Clyde Muirshiel - Scotland Largest Regional Park

Tartan Walk this Leap Year Day!

dmosupport — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 14:16:21 +0000

Get Active in Lochwinnoch this February 29^th

with the Annual Tartan Walk!

On Leap Year day at 11.00 hrs, local walkers are reprising last year’s very successful Tartan Walk. On that occasion 95 walkers (one hesitates to call them choristers) wearing assorted tartan outfits, gaily stepped out around the village of Lochwinnoch, armed with Scottish songbooks and entertaining themselves and the locals with a variety of choruses. From there, they repaired to Castle Semple Visitor Centre for a well earned cuppa, raffle and other entertainment.

This year’s walk will again be led by Senga Mcleod, the Walking Development Officer from Renfrewshire Youth and Sports Services, ably assisted by some of her colleagues. Pat Emslie, a Clyde Muirshiel Ranger, will be in attendance as well as leaders and members of the Renfrewshire Walking Network.

Councillor Susan McDonald, Renfrewshire Council’s Sports Champion said:

“Walking poses many health benefits and is the ideal way to stay active – and there’s also the positive social element of enjoying the company of your fellow walkers. I’d urge as many people as possible to don their walking shoes and go along to the Tartan Walk around Lochwinnoch. Not only will you get to enjoy the fresh air and scenery of the village, but there will also be plenty of chat and some highland singing to enjoy.”

All are welcome and encouraged to join in this fun, free event. We meet on Wednesday, February 29^th at 11.00 hrs, Castle Semple Visitor Centre in Lochwinnoch. The walk will be 5km/ 3.1 miles around the village on tracks and paths – suitable for all fitness levels. What a great way to spend your extra day this leap year!

For further details contact Castle Semple Centre, 01505 842 882 Ex 20.

Update on path closures Muirshiel

rangers mcp — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 11:15:05 +0000

The Park Estate staff have been working hard clearing trees over the last few weeks to get the storm damaged woodland safe. As a result we are happy to tell you most of the trails are now open at Muirshiel. The main path to Windy Hill is open and all the trails to the south of the road. There are still a few short sections which are closed, please continue to respect the warning signs in place. This map shows the closed sections at Muirshiel in hatched red colour. Updated 22/2/12

No Lochwinnoch Farmers’ Market this March

dmosupport — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 08:49:11 +0000

Lochwinnoch Farmers’ Markets will be held at Castle Semple in June and December this year and will not be going ahead this March or September. Apologies to any disappointed visitors and suppliers. As an alternative we can recommend you support the new Farmers’ market just started in Kilmacolm and the Lochwinnoch Food Fayre this February.

Clydeside Orienteers at Muirshiel

rangers mcp — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 12:30:02 +0000

This hugely successful event saw 128 competitors descend on Muirshiel Country Park. Armed with maps, compasses and high-tech location recorders, the enthusiastic orienteers ran the course around Windy Hill and through the woodland trails to find each of the markers. A big thank you to Clydeside Orienteers for arranging such a popular event!

Parkhill Wood Re-opens

webmaster — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:58:20 +0000

Woodland management operations have been completed on time and consequently access restrictions have been lifted today.

The felled timber will be used by the Park and by community organisations.

Frosted Scuptures at Castle Semple

dmosupport — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:35:53 +0000

Art in the Park – Take Two!

8 members of the Macdonald and Connelly families were the artists in the two part Frosted Sculptures Event at Castle Semple Country Park.

Youngsters Beth and Calum had a great time but the older generations had just as much fun being creative.

The works of art were displayed in front of the centre last Sunday afternoon and attracted considerable interest.

They appeared suitably seasonal with the frozen loch in the background.

Green Woodworking at the Greenock Cut

rangers gcc — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 11:59:47 +0000

Cleaving a log

Green woodworking (bodging) involves the use of freshly felled timber and embraces a number of woodland crafts, including turning, carving,
and various tasks making chairs, sticks, baskets, etc.. Green logs can easily be split along the grain and worked with an axe, then
shaped with other simple tools. A manual pole-lathe is the classic centuries old method used to turn green (unseasoned) wood with
little effort and without the noise, dust, or danger involved with modern mechanised turning. The Napier family ( apprentice bodgers) enjoyed
their day learning about woodland crafts and had a go at preparing and turning wood on a traditional pole lathe.

Pole Lathe

History Rediscovered – The Windy Hill Cairn

dmosupport — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:04:51 +0000

Windy Hill is the pride of Muirshiel Country Park and has been a firm favourite and most popular walk for a generation. Only twenty minutes walk past the Green Man and you are treated to a beautiful view over the vast expanse of the Regional Park’s rugged moorland, historical mine track and fringing villages of Kilmacolm and Bridge of Weir. But how do you know when you have reached the top? Well after a rather unobliging false summit, we then see the Cairn peering over the horizon, most reassuring as you climb the last leg of the journey. But how did it get there?

Regional Park Manager Charlie Woodward recently gave a talk to the Bridge of Weir Historical Society and they gave him the following information on the Cairn’s construction. Its creation was organised by Bridge of Weir and Kilmacolm Round Table around 1970, when the Country Park was first designated and opened to the public. Once permission had been received by Lord Muirshiel, senior children from Balrossie Approved School took all the materials up to the summit by hand! This was all conducted under the watchful eye of Hugh Watson, with the assistance of Ian Simpson, formally of Elderslie Estates.

At the Regional Park we are attempting to build up further details of this story and if you know anything more or indeed anyone who took part in the building, then please get in touch. Contact info@clydemuirshiel.co.uk or telephone Barnbrock Farm 01505 614 791.

Parkhill Wood Closures

dmosupport — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:26:11 +0000

All woodland paths will be closed in Parkhill Wood for essential tree felling operations between the hours of 08:00 – 18:00 on the following days:

Wednesday 1st Feb
Thursday 2nd Feb

Monday 6th Feb
Wednesday 8th Feb
Thursday 9th Feb

The felling is part of the ongoing woodland management programme. The Park Authority regrets any inconvienence caused.

Star Gazing Evening 17th Feb Cancelled

dmosupport — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 13:59:35 +0000

Unfortunately due to circumstances outwith our control, our Star Gazing Evening due to take place on Friday February 17^th is now cancelled.

Apologies to everyone inspired by the BBC’s Stargazing Live events. No one is more disappointed than ourselves.

However our third date is still due to go ahead and is Friday 23^rd March. Book your free place now on 01505 842 803.