Our little big adventure really did not want to end at Tannoch Loch. After leaving Tannoch Loch, we got back in the car and started heading home, but then we saw Drumclog Moor Car Park and something in me said, wait, why are people parking here? What is actually around here? So we drove past, then reversed and decided to have a look. I am glad we did because this little decision took us somewhere we had completely missed earlier in the day. There was a map, so this time we actually stood there and looked at it properly, and that was when I realised there was something else around Mugdock Country Park that we had not seen: Mugdock Reservoir. Remember how I told you we had gone looking for Mugdock Castle earlier and somehow ended up at Craigend Castle instead? Well, apparently we had been walking around Mugdock without fully understanding just how much was around us. This time, with the map in front of us, we could see the reservoir and decided to walk towards it.
When we got closer, I could see the water properly and honestly, it was lovely. Some sections were fenced and protected, which I completely understand because this is a working reservoir and not somewhere you should simply wander wherever you want. But we found a section where we could get a much better view, and I was immediately taking photographs. I was also a little nervous because I had to walk across some of the metal structures and, as much as I appreciate human intelligence, I still have that little voice in my head asking, "Are you sure this thing is going to hold you?" I was very conscious of every step I took on those metal sections, but then I stopped and looked around and thought about what I was actually standing on. This wasn't just some random structure. It was part of a Victorian engineering project that had been designed more than 160 years ago to bring clean water to Glasgow. The whole thing suddenly felt much bigger than the pretty view I had been photographing. Mugdock Reservoir was constructed between 1855 and 1859 as part of the Glasgow Corporation Water Works and the Loch Katrine water supply scheme. The scheme was driven forward by Glasgow's Lord Provost Robert Stewart and designed under the direction of the engineer John Frederic La Trobe Bateman, who had identified Loch Katrine as the right source for Glasgow's growing need for clean water. The water traveled from Loch Katrine through an enormous system of tunnels, aqueducts and other infrastructure before reaching Mugdock Reservoir near Milngavie. The original aqueduct was around 26 miles long, and much of it was constructed using gravity, meaning the water could make its journey without being pumped all the way from the Highlands. Mugdock therefore became an important storage reservoir at the end of this remarkable system. Queen Victoria formally opened the first Loch Katrine scheme in 1859, and it became fully operational in 1860.
After leaving Mugdock Country Park and Craigend Castle, we drove over to Easterton Farm Park because of a little boy we had met earlier. He was riding a horse when he noticed how excited I was to see it and kindly asked if I wanted to pet it. Of course I said yes. While I was petting the horse, he told us about a nearby stable where people can learn how to ride, although the horse he was riding actually belonged to his friend. He was such a lovely little guy. We decided to drive over to Easterton Farm Park to have a look, but we didn't get out of the car because horse riding wasn't part of our plan that day.
Easterton Stables is actually a proper riding school and livery yard, offering lessons, pony rides and hacks through Mugdock Country Park, so I have already put that somewhere in the back of my mind for another day. The farm park is in the Mugdock countryside overlooking the Campsie Fells and is less than half an hour from Glasgow city centre, so it is one of those places that are surprisingly close when you think about what you can do there.
We decided to start heading home, but I wasn't ready to go home yet. I was already getting sleepy because my partner's driving is so good. He follows every road sign and speed limit properly, and no matter what the speed limit is, he is not the kind of driver who suddenly decides he is in a Formula One race. I actually like that because I can relax in the car, although on this particular day it was making me very sleepy. I told myself I needed to find something else to do before I completely fell asleep, so I started checking what was around us. That was when I found Tannoch Loch in Milngavie. We drove towards it and suddenly the whole atmosphere changed. Instead of feeling like we were somewhere in the countryside, we were in a beautiful residential neighborhood with lovely period houses, gardens and the little loch sitting quietly among them. I could see people enjoying the sunshine around the water, little docks reaching out from some of the loch banks and birds moving across the surface. It was so peaceful that I immediately wanted to take photographs. My partner took some pictures too, and I simply enjoyed looking around because this was not one of those famous places we had planned to visit. It was simply a place I discovered because I did not want the day to end yet. And sometimes those unplanned places are the ones that give you something special to remember.
