Turnlaw to Dechmont Hill via Gilbertfield Castle

Turnlaw to Dechmont Hill via Gilbertfield Castle

Distance : 4.5 Miles

Est Time : 2 hours max

Ground Type : Off track, Fields maybe Wet and Country Roads.

So someone told be about a ruined castle nearby and I thought, how can I fit this into a route. It's right next to Dechmont Hill (not far from Nerston EK).

This is a lovely off track route taking you to 2 Triangulation Points with Dechmont having 360 degree views (the best local views I've ever seen) and the old Castle ruins dated 1607. Although it was never a Castle but more of an L shaped house.

 Your starting point is at Turnlaw Road, right next to the long fairway of Kirkhill Golf Course.

Cross the Golf Course and follow the Treeline on your left. At the end of the treeline hidden next to the fence is Turnlaw Trig Point.
From here you can see all over Glasgow, The Castle is North East in the fields below next to Dechmont Farm and Dechmont Hill.

Follow the fence line to the end of the golf course heading towards the thick wooded trees at the bottom of the fairway, keeping left.

(You will be walking up through those trees at the end of the range on the way up from the Castle)

You will see on the fence line to your left, a Stile. Cross this and follow it down and you will come upon Gilbertfield Castle.

You can Jump the fence and explore bearing in mind it is a ruin and can be dangerous as the structure is not safe.

Retrace your steps back up towards the Golf Course but before you reach the Stile. Jump the fence next to the Woodland to go through that woodland that is at the bottom of the Golf Range. 

This takes you up towards Dechmont Hill and outskirts the Rifle Range.

If the RED flags are flying, I would stick to the Golf Course Side.

Follow the fence line on the left and you will come upon a track that will lead you up to Dechmont Hill with the most amazing 360 degree views of East Kilbride, Hamilton, Motherwell, The Campsies, and Glasgow.

Either retrace your steep back over the Golf Course or continue to head South towards East Kilbride side of the Hill and follow the track as this will take you through Dechmont Farm and onto the Flemington Farm Cottages Road, Just keep turning right  on the country roads and you end up on Turnlaw Road and your starting point

The Spectacle E'e Falls, Strathaven

Details of The Spectacle E'e Falls, Strathaven, Circuit.

 -  Distance: 3 Miles

- Time Est: 1 - 1.5 Hours

- Ground Type: Pathways, Roads, Fields and can be a little muddy.

- Description of Route:

The Spectacle E'e (eye)  Falls is so called because of a fire at the mill. When the miller forbade his daughter from meeting a local youth who consequently set fire to the thatch of the mill using a glass from a pair of spectacles.

I usually park near to the residential houses near Kype View just off the B7086 to the South of Strathaven.

A short walk down here, leaving the town behind you, on your left is a Scottish Right of Way Sign and a Stile. 

Cross the stile into the field and follow the pathway down keeping the treeline on your right, until you reach the Avon Water.

Cross the Bridge and turn right along the riverside footpath. This path can be muddy and will naturally turn left to follow the Kype Water.

Its a lovely path with various underfoot terrain, shallow concrete pillars, root networks and stone.

Ignore the small bridge on your right, just keep going, up the wooden staircase and you will reach the site of the Mill and Waterfall.

You can linger about, read the information boards and explore the Old Mill and at the rear of the Mill  there is a wooden platform from which you can view The amazing Spectacle E'e Falls.

You can either then retrace your steps or, Continue up the stairs at the rear of the Mill. Follow the pathway up, past more information boards about the nature of the area. You will then cross a stile into field, again keep right, it will bring you out to a road.

Turn right pass Tweed Mill and you can usually see a gaggle of geese, and follow the road to Sandford.

Turn right again after the Bridge and you will be following the river back on the far side.

The Asphalt road degrades to a rough farm track before reaching the B7086 again.

 You will pass the Entrance to the Strathaven Brewery on your right. Continue up the B7086 till you reach the beginning.

 Links: https://www.facebook.com/groups/EKWalks/

http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/glasgow/strathaven.shtml

Phillipshill East Kilbride to Carnbooth AA Battery (return via Kittock Water)

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OS Explorer  Map 1:25 000

MAP & STARTING POINT

Your Start and End point is at the top of the Carmunnock by-pass.

There are various places you can park your car to walk to this point.

Any nearby street will do, just be courteous if parking in residential areas.

STAGE 1

Phillipshill to Carnbooth Hotel

You need to walk down the Carmunnock by-pass, there's no path so remember to walk on the grassy verge towards oncoming traffic.
It's the boring part of the walk but I noticed a lot of Buzzards on lamp posts and in the fields either side, so keep your eye peeled.

You will get to a aroundabout with Carmunnock to your right  'Busby Road' and Busby to your left 'Carmunnock Road'.

We are going straight on for a few yards for the Carnbooth House Hotel .

STAGE 2

Carnbooth Hotel to AA Battery

Stile on Carnbooth Hotel Drive

Walk into the driveway of the Carnbooth Hotel and look to your right.

You should see a field and a stile to the left of the gate.

Cross this and follow the treeline to your left.

(Down the Field)

Field view before decent.

You will come to on opened gateway  and will need to head down the field to the bottom where, on the right hand side of the field there is another Stile.

There are sometimes Highland Cows in the field that you need to cross so just take a wide berth from them, they'll run away.

Bottom of Field

(Across the Burn)

Crossing the Burn

Once over the Stile at the bottom of the field you need to cross a wee burn.
follow the trail to the right and you will reach another Stile which takes you over a field.

Cut straight up the field as at the other end next to the gate is, yes you guessed, another stile.

AA Battery Site.

Google view of Carnbooth AA Battery Site 2016.

You will be on a road, turn left and a few yards there is an entrance to the AA Battery Site.

Part of the Clyde Defences. The Carnbooth battery is significant in that it is one of a small number of WW2 heavy anti-aircraft batteries that were converted for use during the Cold War.

Explore at your own leisure.

STAGE 3

AA Battery to Kittoch Bridge

Route down to White Cart Water

Retrace you steps back towards the Carnbooth House Hotel and up the Carmunnock by-pass until you reach the around about.

You will be heading towards Busby on the Carmunnock Road. (Right of your return)

You will follow the winding road down towards Kittoch Bridge (dated 1881) and can see the White Cart Water and on the left the way you want to head back to Phillipshill.

To get down to the water you must first continue to go up the road till you reach the houses and on your left the entrance to the Scottish Water Flood Prevention.

Jump the fence and head down the field either towards the Bridge, so you can see it, or on top of the Flood Prevention Area.

View from the top of Flood Prevention Gates

STAGE 4

Kittoch Bridge to Phillipshill

You are now off track and following the White Cart Water

All you have to do is follow the Water and its not all that far.

You will go under the overhead pipe and go into a wooded area. again just keep the Kittoch Water on your left.

You will need to negotiate a fence and a few trees and make you way towards Castle Hill.

Castle Hill

The Field you are in is now directly below the E Kilbride Road. You can either walk up the hill back into the main road or keep following the water and the end of the treeline and walk up to South Road as the next field along belongs to 'The Peel' Private Home.

East Kilbride  Road

Return along the East Kilbride Road and back to your starting point.