West Highland Way: Trailblazer Ochils and Campsie Fells

 Bearsden & District

Buchanan Castle

West Highland Way - Map West Highland Way: Footprint Map


Photographs of a circular walk at Drymen

through the grounds of Buchanan Castle estate

starting and finishing at the village of Buchanan Smithy

Cottages at Buchanan Smithy on the road from Drymen to Balmaha

Cottages at Buchanan Smithy

 on the road from Drymen to Balmaha



Buchanan Home Farm on outskirts of Drymen from Ballyconochy Loan

Buchanan Home Farm

 on outskirts of Drymen

from Ballyconochy Loan



House at Buchanan Home Farm

House at Buchanan Home Farm



Mill Burn flowing down to the Endrick Water

Mill Burn flowing down

 to the Endrick Water
.





Trees in Castle Gardens Road

Trees in Castle Gardens Road.




Buchanan Castle

Buchanan Castle

Buchanan Castle is a ruined country house
originally the home of the Buchanan family
but passing to the Grahams in the 17th century.

The old house burned down in 1850
and the present house built in 1854.

1930s plans for it to serve as a hotel
were dashed by World War II

when its function became altogether more practical.

It was firstly a hospital
( Nazi Rudolph Hess taken there for treatment
 after his crash landing near Glasgow )

 and then a post-war school.

It remains the 
seat of the Clan Graham
and is a category "B" listed building.



Buchanan Castle





Buchanan Castle

Buchanan Castle




Buchanan Castle

Buchanan Castle





Buchanan Castle

Buchanan Castle






Buchanan Castle

Buchanan Castle





Aerial view of Buchanan Castle

Aerial view of Buchanan Castle






Buchanan Castle in the 1890s

Buchanan Castle in the 1890s





Clubhouse of the Buchanan Castle Golf Club

Clubhouse

 of the Buchanan Castle Golf Club




Loch Lomond on track to Buchanan Smithy




Map of Drymen Area

Map of Drymen Area



Map of Buchanan Castle area

Map of the Buchanan Castle Area





Route Map of West Highland Way from Carbeth to Drymen

Route Map of West Highland Way

from Drymen to Balmaha



BUCHANAN CASTLE CIRCULAR WALK - ROUTE DESCRIPTION:


This walk is a circular route of about six miles which should take no longer than three hours to complete from Drymen.
It passes through the attractive Buchanan Castle Estate and then into part of Garadhhan Forest. If required the walk can be shortened to about three to four miles by omitting the forest section.
The walk starts from the Stirling Road car park in
Drymen, turns left onto Stirling Road to pass The Drymen Inn and enter The Square.
It turns right onto Gartmore Road ( take care crossing roads ) to pass The Clachan Inn, takes the first road on the left, Balmaha Road, and then swings right onto the main road for Balmaha.
There are still a nnmber of houses to pass before leaving the village and after the last house, Bramblewood B&B, look out for a car track on the lefi which enters a small wood at the side of the road.
The walk continues along the car track and on exiting the wood it passes Forest Lodge cottage on the left. It then passes through a metal gate onto a rougher car track with open fields and horses on either side.
At the end of the track the walk enters the Lomondside Stud Equestrian Centre with its sheds of farmyard machinery and horse stables.
It turns right opposite the farmhouse to leave the centre and continues down the car track to the driveway for Buchanan Castle Estate.
On turning right, it passes the all weather tennis court on the left and Castle Gardens road on the right.
Ahead, at the fork junction it ignores the signed road on the left to Buchanan Castle Golf Club and halfway up the road on the right is spotted the front facade of the dilapidated Buchanan Castle.
The castle was the home of the Dukes of Montrose before it was used as a military hospital and one of its most notable patients during the Second World War was the German, Rudolf Hess.
The walk then takes the narrow path round the right side of the Castle to pass the cottages, Berryknowe and Lochview and at the the junction turns left onto a secondary road through the estate.
It continues ahead passing a variety of interesting former hospital unit cottages and rebuilt houses.
At the junction it turns right onto the main driveway, passes the golf club, and at the next cross roads turns right again to leave the estate on a car track which goes through a wood onto Balmaha Road and the facing Buchanan Smithy Cottages.
If required the walk can be shortened here on turning right and taking the Balmaha Road back to
Drymen.
Continuing on, the walk turns left at the end of the Cottages and passes
Buchanan Smithy Terrace onto a rough car track with field on either side.
At the end of the track, it takes a narrow path on the left, before the sign "Private Road, Ardyle", into Garadbhan Forest.
You might like to pause hear and reflect as the walk emerges onto a forest track with some great views of the Loch to feast your eyes on.
ln the distance are the Lomond and the Luss Hills which gives the walker a taste of the Highland wilderness beyond.
It then tums right here and continues ahead till it reaches a narrow track on the right with a blue band post.
Follow this track as it goes through a short wood to a gate and tums right onto Gartmore Road.
From here it is an easy downhill stretch of the walk with open farmland on either side and after passing the primary school it enters the village and the square to complete the walk at the car park.


