The Isle of Arran Hill Walking on the Isle of Arran

Glasgow & District

Castle Semple Country Park
Arran - Official Tourist MapScotland's Highlands & Islands - Lonley Planet

Photographs of a walk in Castle Semple Country Park

 at Lochwinnoch to the South 
of Glasgow

Castle Semple Loch, Parkhill Wood,

Collegiate Church, Kenmure Hill, The Temple

Visitor Centre at Castle Semple Country Park

Visitor Centre at Castle Semple Country Park

The Park is a watersports centre

and forms part of the
Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park.


Visitor Centre at Castle Semple Country Park

Visitor Centre

at Castle Semple Country Park
 



Sailing Dinghies at Castle Semple Loch

Sailing Dinghies

at Castle Semple Loch




Sailing Dinghies at Castle Semple Loch

 Sailing Dinghies

at Castle Semple Loch


Castle Semple Loch

Castle Semple Loch




Parkhill Wood above Castle Semple Loch

Parkhill Wood

above Castle Semple Loch




Grotto in Parkhill Wood

The Grotto

 in Parkhill Wood




Inverkip from Leapmore Forest

Castle Semple Loch

from
Parkhill Wood




Parkhill Wood

Parkhill Wood




Castle Semple Collegiate Church

Castle Semple Collegiate Church

The late Gothic church

 is under the protection of Historic Scotland

 and is a Category A listed building.





Castle Semple Collegiate Church

Castle Semple Collegiate Church

 ( Note: Click here or on above for large format copy )




Castle Semple Collegiate Church

Castle Semple Collegiate Church




Castle Semple Collegiate Church

Castle Semple Collegiate Church





Castle Semple Collegiate Church

Castle Semple Collegiate Church




Temple on Kenmure Hill

The Temple

 on
Kenmure Hill 




Temple on Kenmure Hill

The Temple

 on
Kenmure Hill

The octagonal structure was built in the 18th century

 as a hunting lookout




Castle Semple Loch from Kenmure Hill

Castle Semple Loch

from
Kenmure Hill




Bridge over the Black Cart Water from Castle Semple Loch

Bridge over the Black Cart Water coming from Castle Semple Loch





NCR7 Cycle Route through Castle Semple Country Park

NCR7 Cycle Route

through
 Castle Semple Country Park





NCR7 Cycle Route through Castle Semple Country Park

NCR7 Cycle Route

through
 Castle Semple Country Park




Beach at Blackditch Bay on Castle Semple Loch

Beach at Blackditch Bay

on Castle Semple Loch




Town Centre in Kilwinnoch

Town Centre in Kilwinnoch

Lochwinnoch is in the county of Renfrewshire

on the banks of 
Castle Semple Loch

 and the River Calder




Town Centre in Kilwinnoch

Town Centre in Kilwinnoch





Church in Town Centre of Kilwinnoch

Parish Church

 in Town Centre of Kilwinnoch





Map of the Castle Semple Country Park

Map of the Castle Semple Country Park





Map of Howwood Area

Map of Howwood Area




Route Map of the Castle Semple Country Park

Route Map of the Castle Semple Country Park






Aerial view of Castle Semple Loch

Aerial view of Castle Semple Loch



CASTLE SEMPLE COUNTRY PARK - ROUTE DESCRIPTION:-

Location: Renfrewshire
Map: OS Landranger 63 or Explorer 341
Distance: 5 miles ( 8km )
Time: 2-3 hours
Terrain: Easy low-level walk

It isn't every day you see a road sign warning you to watch out for otter pups. The sign is on the approach to Castle Semple Loch, the main feature of the country park. The otters are actually on and around the adjacent RSPB Lochwinnoch reserve but it was nice to know they were there. Castle Semple provides relaxed and enjoyable walking with a real contrast between the amble along the lochside with its birdlife and expansive views across the water and the beautiful old woodland in Parkhill Wood. All of this once formed part of the estate of the Sempill or Semple family, influential in medieval times. In the 18th century they sold the estate to the Macdowalls who built Castle Semple House and added many landscaping features such as the grotto you pass.
The area is a popular and well-managed country park with a watersports centre. As well as the path network, a cyclepath on an old railway line runs through it. This cyclepath is used for the first part of the walk and again later on but as soon as you step off it into Parkhill Wood you are in a different world, with many grand trees, patches of rhododendrons and sparkling burns.
A short steep climb pulls you up to Park Hill which provides a splendid view of Castle Semple Loch, Barr Loch beyond it and further away Kilbirnie Loch. The path meanders back into the wood. Follow the directions carefully; you are helped by red arrows at key points.
Leaving the woods, you come to Castle Semple Collegiate Church. It was founded by the first Lord Sempill in 1504 as a place for worship and learning, and remained in use until the 1680s. lt is a simple but very attractive building and inside it you can see the ornate tomb of Lord Sempill, who did not enjoy his church for long as he fell at the Battle of Flodden in 1513.
You then turn back onto the cyclepath; look out here for the carving featuring otters, dragonflies and other creatures just below the path. The lochside path is joined at Blackditch Bay and is followed back to the visitor centre which has a cafe, shop and toilets.
The loch holds a good variety of birdlife but for more avian interest you can visit the nearby RSPB Lochwinnoch reserve. It is about 800m from the Castle Semple visitor centre and there is a path between the two.
The enthusiastic staff at the RSPB centre will happily tell you what you can see and there are binoculars available; the centre also has short trails leading to hides.

Route:
Start at the Castle Sempte visitor centre (GFI: NS35B590).
Walk up to the cyclepath and walk E.
In 1.2km turn left into Parkhill Wood.
Follow path to pond and grotto.
Turn left and in 50m left again.
Take path over Park Hill and back down into woods.
At lork go L uphill ( red arrow ) and follow path along top edge of wood.
In about 500m take right fork, downhill.
At T-junction go left  ( red arrow ) and follow path as it curves round a small hill.
Cross burn and keep ahead to T-junction.
Turn left on main path through gate and past Collegiate Church.
Just before railway bridge go right through gate onto cyclepath.
Walk back for 1.5km then go left down to lochside path which is followed back to the start.




Castle Semple Gallery 
Photo Gallery

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