レンフルーシャー周辺のアトラクション＆必見スポット - トップ20

Hoist the kids up for a picture

Castle Semple Loch Visitor Centre is situated in the heart of Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park in Scotland. The centre offers a range of facilities including a café, exhibitions, and information on local wildlife and activities.

Very nice little waterfall

The original purpose of the temple was simply a landscape feature or ‘folly’, designed to be seen from the mansion house and by visitors arriving at Castle Semple. It also served as a summer house with panoramic views. The design of the building probably comes from James Gibbs ‘Book of Architecture’, published in 1728, a sort of architect’s scrapbook of ideas. Gibbs described his designs as ‘summer houses in the form of temples of an octagonal form. The Follie originally had a roof and glazed windows but these were damaged in a fire. It also had trees planted beside it.

Barr Castle is a 15th-century keep which was altered in the 16th century (and probably later, too). The gables of the castle have collapsed, apart from the chimney stack which juts up into the sky. Not much survives of the former courtyard of the castle. The main hall was on the first floor, reached by a turnpike stair, which continued to the rooms on the upper floors. It is clearly visible from the A760 road going south from the village to Kilbirnie. It was built by the Glen family but passed in the late 16th century to the Hamiltons of Ferguslie. A door lintel has a date of 1680 and the initials L.H./I.C. The family abandoned it in the 18th century in favour of a new house. The family, variously known as Sempill, Sempil, Sempel and Semple, had probably owned estates in the area from as early as the 13th century. Robert Semple, Steward of the barony of Renfrew during the reign of Alexander II, was recorded as living in Elliston Castle, whose ruins lie near Howwood. The Semples of Elliston fought for Robert the Bruce, and steadily grew in power to become the Steward's hereditary Baillies of Renfrewshire. They were appointed Hereditary Sheriffs of Renfrewshire and Hereditary Baillies of Paisley. They were later designated as Lords Semple. Their extensive land holdings, Castle Semple, constituted some areas of Lochwinnoch and its hinterland. At some point, probably in the 15th century, the family built a tower keep at the east end of the north shore of the Loch.

Castle Semple Collegiate Church was founded in 1504 to serve his castle and estate. John, Lord Sempill built the church which was then extended by his son to include the tomb of his father who was killed in the battle of Flodden. Today the church is partially ruined with no roof. The tomb is still visible and remains a good example of a medieval burial tomb.

Castle Semple Loch was part of the historic Lochwinnoch estate. It was a fishing loch and part of the wider drainage scheme that the estate owners created to improve the local land for farming. Today the loch is still used for fishing and water sports. There is a RSPB bird sanctuary along the southern shore and a network of paths and trails that are popular with families, cyclists and dog walkers in the wider Castle Semple Country Park to the north.

The waterfall is 26 feet tall and best seen after a good deluge of rain to add some flow to it. Consequently is is usually better seen in the autumn and winter. To reach the waterfall jump off the bike and take the path heading south where this highlight is.