Mealybrae

Distance 5 miles (8.5 km)

To Mealybrae and past the trig point, the walk goes through forestry (some of which is being felled and replanted) on rough terrain. It can be started from Lennoxtown Memorial Hall (encountering steep walk) or by driving up to the forestry parking (by Newlands) and starting the walk from there. Superb views.

START from Memorial Hall, TR into Station Road. Continue SO up Station Road and South Brae, following road up round past Muirhead Farm and on to forestry car park at Newlands.

1. Take forestry road straight ahead and follow it downhill until it splits.
2. TL and follow this track, crossing ford and then stile across path. Continue along track and go through gate, enjoying wide-reaching views of the Clyde Valley.
3. Follow rough track SO down Mealybrae until you reach tarred road leading to Tower Road.
4. TR along Tower Road and walk along road as far as Easter Blairskaith Farm.
5. TR. At farm take L fork, through wooden gate and follow old road which passes Blairskaith Quarry and reaches junction with another track.
6. TR along track.
7. TL through gate (forestry signpost) and follow path through fields, uphill and around to R. There is a lot for children to see here, including pheasants, sheep and ponies. Blairskaith Muir on L contains remains of World War II anti-aircraft batteries. Notice something unusual about this path – at some point it has been covered in Astroturf!
8. TL over stile to visit trig point with wonderful views all around, including N as far as Loch Lomond on a clear day. Otherwise, to continue route, keep SO along path to return to Newlands and forestry car park. If you walked up from Lennoxtown, retrace route past Muirhead Farm, down South Brae and Station Road to Memorial Hall.