West Highland Way: Trailblazer Ochils and Campsie Fells

 Bearsden & District

Campsie Fells

West Highland Way - Map West Highland Way: Footprint Map

Photographs of a circular hill walk

of the trig points on the Campsie Fells

including the high point of Earl's Seat

Earl's Seat via Dumgoyne


Crow Road over the Campsie Fells

Crow Road over the Campsie Fells



Meikle Bin from Trig Point at Holehead on the Campsie Fells

Meikle Bin from Trig Point

 at Holehead on the Campsie Fells



Trig Point and Weather Station on Holehead on Campsie Fells

Trig Point and Weather Station

 on Holehead on Campsie Fells




Approach to Earl's Seat in the Campsie Fells

Approach to Earl's Seat

in the Campsie Fells

Earl's Seat ( 1897ft, 578m )

 is the highest point in the Campsie Fells






Loch Lomond from Earl's Seat in the Campsie Fells

Loch Lomond

from Earl's Seat

 in the Campsie Fells




Ben Lomond from Earl's Seat in the Campsie Fells

Ben Lomond

from Earl's Seat

in the Campsie Fells




Earl's Seat from Dumgoyne in the Campsie Fells

Earl's Seat

from summit of Dumgoyne

 in the Campsie Fells





Earl's Seat in the Campsie Fells with Stronend in the Fintry Hills in background

Earl's Seat in the Campsie Fells

 with Stronend in the Fintry Hills

 in background






Stronend above Fintry from Dunmore Hill







Trig Point at Dumbreck on the Campsie Fells

Trig Point at Dumbreck

 on the Campsie Fells



Lennoxtown beneath the Campsie Fells





Parish Church at Killearn

Cart-ma Law above the Crow Road

 over the Campsie Fells



Waterfalls in Campsie Glen

Waterfalls in Campsie Glen

An interesting route

from Clachan of Campsie

 to the Crow Road





Campsie Glen




Route Map for Earl's Seat and the Campsie Fells

Route  Map for Earl's Seat

 and the Campsie Fells





Location Map for Earl's Seat and the Campsie Fells

Location Map for Earl's Seat

 and the Campsie Fells



Map for the Campsie Fells
Map for the Campsie Fells




Map for Earl's Seat and the Campsie Fells

Map for Earl's Seat

and the Campsie Fells






Map for Earl's Seat and the Campsie Fells

Map for Earl's Seat

and the Campsie Fells




Location Map for Earl's Seat and the Campsie Fells

Location Map for Earl's Seat

and the Campsie Fells


EARL'S SEAT via DUMGOYNE - ROUTE DESCRIPTION:

Distance: About 7 miles/12km
Time: 3-4 hours
Start/finlsh: The Beech Tree Inn (GR: NS523836)
Information: www.lochlomond-trossachs.org



Just as the Pentlands are the hills of Edinburgh, so the Campsies dominate the skyline to the north of Glasgow, a range of bite~sized hills that have offered a form of sanctuary to Glaswegian hill-goers for generations.
The Campsies are made up of layers of lava flow and Dumgoyne, the fort of the arrows, the thumb-like addendum that sticks up at the western end of the fells, is an ancient volcanic plug whose name suggests that it was once a defensive site. Curiously, neighbouring Dumfoyne could be the “hill fort of the wart”, which probably best describes its appearance.
The area's highest point, Earl's Seat (578m), on the Fintry side of the fells, is probably named after the Earl of Lennox whose lands once extended on the south side of the Campsies. A good 12km hill tramp takes in both these landmarks by a fairly straightforward route with the promise of wide-ranging views to the urban skyline in the south and, in complete contrast, Ben Lomond and the jumble of hills that mark the beginnings of the Highlands in the north.
The Beech Tree Inn is on the route of the West Highland Way from where the route skirts the Glengoyne whisky distillery to cross the busy A81 road. A narrow road leads steeply uphill before to open hillside to the south of the house at Blairgar.
It's easy to consider these Campsie Fells as inferior to the Munros and Corbetts in terms of challenge but there are some steep climbs hereabouts and this is one of them. lt’s only about 420 metres of climbing to the summit of Earl's Seat from Blairgar but the initial climb, up the hill with the even steeper slopes of Dumgoyne to your right, is uncompromising.
Soon, with the green plug of Dumgoyne now behind, the track begins to ease off and usually muddier. Amid
the many bumps and hillocks of the wonderfully named Clachertyfarlie Knowes - in misty conditions it would be easy to become lost or at least temporarily misplaced.
Garloch Hill is the first rounded summit with views over the Ballikinrain Muir towards Balfron and the north. From here it is simply a case of following the edge to a prominent cairn then a wee divergence to the south-east up easy slopes to Earl’s Seat.
Return by the way of ascent with another divergence to climb the very steep north slopes of Dumgoyne. From there a good path descends to the south and then west to get back to the outward route above Blairgar.



Route:
Leave the car park ( it's correct to ask permission to leave your car at the Beech Tree Inn car park and better to buy tea or coffee, or maybe a
bacon roll, in the inn at the beginning of your walk or at the end when you'll most likely appreciate it ) and follow the WHW S to a turn-oit to the ielt that will take you past the Glengoyne distillery buildings.
Cross the busy A81 road and follow the winding access road to Blairgar.
Go through a gate into fields and follow the forest edge to the open hillside opposite Dumgoyne.
Climb steeply ENE until the slope eases off just before Garloch Hill.
Follow the cliff edge for about a kilometre to a prominent caim before turning uphill (SE) to reach the summit trig point of Earl's Seat.
Now descend the way you came with a divergence to climb Dumgoyne by its steep NE slopes.
From the summit follow the footpath S then W to the forest edge above Blairgar.
Return to the start by your outward route.

West Highland Way Photo Gallery :: Dumgoyne & Campsie Fells Photo Gallery

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Guide Books & Maps - Scotland:-


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Ochils and Campsie Fells

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: Trailblazer The 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.Murray A 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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