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| Photo of Craigend Castle |
So, remember when I told you in my Mugdock Country Park post that we accidentally ended up at Craigend Castle? Well, this is the story of that little discovery. When we were walking around Mugdock, we spoke to an older couple who told us it would take about 20 minutes to get to the castle. Because we were in Mugdock Country Park, we naturally assumed they meant Mugdock Castle. We followed the route, kept walking and eventually arrived at what looked like the remains of a castle, except it didn't look quite like the castle I had seen in pictures of Mugdock Castle. That was when we realised we had actually found Craigend Castle. At first I was a little confused because I thought we had somehow taken a completely wrong route, but then I realised this was one of the interesting things about Mugdock: there are two very different historic castle sites within the wider country park area. Mugdock Castle is the much older one, a medieval stronghold associated with the Graham family and dating back to the 14th century, while Craigend Castle is a much later country house built in the early 19th century in a dramatic Gothic style. Mugdock Castle is a scheduled ancient monument, whereas Craigend Castle is a Category C listed building. So although both are called castles and sit within the same wider landscape, they tell completely different stories. And honestly, once I knew what I was looking at, I found Craigend Castle much more interesting. What remains today is roofless and partly covered in vegetation, with sections of the old walls, towers, window openings and decorative stonework still standing. Historic Environment Scotland describes it as the fragmentary remains of an extremely well-detailed Gothic country house, and when you stand in front of it, you can still see hints of how impressive it must have been. The castle was built in 1812 by Alexander Ramsay, using designs associated with James Smith of Jordanhill, for the Smith family, who had owned the Craigend estate since the 17th century. The Smiths had originally been tenants on the land before Robert Smith acquired part of the former Barony of Mugdock in 1660. What began as a much simpler country house was gradually transformed, and by the early 19th century it had become this elaborate Regency Gothic mansion, complete with towers, decorative parapets, arched windows, landscaped grounds and an impressive entrance. The family wealth behind the estate was connected to the West Indian sugar trade, including business interests involving the produce of enslaved people, which is an uncomfortable but important part of the history of Craigend and the wider wealth of some Scottish families of the period. Craigend was eventually sold in 1851 to Sir Andrew Buchanan, a diplomat who had served as ambassador at the Habsburg court in Vienna. The castle later had a number of notable residents and tenants, including James Outram, and in the early 20th century Sir Harold Yarrow, the shipbuilding businessman, lived there with his family. By then, however, the estate was moving towards the end of its life as a grand private country house.
Yesterday we visited Mugdock Country Park, and before we did, we had to check whether we had actually been there before. We searched on our phones and searched my blog, and as I always say, if I don't remember visiting a place, then for now, my conclusion is that I haven't visited it. Well, I was wrong. We had actually been to Mugdock before, but we had never really explored the country park itself. We had gone on a date to one of the restaurants within the park, and I remember enjoying the meal and wandering around the lovely garden centre beside it, but that was about it. So this time we decided to visit Mugdock properly. Like always, I woke up feeling that I couldn't let this holiday pass without getting outside and enjoying God's creation. I got ready and spent some time reading blogs, we ate and eventually headed out. The funny thing is that we have driven along the road leading to Mugdock several times. It is one of those places that is close to the city but somehow feels far away from it, and I really like that about it. When we arrived, I realised we were back in the same area we had visited before. That first time it had been raining, so we stayed around the restaurant, but this time we went further into the park. There is a visitor centre, cafés, shops, a garden centre, gallery spaces, open grounds, woodland and plenty of paths, so there was quite a lot to look around before we even started our walk. We also ended up having one of those random conversations with a man we had never met before. He was joking about his wife wanting him to retire because, according to him, she already had plans for the two of them to be going shopping together all the time. It was such an ordinary conversation, but I actually enjoyed it. Sometimes little moments like that make an outing feel warmer. We walked towards the new playpark, and I immediately understood why families would enjoy this place. The playground was officially opened in June 2026 and has been completely upgraded, with an owl play structure, slides, rope climbing, swings, a zipline, a frog seesaw, a tipi carousel and other features inspired by wildlife found around Mugdock. It is enclosed, spacious and feels like a place where children can actually run around and enjoy themselves while parents can relax nearby. We then continued walking, enjoying the views and taking in the surroundings. At some point we realised we had taken a different route from the one we had been told to take. We had spoken to an older couple who told us it would take around 20 minutes to get to the castle, and because we were in Mugdock Country Park, we naturally assumed they meant Mugdock Castle. We were wrong again. We eventually found ourselves at the ruins of Craigend Castle instead. I am going to save the proper history of Craigend Castle for another post because there is quite a bit to say about it, but for now, just know that Mugdock has more than one historic castle site and our little wrong turn took us to Craigend. The ruins were covered in vegetation and barricaded, so we couldn't get as close as we would have liked, but I still took some photographs and enjoyed seeing it for myself. And honestly, this is where I had to be honest with myself about the park. Mugdock is beautiful, but I didn't feel that immediate connection I have felt in some other parks. I have visited places that gave me butterflies and made me stop and stare, and I think once you've experienced that kind of beauty, it can affect the way you see another place. It doesn't mean the place isn't beautiful. Sometimes you've simply seen something that affected you differently. Maybe that was what happened to me yesterday. I was happy, I enjoyed myself and I appreciated being there, but I didn't have that feeling of being completely taken by the place. Still, I think Mugdock is lovely. I especially like the fact that you can enter the park for free and have so much space to enjoy. You can walk, hike, run, cycle, walk your dog, picnic, explore the woodland, follow trails, look out for wildlife, visit the historic areas, stop for something to eat or simply sit somewhere and enjoy being outside. The park is also clearly a place for people of different ages. I saw quite a few older people walking around, and I genuinely loved seeing that because people deserve safe and welcoming places where they can simply go outside, move around and enjoy their lives. We visited on a weekday, so it wasn't particularly busy, although I imagine it is much livelier on weekends and during events. One thing I will say, though, is about dog owners. We saw dog mess left on the ground in places where children and other visitors were walking. If you choose to have a dog, please be responsible enough to clean up after it. Pick up after your dog. It really is that simple. Everyone should be able to enjoy the park without having to watch where they step.
