Duchal woods-quarriers walk

This lovely walk follows the Gryffe Water as it meanders through open Length: 4.5 miles countryside from Kilmacolm to Quarriers village. Affording plenty Duration: 2 hours or more if you stop for a swim! of places to picnic and a great wild swimming spot if you are feeling Rating: Easy brave enough. Points of Interest: Denniston Motte/wild swimming The walk begins at the village entrance to Milton Woods – known locally as Duchal Woods. Walk through woods to the road at the bottom. Take a left and follow the road to a bridge 2 minutes away. Denniston motte is on the hill to the right. Cross the style on the far side of the bridge then carefully make your way over the small burn and follow the feint path on the side of the woodland with the river on your right. Pass into the field by a large fallen tree and keep following the edge of the river as it bends to the left. This is a great spot for a picnic and a dip. Keep following the river all the way to the road. Cross the road following the green signpost for Quarriers Village down some steps and Denniston MottE enter the playing fields by the river where at the far side you will see a Mottes were defensive structures built often with a wooden playground. or stone castle tower built on the flat top. They were introduced into Scotland by Norman settlers in the twelfth century. It is thought that the motte belonged to Hugh de Danielstoun, a knight who fought on the side of Edward the I. Later this Motte might have been used as a meeting place indicated by the discovery of a 15th – 16th century bronze or copper counting piece, found in a sheep scrape on the north side of the motte. (Taken from Renfrewshire History Forum).

Keep following the river, now on your left, and it will take you to the rear of the Sommerville Hall. Cross the bridge to join the cycle track – paying attention to the info boards as you go which explain the history of Quarriers. Follow the cycle track back to Kilmacolm.

2012-06-30 113 Quarriers Village” by Martyn Jenkins is licensed with CC BY-NC-SA 2.0