This is a continuation of the previous post which celebrated the 'hard to kill' hill at the foot of the Loch Humphrey path in Kilpatrick. I realised from the past two days outings that there are hard to kill hills all over my home range that is greater Glasgow. The last two days saw me climb them by bicycle but I guess you could walk and/or jog them as well. The first one is Hillside Grove just off Gateside road in Barrhead. From the bottom to its summit at Woodneuk Farm is about five hundred metres but what a hill! You can if you want continue all the way up on the farm path to above Ferenese golf course. It's a real opener-upper! And no cars!
The second starts from Milngavie train station and heads straight up to Dogmuck via four 'stages' although it is the last one as you get up to top that is the realhard to kill hill here. I have been known to get off the bike and walk up to the village post box before I remount for the superb downhill down the Old Mugdock Road to Strathblane. Again, the beauty of this road is that there are never any nutters in cars roaring past you. Which isn't the case with some roads that I used to cycle like the one up from Paisley Canal station to the Gleniffer Braes via Stanely Reservoir. Sure, it's a hard to kill hill and the braes and plateau at the top are well worth it but the amount of times I've been overtaken by supreme idiots in their dinky toy souped up cars is too much for me to recommend it as a safe route to ply your invincibility. Nevertheless, these are only a few of the many roads, paths, tracks, up the side of the strath that Glasgow sits in. When many are climbing the walls due to being locked down for Covid (or indeed out of work) maybe you should be exerting your divine right to exercise and breathe (and work naturally), and climb these walls instead.
Hazelwood Road just off Sustrans path at Bridge of Weir. Beautifully steep road, no cars, some lovely big houses (built by slave owners and tobacco merchants no less) and birdsong to accompany as you go. And at the top you have the plateau of emptiness which you can dawdle through to Howwood or Kilbarchan on the other side.
Top, Middle, or Bottom?
Here is Hillside Road (the middle one) and 800yds of stepth that cleanses the bodymind-earth system. Moreover, if you continue all the way to the top you'll cleanse that manky little soul of yours as well. Beautiful, no cars, no people, great views... and it's two minutes from Barrhead train station. What are you waiting for?
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