MICHELE BIANCO CERAMICS
Prestonpans to Milngavie
From the Firth of Forth to the Campsie Fells
A stormy week of blustery sunshine and wintry showers started on the Firth of Forth just to the east of Edinburgh in Prestonpans. My first day of walking was along the coast as far as Musselburgh before heading inland through the outskirts of Edinburgh, round Arthur’s Seat to Holyrood Park and Palace – my wettest and coldest day of walking the route so far and I was glad to get to my cosy base near Calton Hill in the centre of Edinburgh.
The following day I headed from the city centre through the beautiful New Town towards the Water of Leith walkway – a lovely route through the historic city but made slightly difficult by flooding from the previous day’s rain.
At Murrayfield, I left the river and passed through the western suburbs of Edinburgh and then uphill to the summit of Corstophine Hill with a lovely view over the city and its tower commemorating Sir Walter Scott.
From there my route took me northwards to return to the shores of the Firth of Forth at Cramond, and along the sea edge through the Dalmeny estate as far as the spectacular Forth bridges, marking the halfway point on my long journey!
A bright and breezy start the following morning as I watched showers scudding in from the west from under the bridges at Queensferry. After passing under the new Queensferry crossing the landscape became more rural, eventually reaching the beautiful estate of Hopetoun House, commanding far reaching views back eastwards along the Firth of Forth.
I continued westwards along the shore as far as Bo’ness before the route took me inland to the historic burgh of Linlithgow with its ruined palace on the loch which was the former principal residence of the monarchs of Scotland.
Starting from Linlithgow the following morning on a very breezy day (Storm Dudley approaching!) my route followed the river Avon to the Union Canal, then following the canal over the Avon Aqueduct and continuing as far as Falkirk.
My route then continued along the Union Canal as far as the incredible feat of engineering that is the Falkirk Wheel linking the Union Canal to the Forth and Clyde Canal by means of a 35m high lift.
I then passed through woodland uphill to a remnant of the ramparts of the Antonine Wall and Rough Castle Roman fort before rejoining the canal network on the Forth and Clyde Canal.
Another detour took me to Croy Hill and Bar Hill with their Roman forts marking the highest point on the Antonine Wall with far reaching views over the Central Valley and Campsie Fells.
Back on the canal side I passed through peaceful reedbeds spotting many swans, goosanders, eiders, cormorants and deer before arriving at Lenzie.
My final wintry day of walking through lowland Scotland took me from Lenzie, following the course of Glazert Water towards Milton of Campsie to join the disused Strathkelvin railway line to continue through peaceful mossy woodland with views to the north of the snow dusted hills as far as Strathblane, then back to Milngavie for a train home.
