Photographs, route description and map of a circular walk starting and finishing in the village of Balfron, along the Endrick Water, Station Road and Public Footpaths, with views of the Campsie Fells, Kilpatrick and Fintry Hills

This walk of about six miles and three hours duration is in and around Balfron.
It is a circular walk and starts from the car park beside the Co-operative building at the top of Buchanan Street in Balfron.
The view of the hills ahead is impressive as the walk turns right and heads to the bottom of the hill at Dunmore Street and then onto the bowling club.
The walk continues along Buchanan Street and immediately opposite the bowling green is a noteworthy private residence, Auchendarroch, where the aviation pioneers Frank and Harold Barnwell spent their youth. It then passes the sewage works on the left where Robert Dunmore’s Ballindalloch Cotton Mill once dominated life in Balfron and still going ahead, look out for the name on the right, Printers Row, the home of the cotton printworkers.
The walk leaves the road before the next house, Endrick Cottage, the birthplace of the renowned architect, Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson, on to initially a car driveway to the house and then a path which goes round the bottom of the garden and along the side of the Endrick Water.
At the end of the path, it climbs a set of steps, turns left to cross Endrick Bridge and then crosses the road to follow the river bank on the other side. Look out for kingﬁshers and otters which have been spotted on this lovely stretch of the Endrick which sweeps round to a small metal bridge over a burn. If it is not possible to cross the metal bridge and continue along the Endrick river bank to the next road bridge, the walk can follow the burn at the edge of the ﬁeld and take an alternative route.
Look out for a narrow path on the right after the bend and climb up a short bank to continue round the right hand side of another ﬁeld and exit on to the A875. lt is a slightly longer route, but has the advantage that, after turning right at the road for a short distance, it enters Jenny Gunn’s Loan, a narrow car track with lovely open views of ﬁelds and hills.
It then turns right on to a minor road, passes the entrance to Carbeth Estate and meets the river bank path to cross the road bridge and the Loch Katrine pipe line.
Although out in the country surrounded by beautiful farmland, beware of traffic on this road as the walk proceeds past Ballochruin Farm on the right with its unusual ﬁeld of alpacas.
It then passes North Ballochruin Farm on the left and at the t-junction ( Station Road ) turns left to reach Meikle Camoquhill Farm.
Follow the sign on the right in front of the farm, 'Public Path Balfron' and turn right onto the minor road to pass Wester Camoquhill Farm on the left.
At the next sign, ‘Public Path Balfron 3/4’, the walk leaves the tarmac on to a grass track and passes through a couple of gates as it winds its way round the edge of a small wood. Beware of grouse shooting in this area,
It then passes Little Camoquhill and the industrial depot on a tarmac surface and after the cottage takes the public path on the right which crosses a footbridge through a small wood to Station Road.
Turning left the walk enters Balfron village, passes some outlying houses before reaching The Clachan and the junction with the A875.
Take in the historical features and buildings in this area, such as the Clachan 0ak, war-memorial and parish church and then return to Buchanan Street and back to the car park.

Bearsden & District

Balfron Circuit (2)

Balfron Walk Gallery :: Balfron Gallery

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