Find the Carbeth Inn

WALKING
Please note; we recommend that you contact the Inn before setting off if you intend on stopping in for food as it often serves on a daily basis in high season only.

Faifley – The Carbeth Inn

Location: Kilpatrick Hills
Map: OS Landranger 64 (GR511729)
Distance: 6 miles (10km)
Time: 3 hours
Terrain: paths; marshy in places

This walk follows the route over the eastern end of the Kilpatrick Hills taken by generations of Carbeth hutters since the 1930s. The Carbeth community, at the northern end of Craigallion Loch, is one-third of the way towards raising £1.75 million for a community buyout of the 140 huts on the site.

Public transport, or a very willing car driver, is needed for this route, which starts from the Faifley bus terminus. The 62 bus offers a direct service from Hope Street, Glasgow. Sections of the route are muddy and good footwear or wellingtons are essential.

From Faifley terminus walk north up Faifley Road and continue on a gravel path to reach Cochno Road. Go right then left to a track and path signposted Craigton. The path heads off left from the start of the track through grass to gain an elevated woodland strip. Go through a kissing gate where the woods end at a field of rough pasture. The lowest lying section is fairly marshy, but things improve as height is gained. After another kissing gate the path continues over Douglas Muir beside a sand and gravel quarry.

The route is obvious, if marshy in places, and leads round to a wall and a stile at the end of a grassy track, which in turn becomes a metalled track.

Pause at the gate where the track swings right to Tambowie Farm and admire the open views east across the Craigton Burn to the northern fringes of Milngavie.

Leave the track and descend beside the burn to the road for a short while. Visibility is generally good until the final bend, where care should be taken. Turn right on to the minor road and descend to Craigallian Bridge over the Allander Water. The West Highland Way starts just beyond the bridge and offers two options. Turning left to Carbeth gives a six-mile (10km) walk if returning by bus (5.02pm on Saturday, none on Sunday). Turning right to Milngavie also gives six-mile walk with a return by train (regular Saturday and Sunday). The Way is well signposted in both directions.

If continuing to Carbeth follow the route past the Craigallion Fire monument commemorating the adventurers of the 1930s, many of whom were Carbeth hutters, and Craigallion Loch to where a path signposted Cuilt Brae goes off left. Follow this to a road, then keep left ascending through the huts to a final descent to the Carbeth Inn and a bus stop.

Milngavie – The Carbeth Inn

Location: West Highland Way
Map: LR 64 Exp 458
Distance: 4.9 miles (8km)
Time: 3 hours
Terrain: A relatively simple start to the Way on footpaths, tracks and lanes with no major climbs.

From the start of the WHW in Milngavie (a granite obelisk in Douglas Street, Milngavie NS 553 744) follow the path through the moor and forest for a couple of miles until it comes to a T junction at the Khyber opposite the gatehouse for Craigallion House. Jink to the left for about 20 yards, and turn right before the road bends to your left. You’re back on the WHW. There’s usually a few cars parked here.

Follow “The Way” up past Craigallion Loch (on your right), and just past a wee gate to keep the cars out the path bends to the right…. don’t follow it! There’s a sign at the bend for a Footpath that goes straight ahead of you… this takes you along the side of Carbeth House and plonks you onto their driveway. Keep going and not too far along you see an old ruin of a stone cottage on your left. Not too far from it there’s a gate on your left and a dirt road that heads up Carbeth Hill through the huts. Wander up to the top and make your way down as it veers pretty much to the right.

As you get near the bottom you go past a couple of houses and onto the A809. Turn left, and 30 yards down the road is The Carbeth Inn where rest and refreshment can be had before either retracing your steps, or using the services of a local taxi firm.

 

Below the Carbeth Inn is shown on Google Maps showing the main driving routes to find it…


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