I am glad you all are enjoying these day-trip posts, but did you know that on the day we visited Bishop Loch, we also stopped by Lochend Burn? The entrance was just in the opposite direction.
To be honest, we originally headed over because I was hungry and looking for something to eat, but since we were already nearby, we thought, why not? It was the perfect opportunity to see what was there and enjoy somewhere new. It is not a massive location, so it took far less time to explore, making it a fantastic, breezy addition to our day.
Once we had sorted out something to eat, we decided to have a wander around Lochend Burn and see what it had to offer.
We started from the Bishop Loch gateway area, crossed towards the distinctive red steel footbridge over the M73, and followed the paths along Lochend Burn before looping back the same way. The full walk took just under an hour at an easy pace, with plenty of stops along the way to take in the surroundings.
Tucked away on the boundary between Easterhouse and North Lanarkshire, Lochend Burn is a peaceful watercourse that plays a vital role in connecting the local landscape. If you are already visiting Bishop Loch, crossing over to explore these quiet trails is a no-brainer.
Lambhill Stables: Glasgow’s Hidden Canalside Escape Beside Possil Marsh That Feels Like Another World
There are places you visit because they are famous.
Then there are places you stumble upon that stay with you long after you leave.
Places that do not shout for attention.
Places that quietly wait.
Tucked away in the north of Glasgow, beside the peaceful waters of the Forth and Clyde Canal and sharing a boundary with the beautiful Possil Marsh Nature Reserve, Lambhill Stables is one of those rare places.
The day I visited Possil Marsh was the very same day I visited Lambhill Stables.
In truth, it would have felt impossible to separate the two.
They sit side by side, connected not only by geography but by atmosphere. The transition from the wild wetlands of Possil Marsh to the historic stone buildings and community gardens of Lambhill Stables feels completely natural, as though one experience gently flows into the other.
If you are searching for a peaceful Glasgow day trip, a hidden nature escape, a historical canalside walk, or somewhere that feels far removed from city life without ever leaving Glasgow, Lambhill Stables deserves a place at the very top of your list.
Where Is Lambhill Stables?
Lambhill Stables is located at 11 Canal Bank North, Lambhill Bridge, Glasgow, G22 6RD, on the banks of the historic Forth and Clyde Canal in the north of the city. The location sits directly beside Possil Marsh Nature Reserve, creating a unique meeting point between Glasgow's industrial heritage and one of Scotland's most important urban wildlife habitats. Free to explore.
Visit:
Lambhill Stables Cafe & Kitchen
The moment you arrive, the noise of the city seems to fade.
The canal drifts quietly beside you.
Birdsong replaces traffic.
Trees sway gently around the pathways.
And suddenly Glasgow feels very far away.
Yesterday, being Sunday, the Glasgow sun did something truly miraculous. It didn't just shine; it wrapped the entire city in a warm, golden embrace that had everyone flocking outdoors. Walking through the city, my inner child was absolutely screaming with joy. I seriously wish this weather could stay like this forever! I had such an incredible time that I couldn’t wait to get back, open my laptop, and share it all with you.
If you are looking for a perfect walking trip in Glasgow where you can get a massive dose of nature without actually leaving the inner city, you need to lace up your trainers and head exactly where I went today.
I walked for hours, easily clocking over 11,000 steps. Because I spent my entire afternoon trekking through beautiful trails, I officially decided: no gym for me yesterday! Nature provided all the cardio I needed.
Here is everything you need to know about Glasgow’s ultimate hidden haven called Hamiltonhill Claypits LNR.
The Essentials at a Glance
Address: 250 Ellesmere St, Glasgow G22 5LZ
Hours: Open 24 hours
Highlights: Dogs allowed · Picnic tables · Playground · Fully accessible pathways
Despite being just a few miles from Glasgow’s bustling city center, it is a remarkably wild place and serves as a vital sanctuary for local biodiversity.
Well, let me start by telling you how I got here. I really wanted to enjoy the sun yesterday, which was Sunday. I knew the week was already packed with work, and I did not want to lose my little fun time for the week. If you noticed, I have not been as active as I used to be with posting and sharing more personal travel trips, events and life stories like I love to do. Did anybody ask for me? Hahahahaha no. But I am here now.
Yesterday, even though it was raining, I still decided to enjoy my day. I woke up to sunshine, but typical Scottish weather quickly changed and it started raining. Unlike my usual habit of staying tucked away at home whenever it rains, I decided to head out anyway because I am not made of salt; I certainly do not melt.