Strathblane to Croy

This stage of the John Muir Way starts with a 12.5km tarmac cycle path stretch to Kirkintilloch with great views of the Campsie Fells, before a section of canal towpath to Twechar from where the route follows the line of the Roman Antonine Wall climbing to a couple of hill forts with great views to finish near Croy which has a station. Kilsyth is a 1.5km detour where there are all services, or Auchinstarry marina has a hotel and restaurant slightly nearer. Along the way food can be found in Lennoxtown, Milton of Campsie and Kirkintilloch.

Terrain

Surfaced shared cycle path to Kirkintilloch, then canal tow path, can be muddy in places.

Public Transport

Bus to Strathblane, bus at Kilsyth, train at Croy.

Start

Strathblane church on A891. Open start point in Google Maps for directions.

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Walk Description

Stage 1

Start from the Church of Scotland church on the A891 Strathblane Road near the junction with the A81, there is parking here. Take the signed (Lennoxtown) path on the opposite side of the road from the church, soon following the shared cycleway, the Strathkelvin Railway Path. This follows the route of the Campsie Branch of the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway which was later extended and known as the Blane Valley Railway line. The first parts of the line opened in 1848 and carried passengers until 1951 and continued with a limited freight service into the 1960s. The line is now part of the Sustrans national cycle route network.

Stage 2

After heading under a bridge the straight path passes the dramatic volcanic plug of Dunglass; you can still see where basalt was quarried from the formation. The former railway line continues through farming countryside, continue straight ahead where farm tracks cross the path.

Stage 3

To the left the Campsie Fells provide good views, with the road heading diagonally up the escarpment of Cort-ma Law prominent. The Thomas Muir Trail joins this route for a short time just south of Clachan of Campsie. Thomas Muir (no relation to John) was an internationally renowned campaigner for the right for everyone to vote in the late 1700s. Cross the Kirk Burn to reach a road, cross this and dog-leg slightly to the left to rejoin the cycle path running through trees alongside the Glazert Water. Keep straight on passing a recreation field where there is the chance to detour to Lennoxtown and cross the river on a footbridge and then a minor road where there is another chance to head left into Lennoxtown, otherwise continue ahead, crossing the B822 to continue to Milton of Campsie.

Stage 4

After a short tunnel the remains of the station at Milton of Campsie are reached, you can detour to the village which has a small supermarket, pub and hotel, up to the left. Otherwise continue ahead through trees, passing an old stone seat and then the stone arches which once supported a metal bridge carrying the Kelvin Valley Railway over the Campsie Branch which you are walking on. After a short while cross a bridge over the river and continue straight ahead to reach the built up area of Kirkintilloch. Cross the road at the crossing (supermarket and fast food outlet to the right) and rejoin the cycle path which soon reaches Hillhead Roundabout, bear right here if you want to visit the town centre, Kirkintilloch has all facilities. Otherwise cross the road ahead (signed Thomas Muir Trail) and cross the next minor road to follow another road with Campsie View Nursing Home on the right and AMK Self Drive on the left. Follow this past industrial units to reach the Forth and Clyde canal.

Stage 5

Turn left along the towpath. Kirkintilloch was originally settled as a Roman fort and the town later experienced rapid growth once the canal arrived in 1773 and an inland port was established. A railway link to Glasgow was built in the 1820s allowing Kirkintilloch to further develop as an industrial centre for weaving and a major shipbuilding centre for both canal and ocean-going vessels, it is now home to around 20,000 people. Very soon the built up area is left behind and the canal passes through open country. Pass the derelict Shirva Stables to reach Twechar where you leave the towpath to turn right over the canal and head up the hill for a short distance before crossing the road to take a lane immediately after the war memorial (signed Barhill Fort/Antonine Wall).

Stage 6

Follow the track uphill, keeping right where it forks and then turning left at a kissing gate just before the crest of the hill, opposite a circular water tank. Go through the next gate and onto the site of Bar Hill Roman fort. Head diagonally uphill to reach the exposed remains of the fort which stood just south of the Antonine Wall was built around 142 AD and was once home to a garrison of 480 men from all parts of the Roman Empire.

Stage 7

Once you have explored the fort continue ENE from the top of the fort, picking up a grassy path that soon climbs to the top of Castle Hill which is marked by a white trig point and is the site of an even earlier iron-age fort. Pass the sculpture of a roman centurion and the wall display and then take the path on the right (signed John Muir Way), steeply downhill between the blaeberries.

Stage 8

This soon curves slightly right to pick up and runs along the edge of the ditch of the Antonine Wall with thick forestry on your right hand side. The path undulates until you turn right at a stone wall with a sign about the Antonine Wall which was built as a northern replacement to Hadrian's Wall. A little further on join a track and turn left along it.

Stage 9

Keep straight ahead at a gate and again at a later junction. This track soon leads to the B802 near the village of Croy where the stage ends. However if you want to stay the night or visit Kilsyth or Auchinstarry Marina (where there is a hotel) take the signed path on the left which provides an off road 0.5km route to Auchinstarry, the centre of Kilsyth (shops, hotels) is a further 0.5km road walk from the marina. Otherwise continue ahead to the B802 and Croy rail station can be reached by heading south along the road and through the village.

Next stage: Croy to Falkirk

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