WALK 8


ROUTE INFORMATION


Ordnance Survey Explorer 334, Landranger 64


Car park at visitor centre


Start at Whitelees Visitor Centre GR NS532493


Moorland paths and tracks. One short section of boggy, pathless ground. Sheep graze on the surrounding moorland. The route crosses farmland so it is advisable to keep dogs on leads


One


Grouse, dunlin, snipe, geese


Accommodation available locally


Whitelees Visitor Centre None to start


WHITELEES & THE COVENANTERS


DISTANCE: 13km/8miles


TIME: 4 hours


GRADE: EASY


Whitelees Windfarm


Whitelees is Europe’s largest onshore windfarm and, love it or not, the windfarm and necessary road network has created a fantastic walk across the wild Eaglesham Moor. The views are simply stunning with Galloway, Ayrshire, Goat Fell, Ben More and Stob Binnein included in a magnificent 360-degree panorama. Although the windfarm is a recent phenomenon, Eaglesham Moors are indelibly linked with the Covenanters whose opposition to the Restoration Regime of the 17th century led to the Scottish Covenanting Movement. Coventicles were held on the moors and the magnificent Lochgoin Museum, which resides in a single room nearby at Lochgoin Farm, is well worth a visit to learn more about this turbulent period in Scotland’s history. This route is waymarked.


1


From the visitor centre car park, turn R onto a broad track, pass through a gate and descend to Turbine


40. Turn L at a signpost for Lochgoin and climb the broad track to another signpost. Turn R onto a solid path and follow this with spectacular views over Eaglesham Moor to Ayrshire to Galloway. Turn L onto a broader track at Turbine 41, and continue along the track turning R just before Turbine 54.


2 18


Walk down to cross a cattle grid with Lochgoin appearing on the R. Follow the track above the


loch and at the next junction turn R to continue below the slopes of Blackwood Hill. Pass by a signpost for Blackwood Hill (a short climb leads to the top) and continue into the heart of the moors with superb views


across Glasgow. The track makes its way past Dunwan Dam and the fort of Dunwan Hill then swings R passing Turbine 87. Continue over a cattle grid, pass a conifer plantation and Turbine 88 to reach a signpost for Lochgoin Circuit.


3


Turn R, walk down the track through a gate and continue alongside


Lochgoin, with the magnificent profile of Arran ahead, to reach turbine 27. Just after this a path turns R from the track leading to Lochgoin. Follow this to reach a grass embankment and continue above


Lochgoin


the loch passing a fishing hut to reach a gate. Cross a stile, then go through a second gate.


4


Turn R onto the moor and bear R to a fence. (Note: At the time of writing the


moor to Turbine 11 is marshy and rough underfoot but a new path is to be built and will be ready in the Spring of 2011). Follow the fence line for a short distance across marshy, uneven ground, to reach a gate near Turbine 11. Turn R, cross over a low fence here, and a final few metres of uneven ground are crossed to reach the main track at Turbine 11. Turn R and follow the track to reach Turbine 42. Bear L past the turbine and follow the track as it descends to reach the outward-bound track. Turn L here and retrace steps back to the visitor centre.


19


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