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One walk we did in the late Autumn of 2023 that I've only got around to posting now. A lovely day and a walk in Renfrewshire I hadn't done before which is an unusual event for me. Alan's Dad showed us this walk which runs round the mostly decommissioned Bishopton Royal Ordnance site. Being MOD property there's a massive fine for anyone caught on the wrong side of the fence but a pleasant network of farm tracks, grass paths and minor roads gives an enjoyable walk of a few hours duration.
The perimeter fence and MOD property is very obvious, seen here, above. The path more or less follows lanes and farm tracks through rural land from Bishopton then skirts the new housing estate of Dargavel on what used to be MOD property.
This is the new housing estate here and the path skirts the western edge of it.
When I was doing cycle rides from my house around 10 to 20 years ago I used to cross the Erskine Bridge on my bike then circumnavigate the Bishopton Royal Ordnance Estate via the minor and very quiet Reilly Road which followed the perimeter fence most of the way. The site was heavily wooded then and being inside the fence and closed to the public wildlife like foxes and buzzards could be glimpsed inside occasionally. That was also a pleasant circuit...one of several in the area I used to do. It now looks as if its been stripped of trees and maybe at some point they will build further houses here. At the moment it's still out of bounds.
This lane starts from near Bishopton Train Station, skirts the edge of Dargavel owner occupied housing then links up with farm tracks on the public access side of the perimeter fence. A new walk for me but not for Alan and his Dad.
Very pleasant countryside around here.
And distance views are pretty good as well.
Looking across towards the Kilpatrick Hills from the farm track.
Renfrewshire is not an area lacking in trees so there's still plenty left in the district as you can see here.
Further grass tracks lead round to Reilly Road.
Unusual boxing glove fungus growing out of a tree.
Other track leading up to the 'monkey house' and another minor road which can be turned into a circular walk back to Bishopton.
Nice autumn colours throughout this walk.
After coming out onto Reilly Road we had a choice. Either walk along Reilly Road then return via the traffic busy Houston Road B790 which we didn't fancy much as it was a long way on pavements with frequent cars shooting past or return more or less the same way. So that's what we did. No hardship given the day and good scenery with different views all the way back.
We then passed through Bishopton again, seen here, above, and walked up a slight hill ( where this photo was taken from) to view the Bishopton Gun. Bishopton Royal Ordnance was built in the 1930s and at its peak employed 20,000 people. The gun commemorates that. It was a massive site. Link here.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ROF_Bishopton
The gun.
Gun info.
A good walk and a very unexpected one. Bishopton and the Kilpatrick Hills.
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10 comments:
Alll new to me too!
My grandfather worked at the ROF Factory near Leyland in Lancashire. Wonder why they're hanging onto that property so long up there though when it's been decommissioned.
The farm lane walking looks nice. And I've never seen anything like that fungus before!
Hi Anabel. on a good day it's a walk I think you would like. I enjoyed it anyway. Parking available in Bishopton. See car photo.
Hi Carol, Snap. My uncle worked in Bishopton Royal Ordnance for a while which was part of my interest in it. And my Dad worked in the nearby Linwood Car Factory for many years when I was growing up. So I do have a family connection to Renfrewshire.
Oh my, what a lovely walk. So pretty and green. That boxing glove fungus is aptly named!
Hi Kay, It's probably a deformed bracket fungus of some kind as I just named it that to fit how it looks. Not its proper title.
Hello! We are hoping to try this walk but we couldn't find the start point. Do you have any pointers? Thanks!
Hi Anon. The start is Bishopton. In the 4th last photo it shows a large car park, or you could street park in a quiet back street in Bishopton then a lane from there skirts the north side of Dargavel new housing estate. (The first few photos) This is the start. If you haven't got it a good buy is the OS Landranger Sheet 64 map of Glasgow and OS Landranger sheet 63 Firth of Clyde.Both paper maps. If you have a car or even public transport ( Bishopton train station) both these maps have dozens of walks on them and are the ones I've used the most for the last few years of blog posts. These hand held paper maps. once unfolded, show large areas and unlike maps on a phone on a small screen showing a tiny area I often pick future walks just by looking at them fully spread out. Most of the walks over the past year(s) 2024/2023 have been planned from just looking at them.( the paper maps do have mobile download on them but I just use them unfolded as other walks often occur to me just looking at them spread out in the house so a good lifelong investment if you enjoy walking.) Hope this helps. Best wishes. Bob.
That's really helpful thank you! I'll get the OS maps as well!
To Anon. If you get the OS maps It's the white road on it Where the word Bishopton and Dargavel are Marked returning via Gatehead and the yellow minor road. To be honest though The Overtoun House Gorge walk and Lang Craig recent posts... or any other of my walk posts are more enjoyable.
The Dargavel walk was mainly enjoyable as it was nice autumn colours and was new to me.
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