modern health and safety equipment is to hand :)

Anyway, once past the bridge heading back the way, on the left hand side, you will see where to enter, what becomes a myriad of various paths where folk seek a view down into the gully/canyon, orwhatever one wants to call it. Eventually, I came to the 'steps' down, which have yet to be fully risk assessed by H&S, because when they are, someone will obviously decide they are not safe for Joe Public! Take care going down the slimy, dank steps and use the wee bit rope too.

Explorer's better equipped than I.

More steps.

Very narrow in parts.

Not having shorts, or wading gear, views were restricted but, still mesmorising. Would have loved to have explored deeper. After a few pics, I climbed back up, then wandered another 100, or so yaards to where the river opens out and got a few more photo's. Not a big walk, but allow an hour, or more for gazing!

Part of 'steps' down/up.

A busy place at times.

Carnock Burn, rich colours.

Looking in from downstream.

I then moved on to Dumgoyne Distillery, where I would have enjoyed a wee visit to sample the golden nectar, but couldn't resist a wee hike up the 427m, of volcanic plug, aka Dumgoyne hill. A steep little blighter. I also found the start directions a bit dodgy, taking the path left below the house, led me to a dead end. Anyway, just keep going up, towards the hill, through the trees. Good views could be had toward Glasgow, Loch Lomond, Arrochar hills, Ben Vorlich, but today wasn't being too kind weatherwise.

Glasgow.

Ben Vorlich, Stuc a'Chroin direction.

Loch Lomond

From the top, it is another steep drop to the north, before heading out for the summit. I must admit, I found this part of the walk rather dreich, with a few real boggy bits and not much to see, or excite. Made it to the top, took a few pics, then hurried back down, time begining to get a bit tight.

Dumgoyne from roadside.

A distillery. Other distillery's are available, though not so many in this part of the world.

The steep descent from further up the hill.

Made it back into town in time to pick up Coll, then join Pam and Cameron for a fun night in Glasgow, before the more emotional joys of leaving No.1 son at new digs, to begin his college days. Oh, how I wish I could turn back time, as Cher sang

Part of 'steps' down/up.