20의 클라이드 뮤어쉴 지역 공원가지 명소 & 주요 장소

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.

The Greenock Cut is a leat built to supply water from the reservoir to Greenock. It was built in the 19th century and features ingenious overflow valves which self-maintain the flow using a bucket as a counterweight to open or close overflow gates in the main channel. This is the water divide above Braeside where water is channelled off to serve that area of the town. The Greenock Cut path is a very popular walking (cycling and horse riding is also allowed) trail that follows the cut from the visitor centre in a big loop of the hillside.

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.

Virtually Traffic free roads with stunning scenery in the hills either ways.

Just you, the road, the views and the sheep! Old Largs Road is a stunning piece of road that links Largs and Loch Thom. Sometimes it really is just you and the sheep as you roll through Clyde Muirshiel park. A real highlight of the area!

Beautiful cycle and surface with very few, if any cars

Great cycling hill climb.