Palacerigg Country Park, Cumbernauld

Palacerigg Country Park was created from a bleak upland farm in the early 1970s, on the hills above the new town of Cumbernauld. It provides a fine walk mostly through native woodland, a quiet piece of countryside in one of the more built-up areas of the central belt.

Terrain

Good paths and tracks.

Public Transport

None to start.

Start

Palacerigg Country Park visitor centre. Open start point in Google Maps for directions.

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Walk Description

Stage 1

The walk begins from the main Palacerigg car park, which is well signed. Begin by following the raised wooden walkway across the lochan to reach the visitor centre. As well as information there's a cafe inside, and a stunning mural by renowned writer and artist Alasdair Gray to commemorate David Stephen, the naturalist who created the park.

Stage 2

Follow the track that passes to the left of the visitor centre, soon reaching a t-junction with the adventure playground ahead. Turn left here along a tarred track, ignoring a first track off to the right. Just before you reach a cattle grid turn right onto a second track off. This leads to a fork - keep left here; the route is waymarked although the markers aren't at every junction.

Stage 3

Ignore a track off right, continuing until a larger track is met with the model flying club ahead. Turn right here onto the track with a metal barrier. Soon there are more open views on the left of parts of Cumbernauld. At a fork keep slightly left, then ignore a path off left and stay on the main track. There is a steep drop on the left side into a wooded ravine.

Stage 4

Eventually the path descends towards an industrial area on the fringe of Cumbernauld. Stay on it as it swings to the right, then when a junction is reached bear right (blue waymarker) onto a main path uphill into the woods. There is another section through beautiful deciduous woodland with another ravine on your right - and some small waterfalls seen far below.

Stage 5

When a t-junction is reached turn sharp right. The route now crosses over a burn and forks - stay on the main left route, though the two options rejoin. The route bends left and then right before reaching a main junction with a 'Glencryan Woodlands' sign for the woods you've just exited. Bear left here onto a long, very straight track - waymarked in red.

Stage 6

Keep straight ahead at the next path junction when a track goes right, then at another when a track goes off left. Eventually at a corner of the woods follow the main track as it bends to the right; still following red markers. Keep left at the next junction; soon the track bends right again. After passing some dense trees there are views out to Fannyside Lochs over to the left. Beyond this, turn right at the next junction.

Stage 7

Keep ahead following the red waymarkers to head back towards the start. Go left and then right to return to the approach road to the car park. The walk passes a number of fields and pens containing Palacerigg's collection of rare livestock breeds, including Boreray and North Ronaldsay sheep. Cross the approach road and turn right along the path beside it to return to the start.

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