The Ritual Hills: Epic Dechmont

The train from Maxwell Park to Newton takes 20 minutes. From Newton, Dechmont Hill is all you can see. Another half hour on the bike through quiet backroads and you're there, wondering how on earth such a small hill can reveal such an enormous panorama...

To be honest, I cannot think of many ritual hills that are so close and so accessible, yet so permanently empty and remote. In spite of passing through Dechmont Farm to get to the hill (there's a crumbling path all the way up), I have never seen any human beings here. There is also, at the top of the hill, hidden away in some trees, a small cottage as well. But again, no sign of life. Which suits me just fine. The other day, whilst heading up the Loch Humphrey path to the Kilpatrick Braes I was rather alarmed to see a tour bus ejaculating geriatrics with all the latest Norse walking gear and weather-proof clobber. This is the result of celebrating place: it invariably becomes overrun and spoiled. I am all for the odd impromptu conversation with strangers but when you get groups like this, there are no strangers any more, just a herd mentality that has little strangeness about it at all. This is why I love Dechmont so; because it appears to be impenetrable. No-one really knows about it; no-one really cares about it; and it is sufficiently removed from the train station to discourage walkers. And yet...!

The view over Glasgow from Dechmont Hill. In the lower left, you can see the remains of Gilbertfield Castle, and Gilbertfield Farm. This whole area is a wonderful buffer zone between Cambuslang and East Kilbride, and its spaces like this, whilst probably under-appreciated by most that are the life-blood of the city.

There are several of these hills around Glasgow, which I like to call 'Ritual Hills' for their capacity to restore the spirit after a long and dark winter. I make pilgrimages to them every year, and rejoice every time I do so. From their humble summits I encompass the valley, embrace her, after a short period of absence. I gaze upon the valley and all creatures within her as a single systemic organism. And I rejoice in the clarity I receive in return, the seering serenity that enters from having resided here if only for a few minutes.

Dechmont, then, is just on the edge of Glasgow City proper. And the edge of Glasgow, being a valley, is far more revealing than its centre.

This time, I decided to return via Cambuslang and the River Clyde cycle path instead of round the back of Dechmont and into Carmunnock and Castlemilk.

Another spectacular February day. I cannot recall any February being this sunny.... ever! And the path here is wonderful taking us all the way into the city, and for me, all the way home to Cessnock without ever seeing a car.

Coming into Glasgow Green, the sky still undecided. Showers are on their way, but not before I make it home in one piece and bone dry!

Left the house at 10.20am. Was back for 2.10pm. And all this without ever rushing.