📌 Neilston, East Renfrewshire
★★★
Neilston is a familiar sight on Glasgow Central station’s departure boards, being one of the terminuses on the Cathcart Circle suburban rail line. The town also gives its name to a flat topped but steep sided wee hill a couple of miles further south: Neilston Pad. Views are surprisingly good, taking in several surrounding reservoirs, Glasgow and the Campsie Fells, Tinto and even the Isle of Arran on a clear day. The peaceful waters of neighbouring Craigston Dam crank up the charm even further, allowing a varied circuit from car parks to the south.
📷 Chronological photo guide
Approach to Craighall Dam 
Craighall Dam 
West shore path 
North side of the reservoir 
Path around the northwest side of Neilston Pad 
Glasgow & Campsie Fells in the distance 
Ascent to Neilston Pad 
Snypes Dam (foreground) & Walton Dam 
Bog cotton 
Neilston Pad west summit 
Descent to the south 
Harelaw Dam from the descent
🌍 Location
📌 Start / finish at sharp bend on minor road 2 mi south of Neilston
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NS 472544
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 55.758819,-4.436094
🚆🚌 Train / bus to Neilston (1 mi from north side of circuit – use track via Craig of Neilston farm to join route)
🚗 Car park
📝 Key info
▶ 3 km / 2 mi | ▲ 80 m | ⌛ 1 hr
Features: 💧 Craighall Dam; △ Neilston Pad (261 m)
⬤⬤ Easy to Moderate | Clear but unmade paths. Section north of reservoir is boggy (can be avoided by using track further northwest); short but steep ascent to Neilston Pad.
Download file for GPS➡️ Clockwise circuit: path north, skirts Craighall Dam to west then north – path around northwest side of Neilston Pad – Neilston Pad via north side (summit not quite visited) – descend to south – start
🥾 On our last visit
Wildlife: Mallards, tufted ducks, blue & red damselflies.
Weather: Sunny, 22°C, gentle NE wind.
June 2023