 Buchanan Castle Gallery Photo Gallery :: Drymen Gallery Photo Gallery :: West Highland Way Photo Gallery

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Guide Books & Maps - Scotland:-


West Highland Way: Footprint MapWest Highland Way - Map West Highland Way - Map Western Scotland & the Western Isles OS Road Map Northern Scotland OS Road MapSouthern Scotland OS Road MapGlasgow Popular Hills - Map

Loch Lomond North - Tyndrum, Crianlarich, Arrochar - OS Explorer Map Loch Lomond and Inverary OS Landranger Map  Loch Lomond South OS Explorer Map  Loch Lomond North OS Explorer Map




  

The High Mountains of Britain & Ireland  Munros Tables SMC  The Munros - Scotland's Highest Mountains  Scotland - Lonely Planet  NW Highlands - SMC Guide  Exploring the Far NW of Scotland  Guide to Walks in NW Highlands

Walking in Scotland - Lonely Planet Mountain: Exploring Britain's High Places  National 3 Peaks Walk Scottish Highlands Hillwalking Guide The Scottish Islands Bouldering in Scotland

Glasgow Visitor Guide - Colin Baxter Itchy Insider's Guide to Glasgow Glasgow Footprint Pocket Guide Glasgow Insight Pocket Guide Glasgow Guide Pub Companion Glasgow Scotland's Highlands & Islands - Rough Guide Scotland - Rough Guide

Glasgow Insight Pocket GuideCollins Street Map of GlasgowGlasgow: Then & NowThey belonged to Glasgow Phillips Street Atlas of Glasgow & West Central Scotland Glasgow: The Photographic Atlas100 Hillwalks around Glasgow 50 Walks in Glasgow & SW Scotland

Visit Scotland - Touring Guide Scotland: Where to Stay - Hotels & Guest Houses Scotland: Where to Stay - Bed & Breakfast Rough Guide ScotlandScottish Highlands & Islands - Rough Guide Scotland - Lonely PlanetScotland's Highlands & Islands - Lonley Planet Great Glasgow StoriesGlasgow & Surroundings - Insight Guide

West Highland Way: Official GuideWest Highland Way: Rucksac ReadersWest Highland Way: TrailblazerThe West Highland WayWest Highland Way: Footprint MapWest Highland Way - Map West Highland Way - Map West Highland Way Wet Highland Way - Official Guide

Munro Almanac The High Mountains of Britain and Ireland The Munros: Scottish Mountaineering Club The Isle of Skye The Isle of Arran Wilderness Walks Ski Mountaineering in Scotland

More Wilderness Walks 50 Best Routes on Skye and Raasay Skye - W.A.PoucherMagic of the Munros Mountaineering in Scotland and Undiscovered Scotland by W.H.MurrayA Long Walk on the Isle of Skye

Classic Climbs - Central & Southern Highlands The Isle of Arran Lonely Planet, Walking in ScotlandPathfinder Guide: Skye and NW Highlands WalksPathfinder Guide: Fort William and Glen Coe Walks Rambler's Guide: Ben Nevis and Glen Coe50 Best Routes on Skye and Raasay - Chris Townsend










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