This route takes off from the oldest train station in Glasgow, Pollokshaws West, on the edge of Pollok Country Park. It's a lovely cycle from the city centre if you decide to do it like that, over Bell's Bridge or the Arc Bridge, and following the sustrans cycle route across Cessnock and Dumbreck into Pollok Country Park. Furthermore, the train station has recently been refurbished as a community cycle resource centre, and so it seems particularly apt to start one's journey by train and follow through with the bicycle.
Entering the park at the north end, follow the road round to Pollok House and onto the path that runs alongside the White Cart Water. This will spit you out virtually at the door to the train station where you can get the 35mins. past the hour train to Barrhead and change for the connecting train on to Kilmarnock getting off at Stewarton. Just like the Neilston line, this Barrhead line has sweeping views to the north as it approaches its terminus. The rolling stock on these southern lines also have ample provision for bicycles compared to their northern line counterparts. Yet, this never seems to be a problem when I go out since (a) There doesn't appear to be many cycle/train users about, and (b) Mid-morning, like the middle of the night, always appears to be ghostly empty (which is what I love about Glasgow!!).
Early July, mid-morning, a deserted railway platform, waiting for the train to Barrhead.
Having jumped the 11:35 at Pollokshaws West, by midday I am in Stewarton, and beginning the uphill climb into the hills to its north. Not far along the Old Glasgow Road there is a road to the left that leads up to Fullwood and Gabroc Hill. To the west, there are some interesting little villages, like Dunlop, Lugton, and Uplawmoor, but we shall leave these for another day.
This particular backroad, at points with alleys of oak and alder sheltering us from the summer sun (which this year, 2014, is hotter than I've ever felt it!), is a joy to cycle. The only people I met were two other cyclists, a pair of horseriders, the postman, and a few fishermen at Lochend, Harlelaw and Snypes dams. Beautiful!
Stewarton to Harelaw Dam via Gabroc Hill.
Harelaw Dam to Pollok Country Park.
The amazingly quiet 'leisure lanes' of East Ayrshire!
A leafy lane near Fullwood.
The summit of Lochend looking north to the city and hills beyond, with Neilston Pad on the left.
The backroad just beside the entrance to Snypes Dam. (Compare this photo with the blog title photo taken in 2006).
The 'craigie' of Duncarnock, a pre-Christian hill-fort with awesome views north over Glasgow and the Midland Valley.
The road down from Snypes Dam is the title photo for this blog. The country roads here are empty save for the odd tractor. At some point a couple of kilometres down the road there is an entrance to a field (easily missed) which you have to cross to get to the walkway around Balgray Reservoir. The route is marked on the above map. The way follows around the reservoir, crosses the main road and heads down to Waulkmill Reservoir and beneath the rail viaduct for the Neilston line. Continue north down through the wonderful Waulkmill Glen and out into Darnley Mill path. A kilometre or so from here we meet the main road and a great oak tree on the corner. Continue straight on towards Priesthill. Now, here, you could jump the train at Priesthill Station back into the city or get off a few stops down the track at Pollokshaws West for the entrance to Pollok Country Park. I say this because the next part with the bike can be a bit tricky.
On the road opposite Kennishead station I always cut through Cowglen golf course. It can be a bit hairy since there is no pavement on the left side of the road and sometimes cars wonder what on earth you are doing getting off the bike and heading into the bushes. From
here, there is a right of way trail through the course down to the
clubhouse where you come out onto the main road. Head straight across it and
through (or over since it's invariably locked) the gate into Pollok Golf Course. Follow the path
straight on (avoiding errant golfballs and observing golf etiquette!!) until it veers off to the right into Pollok Country Park.
Pass Pollok House, and just follow the now marked Route 76 to Bell's
Bridge. This little section does involve lifting your bike over a ten foot fence and wading through a hundred metres or so of dense undergrowth, so it isn't for the lighthearted, but it will put hairs on your chest.
Overall, whether you take the train, the main road, or go full commando, it's a fantastically invigorating cycle with plenty of significant landmarks along the way. There is also, as you discover from actually doing it, this airy green corridor still penetrating the city from the breezy leafy hinterlands. Escape routes in a city are essential, and ones like this, in exiting from the city, are themselves not so much escapes as entrances into a whole other world.
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