Читать книгу Not the West Highland Way. Diversions over mountains, smaller hills or high passes for 8 of the WH Way's 9 stages онлайн

31 страница из 48

It also makes it clear why, however logically sensible, one doesn’t want to start from Glasgow city centre. The Kelvin and Allander walkways would make that project possible. But we don’t need 19km (12 miles) of litter-strewn urban cycleways to remind us why we want to get northwards towards Fort William. And the start at Milngavie is surprisingly satisfying (even if the Dumbarton start, in Route 17, is even more so.)

WH WAY: MILNGAVIE TO DRYMEN

Distance 20km (12½ miles) Approximate time 5hr Not the WH Way 1 Campsie Fells 17 Dumbarton Start

Milngavie is part of Glasgow. From the station you pass under a main road to cafés, and a chemist’s shop, and a pedestrian precinct for those who like their pedestrianism tarmacked and lined with retail outlets. But under the wrought iron arch and down the steps, branches of trees replace branches of Next and Topshop, and over the following 13km or so (8 miles) you’re going to cross just three metalled roads.

The paths through the Mugdock Country Park are helpfully signposted. Sometimes the WH Way runs with the river to its left, and sometimes up to the right of it past small outcrops of black basalt, and under birch and oak trees well draped with greybeard lichen – this showing how unpolluted the air is even so close to Glasgow.