Finally, after years thinking about it, I got to Myres Hill within
Whitelee Windfarm. I don't know why I had avoided it until now, because
it is quite easy to get to, especially if you catapult yourself with the
train up to Thorntonhall. In the map opposite, it's the turquoise lassoo coming up from Thorntonhall, and the turquoise line threading back down through the city to Cessnock. (I trained it from Pollokshaws West to Thorntonhall). Once past Eaglesham, the space begins. After Carrot Farm, I saw no-one until Whiteless Visitor Centre some several miles away. It is desolate up here, but this sort of desolation inspires me. Granted, the felled trees make some of this place look like a mass grave (it's mostly Forestry Commission plantation), as does the sinister sound from those turbines, but the space itself is worth it. And on a clear day, the views too.
The veiled horizon just out of Thorntonhall station approaching Eaglesham.
Carry straight through Eaglesham on the way there. On the way back you will emerge (hopefully) from Polnoon Avenue just there on the right after the pelican crossing.
Straight on here. Do not go left or you'll end up in Strathaven!
Take the right fork here towards Carrot Farm.
Bleak.... but somehow beautiful.
From Myres Hill, looking down on a sliver of the city. From just below Myres Hill there are a few houses which have put signs up saying no through road (through their little plot). This is another example of residents not offering an alternative right of way whilst blocking up an existing one. This is not only illegal, but silly. Ignore the signs of dogs and the like and stroll through their little patch (it's only a couple of hundred metres). If anyone says anything about it being 'private land' remind them of the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, suggest that they read it online or download a copy. They have a responsibility to know the law of the land, and to behave accordingly. I mentioned this to the girl at the Whitelee Visitor Centre and she told me the residents have been spoken to about this. So there's no excuse. Anyway, chances are you won't see anyone about.
Wind power!
It is a bit of labyrinth so take care not to get lost. The latest OS map has all the access roads and turbines marked and there is another map you can get from the Visitor Centre and which I have included here as a PDF link. The turbine numbers are marked and you can use them to guide you.
Looking north over Loch Goin.
Dunwan Hill from the back...
The road back down from Whitelee Visitor Centre is great! It has a dedicated cycle lane and is all downhill, all the way back down to the city. This is just approaching Eaglesham.
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