Barrhead to Lochwinnoch via Cuff Hill, Lochlands Hill, & Davies O' the Mill

The greater Glasgow valley is peppered with the relics of saints, with clues as to their origins, placenames that recall their settlings and passings. Indeed, one might go so far as to say that the whole of the midland valley if not further afield is a hommage to the lives of saints who have lived and had their being in this verdant fertile land. There is Kentigern of course (Mungo), the patron saint of Glasgow, but there is also a whole host of others: Blane, Machan, Bride, Barchan, Winnoch, Ninian, Innan et al. Too many in fact to mention. But that's another story. The bottom line here is that we are in saintly terrain, and as I cycle and walk these shires I get to thinking that most parts of it have not changed since the times of these halo-wearing preachers.

Anyway, the hagiography aside, this is a beautiful route up from Barrhead onto the Fereneze plateau and beyond to the empty little lanes of Barcraigs and Threepwood. It's not the first time I have documented this route, but it is the first time I have seen the Logan Stone and been to the trig point atop Lochlands Hill. And of course the whole point of this journey, really, was to see Dugald Semple's old farmhouse Davies O' the Mill.

Neilston Pad (or not)

A misty morning indeed in East Renfrewshire

Broadfield Hill (left) and Walls Hill (right) from the south.

Barcraigs Reservoir. Lochlands Hill is in the distance to the left of the wooded hill (Brownmuir Plantation)

Road relic. A fox's tail in the middle of a quiet country lane.

The 'rocking stone' on the top of Cuff Hill in the centre of a small circle of trees.

This part of the world is apparently endowed with a geology that lends itself towards the formation of rocking stones. There are several rocking stones, or stones that used to rock at one time, in Ayrshire (the Ogrestone near Dunlop, and not too far from here, the Clochoderick Stone near Howwood). This particular stone atop Cuff Hill no longer rocks due to people digging beneath to ascertain its fulcrum.

Looking north from Cuff Hill over Kirkleegreen reservoir.

The top of Lochlands Hill looking towards Lochwinnoch (just down behind the cow) and Mistylaw on far left of horizon.

The idyllic locale of Mill o' Beith (next door to Davies O' the Mill) complete with waterfall.

The derelict farmhouse of the late Dugald Semple and his wife Cathie, Davies O' the Mill.