Le Cirque De La Knightswood. Anniesland.

                                                ALL PHOTOS CLICK FULL SCREEN.

This is a walk that does not appear in many, if any, guide books but it is a five star green walk in the north west of Glasgow that is well worth doing, especially if you are unfamiliar with the area and the districts you will travel through.  The title is a nod to the Cirque de la Solitude on the GR20 in Corsica, which I have done decades ago. This is a famous high level mountain bowl on that Corsican backpacking route and it was looking across 'The Knightswood Alps' from one hill top towards the other, (across the rim of the bowl in other words) that I thought of it as a cirque... and a spectacular balcony trail. Which it is.

And you have fantastic free standing monoliths to gaze at every bit as interesting as mountain pinnacles and spires... in this case a large collection of high rise towers.... and magnificent woodland in the valleys...and alpine meadows covered in flowers. Takes 2 to 4 hours to do the walk at an easy pace.

You can either start it from Anniesland Cross (train or bus to this point) or park car on Archerhill Road near Knightswood Park pond. Walking from Anniesland Cross starts at Bearsden Road then heads up Glencoe Street. At the right angle turn on Glencoe Street you will find this opening to a tarmac path, seen above,...and below. Anniesland Tower in distance. A Cat A listed hi rise. Only one in Scotland. So a good start point.... for the 4 hour walk.

This is the opening on Glencoe Street and you go forward then turn right here. This tarmac pleasant green path takes you between various districts then crosses Fulton Street and past the Hut and Temple Road Recreation Ground then up Trinley Road and Trinley Brae. This is the 4 hour walk as it now links in with the 2 hour walk,  returning to Anniesland Cross either via the Forth and Clyde Canal on foot.... or bus or train... after completing the circle walk though. If parking at Knightwood Park Pond ( free parking beside the pond or in adjacent quiet streets.) this 2 hour walk is an easier circular one. To start...... explore north through Knightswood Park to reach Great Western Road. Cross that to the old red brick school on Blairdardie Road where you will find Trinley Brae, a wildflower meadow on a hillside.

A flight of stairs climbs this hill directly but trend right instead either up a tarmac diagonal path with lighting poles, seen here, or a grass one, as here, to reach the start of Mace Road. ( Many of the Knightswood street names have a medieval theme to them. Reputedly Templar Knights lived here in the past. 12th century or thereabouts.  Hence Knights Wood.)

From the start of Mace Road a high level balcony trail, seen here,  leads across Trinley Brae towards Rotherwood Avenue and Tower Hill. 

Views across Glasgow and Paisley are usually excellent. This is the Yoker /Renfrew Swing Bridge as seen from Trinley Brae. The 4 white poles marking the route of the River Clyde.

Knightswood Park and Lincoln Avenue Hi Rise Flats from Trinley Brae.

Having traversed Trinley Brae from Mace Road to Rotherwood Avenue you will find the Forth and Clyde Canal below so follow that down through Blairdardie towards Clydebank. Just watch out for bikes here coming up silently behind you as this section is popular with cyclists.

All this walk so far has been very lush and green using sylvan corridors, meadows, park lands and hillsides so if that's not the case you have gone wrong somewhere. Forth and Clyde canal path here in photo running beside Blairdardie. At Kelso Street you leave the canal altogether and head for Dyke Road where you pick up the wee park beside Clarion Road. This green strip runs along the north edge of Knightswood Golf Course.

This is the 'wee park' seen here above which leads you back to Knightswood Park pond. Other optional variations on this walk include a circuit of Knightswood Golf Course via Loanfoot Avenue and Lincoln Avenue then up through the high rise flats there to reach Pikeman Road.

This is Knightswood golf course from Loanfoot Avenue. A quiet and pleasant minor road.

The Pikeman Road stairs. This is the other half of the Cirque...the opposite hillside.

 Which looks across at Trinley Brae, seen here in the distance. It is an easy route to follow and an enjoyable one, with great views, which is why I've added street names to pin it down. From here you walk along Pikeman Road to Knightswood Cross then up Knightswood Road past the local shops there to reach Trinley Brae. Basically a circle walk with the straight walk from Anniesland added on as an option. Hence 2 or 4 hours at an easy pace. With a leisurely lunch stop of course. Might as well enjoy the experience.

I'll let the rest of the photos from this walk speak for themselves. Covid memorial bench. Pikeman Road.

The view from that bench looking north.

Sweet Mock Orange. An aromatic profusion of white petals found along the canal.

Blairdardie from Trinley Brae.

Erigeron. Sea Breeze. Colourful daisies usually found beside the coast or planted in rock gardens.

Vanessa Cardui or Painted Lady butterfly.

A sweet treat for me halfway round. Local shops at Knightswood Cross. Yum yum. Loved these since 14 years old. Still do.

The BMX Centre sits right beside Knightswood Park pond and in June/ July it is a mass of clover, busy bees, and butterflies.

Ringlet Butterfly.

Clover Meadow. BMX Centre.

Daisy Strip. BMX Centre.

Orange Hawkweed. Vivid colour splurge.

Pink Thistles.

Swans on the canal.

High Knightswood and Trinley Brae traverse. Walking right to left along it.

BMX Centre. Back path to Hi Rise Flats.

and a link to one of the best films about childhood adventures you will ever see. Moonrise Kingdom. If you haven't seen it... you are really missing out. It's magical stuff. Genuine Alchemy.

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x28ddc7