Castle Semple Loch, Lochwinnoch

This lovely waymarked walk begins along the shores of beautiful Castle Semple Loch. It then heads into the woods before climbing to a viewpoint with views over several lochs, before heading through the trees to reach the beautifully situated ruins of a collegiate church.

Terrain

Well maintained footpaths throughout; last section on a cycle track.

Public Transport

Bus to Lochwinnoch. There is a rail station on the far side of Castle Semple loch.

Start

Castle Semple Visitor Centre, Lochwinnoch. Open start point in Google Maps for directions.

Users' reports

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Walk Description

Stage 1

Start from the Castle Semple Loch visitor centre car park, a beautiful spot for watersports; there's a cafe and public toilets. The walk begins along the loch shore, passing the visitor centre and then the sailing club enclosure. Keep right at a fork to stay by the loch, soon passing through a gate. Further on there's a bench; when the track goes through another gate, keep on the path on the right to stay nearest the loch.

Stage 2

Continue until a junction with ornately carved wooden benches, and follow the path which turns left into the woods here. Go straight across at a cycle path, then take the next left to cross 'Terry's Bridge'. Soon the path reaches a small pond and a stone grotto.

Stage 3

Just beyond the grotto the path reaches a T-junction, turn left here and then left again onto a narrower path that heads uphill. The path climbs to pass out of the trees and reach the summit of Park Hill, where there's an artwork. There are superb views from here over Castle Semple Loch, Barr Loch beyond, and a glimpse of Kilbirnie Loch in the distqance. Continue along the path with the fence on your left. Turn right and re-entering the woods at a path junction.

Stage 4

Soon a larger path joins from the left - keep ahead here, then go left at the next fork, heading uphill. Take the right branch at the next fork to head downhill, soon reaching a footbridge. Cross and turn left at the T-junction beyond. There are many rhododenrons on the next section. At another junction keep straight ahead, ignoring the path off right, then after a tiny burn go right and then left (following red waymarkers). The path eventually reaches a farm gate and kissing gate at the edge of the woods.

Stage 5

Pass through the kissing gate and continue along the track. Soon the ruins of the Collegiate Church are seen in a field on your right. Founded in 1504, the church was visited by King James VI and was used up to the 1680s. The roof is missing but there are some fine early gothic features.

Stage 6

Continue along the track until it passes under an old railway bridge. Leave it just before the bridge, turning right through a gate to follow a ramp up onto the cycle track that follows the line of the old railway. Turn right along the track, which is popular with cyclists and joggers as well as walkers. There are views over Castle Semple loch through the trees on the left. After a little over a kilometre there's a junction - you could turn left to retrace your steps from this point back to the car park, otherwise continue ahead. The visitor centre comes into view on the left, then a ramp back down to the car park at the start.

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