Brownside Braes. Paisley and Glasgow's Arthur's Seat. The Balcony Trail Walk.

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This is Alan and myself driving up to the 'car park in the sky' above Paisley on the B775 which leads up to Gleniffer Braes public park. I read recently that the five best views of Scottish cities according to one popular newspaper was No 1:- Edinburgh from Arthur's Seat... No 2... Glasgow from Cathkin Braes...Stop!!!... at which point I was both happy and outraged. Happy because I knew it wasn't true yet would see an increase of footfall to the area mentioned...thus keeping better places quiet.... and outraged as I've always known the best places to view Glasgow from and Cathkin Braes ( although perfectly OK) ain't it. I know because I've spent five decades ( as Scotland's Finest Living Central Belt Landscape Photographer ... hey... it worked for Muhammad Ali calling himself The Greatest, didn't it?) exploring all the Central Belt's high points multiple times in every season.

 By coincidence I did a walk on the Cathkin Braes just recently with Alan and it had none of the variety of the Gleniffer Braes/ Brownside Braes which is one of Scotland's best balcony trails running from Paisley over to Barrhead. Highland Cattle herd, above.

 

In my humble opinion Cathkin Braes viewpoint is too distant from the city centre, even with a zoom, to capture it properly... also it's a plain direct view of the city, not its best angle at all. University of Glasgow, middle; Moss heights, white line of hi rise;  Springburn hi Rise, top middle. The view is clearly better from Brownside Braes. No contest. No dopamine effect.

Also Gleniffer Braes sits close to Glasgow Airport. With flights landing ...

 

And also taking off... incidentally all my blog photos are sized for an 18 inch by 10 inch screen so viewing them on a smart phone is a complete waste of time.

 

You are even closer to Paisley, one of Scotland's largest towns so that's also a bonus for a God's eye view of Scottish urban areas. So much so we felt like human drones...launched into the air to hang above individual buildings.... or glide about slowly like ancient relics/citizens of Mount Olympus.... two vast heads....staring down at frail humanity living below.  Never had that feeling once on Cathkin Braes. The city there is too far away... wrong angle.

 

 Golfers. Leverndale Tower view. Also Crookston Castle, (middle right in woods) and Glasgow Tower ( the thin needle above C.C.)

 

 

Water is another big part of any Brownside Braes walk. Glenburn Reservoir here. None to speak of on Cathkin Braes. Mere puddles pissed by pygmies.

 Looking across water close up... or looking down. Paisley again here.

We both thoroughly enjoyed this walk as it's long enough, at a few hours duration, to get the real dopamine effect flowing freely from exercise yet it's mostly flat or gently rolling on this upland plateau. And large enough an area, even after dozens of visits... to get lost in, if only for 20 mins or so.

 

Our balcony trail by the way... the nearest hill top views Glasgow has to match/ compete with Arthur's Seat... runs from Gleniffer Braes Country Park across this upland plateau in the direction of Barrhead passing Glenburn Reservoir on its southern edge then cuts across to spot height 219 ( OS landranger Map Glasgow Sheet 64) then Thornliemuir trig high point at 237metres or 777 feet. On good paths that on this occasion keep to the high ground edge of the escarpment rather than descending down into the gorge via the Tannahill way

 

This is the spot height view.

 

And a hazy winter sun view of Glasgow. Pastel Perfection. Also from this viewpoint you get an idea of the sheer size of the urban area involved. Glasgow and the surrounding satellite towns like Paisley, Clydebank, Hamilton, Airdie, and Motherwell. A large chunk of Scotland's population in one go. Suburban sprawl... As far as the eye can see fading into the distance in both directions. No wonder this slab of concrete creates its own micro climate as I've observed many times. Wall to wall sunny blue skies under this valley bowl all day long yet grey skies or rain on the surrounding hills and braes on that same day.

Pollok Park and House.

And the edge of the Scottish Highlands...far less sunny blue sky days up here but it does happen... just not that often.

And Cathkin Braes is missing Highland cattle.

Calf taking a drink. Girl interrupted perhaps.

And not just a few token cows...here and there... but a massive herd. This was the first day this winter it really felt like spring. Warm, sunny... daffodils, snowdrops and crocus all out in one go lower down in the suburban gardens. The first early trees starting to bud and turn green.

So much variety... plus the city views as well The path up via Barrhead with what looks like the Scotstoun Hi Rise Flats ... and maybe Bearsden's Schaw Court...  top middle.

The City of Glasgow. Balcony Trail View.

Dykebar Hospital in foreground. Sandstone buildings.

Plenty of paths up here, and a golf course...you can arrive and depart...by car.. or bus... or train. By public transport you also have the option for one way walks with Barrhead to Paisley over the hills a grand day out.

Abbey Mills and Paisley View.

 

A view of Silverburn Shopping Centre and Nitshill's white tower block surrounded by the extensive woodlands of Pollok, The Hydro and Glasgow's City centre district. Bellahouston Hi Rise twin flats in front in salmon colours. Both middle of photo.

 

Even local views make a big impact. South Nitshill, Darnley and Arden here. 27 years of memories growing up in this district. What looks like Parkhouse Road on far right of photo.

 

And a joy to walk on top of this upland plateau, usually with views over the escarpment edge on a cracking spring day that holds so many wonders.
 

 

Looking across at my childhood home. Nitshill. Aw. So much open countryside to play in and explore. So many different options in life.... strange paths to visit. 

I think, looking back at my teenage years, I was not always completely sane. Who is at that age with hormones kicking in?

Yes. My name is written down in  tiny silver letters and I live in Oz.

And I always have done.... as I could easily walk every summer to reach Glasgow's Finest Balcony Trail from my old house. As seen here. above. Brownside Braes view in June. Buttercup heaven.

 

 

... and May/June spells Magic... in any language.

 

 Yes..... I see fed people....

This montage sums up those tricky teenage years very well :) Ticks every box.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGMWNP8tDmw