ALL PHOTOS CLICK FULL SCREEN
As a change from west coast hills Alan and I decided to head east this time. Kilsyth to be precise, where Auchinstarry Quarry resides.( See photo above) This brought back loads of memories for me as it was a favourite day trip rock climbing venue. Not as midge infested as Craigmore, ( a small crag to the north of Glasgow), very scenic, and with dozens of good routes up the cliffs here at all grades. Being higher it can also feel more exposed with a mountain scale to some of the climbs.
Red Lead 27 metres at Very Severe VS and White Slab 27 metres at Hard Severe HS, (both seen above on the blank looking wall directly above right side of left hand bench) were club favourites along with Walk on the Wild Side HVS. Not only was it a scenic and fairly adventurous place to climb with a scramble down the cliff to reach the 20 to 30 metre high climbs ( 60 to 100 feet high) then a shoreline traverse above deep water... it was also a place where you could occasionally look down and see 2 to 3 foot long pike gliding beneath your climbing shoes when balanced on a thin ledge halfway up the routes. Unique in that respect.
This black smooth slab looks like Walk on the Wild Side HVS although its 25 to 30 years since I last climbed here. A different person entirely to the sad old duffer gazing thoughtfully at it just now. Out of curiosity I looked at the current online UK guide and many of the routes are still the same grade, some have gone but new ones have appeared to take their place from Diff to E6. HVS/E1 was my upper limit here though.
See link below with climbing photo gallery and grade list.
https://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/crags/auchinstarry_quarry-226/
Our purpose this time though was just to park here and walk up the nearby Croy Hill. I do not remember this replica wooden fort for children to play on when we used to climb here. A more modern addition, though a good one.
From the car park, seen here with the promontory cliffs, and Auchinstarry canal basin you can either walk along the north bank of the Forth and Clyde Canal or take a path through woods on the edge of Kilsyth to reach the same bridge near Shawend.
Auchinstarry canal basin/ marina and the wooded slopes of Croy Hill. This is one path, along the canal.
A view of the other path from Croy hill which follows a minor road, seen here at the first white houses, to cross the same canal bridge. From the bridge various paths lead up through woods onto Croy Hill. The eastern end of the Campsie Fells seen above the town of Kilsyth here. See above.
Horses below part of Croy Hill. Even though it's pleasantly wooded good views along this long ridge-line and several grassy meadows make it an enjoyable and effortless ascent.
The minor road with the Campsie Fells behind.
This sculpture was not here either. Most English folk, unless they have a good interest in history, only think of Hadrian's Wall stretching across North Britain from sea to sea but the lesser known Antonine Wall, running across Central Belt Scotland did the same job for a single generation until it was abandoned. The furthest flung northern frontier of the Roman Army. An extra ditch, turf and wooden barrier and fort network against the constantly raiding barbarian tribes to the north. The history of both walls re-imaged for Game of Thrones and various films like King Arthur (2004 Clive Owen) and The Eagle. (2011) Unlike the well preserved Hadrian's Wall, built of stone blocks, the ditch and turf layout of the Antonine Wall has vanished in many places altogether but on the nearby Bar Hill and in Falkirk's Callendar Park you can still see evidence of its existence. This head is at the east side of Croy Hill.
Croy Hill and Bar Hill. Pleasantly wooded rolling countryside. The long distance John Muir Way, 210km 130 miles 10 to 12 day hike runs through here from Dunbar to Helensburgh, across Central Belt Scotland from coast to coast. Having done most of it on day outings decades ago before it even existed as a long distance route I would recommend it. Beautiful scenery throughout. Either in one go or on day trips. No high mountains to climb here but plenty of scenic interest and local history.
The descent off Croy Hill. Typical Central Belt scenery on the John Muir Way.
We also had great views over Kilsyth, the full Auchinstarry range of climbing cliffs laid bare and the canal boat basin.
Signpost near Croy village.
We could have continued on to do Bar Hill but we wanted to avoid the notorious rush hour slow crawl along the M8 motorway back so we had a quick visit to Peel Park in Kirkintilloch instead. Never been though Alan knew his way around here.
A small park on a small hill but a good one. Roman fort influence again.
Peel Park. Postage stamp size. Not much bigger than this shown here although plenty of local walks, linked to this town run through it.
An enjoyable day out with good company. Three to four hour walk. With sky high energy bills I'm not looking forward to the winter months of darkness, dampness and cold mornings very much. This was probably the last warm day of T- shirt hedonism for us before the big chill of winter and shorter daylight hours sets in. Dark here by 7:00pm now. People that love winter must be rich enough to laugh at big heating bills dropping through their door. On the plus side bed bugs hate cold houses... so I'm OK. Any bugs better have four season sleeping bags to crawl into indoors cos that's where I will be. Wah! Missing pleasant summer days already!
