Overview
The Magnificent 11 is a four-part circular walk of 11 miles linking seven wonderful greenspace habitats on Glasgow's Southside, including Local Nature Reserves (LNRs) and a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
Part 1 and Part 2 link three city parks along riverbanks, across open parkland and through mature woodland. Start in Linn Park and follow the White Cart Water towards the more formal setting of King’s Park, then continue to Castlemilk Park with its beautiful natural woodland.
Part 3 rises through a new park in Fernbrae Meadows, just in South Lanarkshire, to Cathkin Braes. This is Glasgow’s largest and finest greenspace, with woodland, heath, wild grasslands and bird reserve marshes, plus spectacular views over the city from its highest point. The route continues through woods and fields past Windlaw Marsh.
Part 4 is a green delight, dropping down through conservation farmlands and past Carmunnock into the Cart and Kittoch Valleys woodland by the White Cart Water to return to Linn Park.
All four parts can be completed on their own, with each having ready access to public transport. But walked together, the route offers a truly ‘Magnificent 11' miles, celebrating Glasgow, ‘The Dear Green Place’, and its more than 100 parks and greenspaces we can all enjoy.
Look out for these waymarkers on lampposts and wooden posts along the route of The Magnificent 11.
Directions and Places to See for each Part
PART 1
Linn Park LNR to King's Park
An undulating walk alongside the White Cart Water through a wooded gorge to Snuff Mill Bridge and Court Knowe
Distance: 3.2km/2 miles Start: Linn Park LNR gates, Netherlee Rd, Glasgow G44 3QL
Underfoot conditions: Muddy stretches and slippery steps and slopes after rain.
Directions
Enter Linn Park LNR 
and go down avenue – do not cross bridge
Take steps down to The Linn (waterfall) 
on the White Cart Water. Continue along track with river on right for 1.3km/3/4 mile
After some steps, cross road through wall to continue on path
Cross Snuff Mill Bridge 
and go straight ahead. Continue up to crossroads, turn right and go up steps. Go left through gap in fence to reach Court Knowe viewpoint 
. Continue up slight slope via gap in trees, turn right on tarmac path
At bottom, turn left on Seil Dr and continue to Carmunnock Rd. Turn left to bus stop, or continue past bus stop to pedestrian crossing for start of Part 2.
Along the route
Linn Park LNR, much of it in a steep-sided gorge, follows the White Cart Water. It is Glasgow’s second-largest park and was originally owned by the Maxwells of Pollok. The city acquired the park in 1919. The White Bridge was built in 1835 and is the oldest known iron bridge in Glasgow.
Mills once existed on both sides of The Linn (Scots for ‘waterfall’), using water power to wash and soften woollen cloth and leather.
To the right of Snuff Mill Bridge are the Snuff Mill and Mill House, built in the 18th century to grind grain. Small-scale snuff (powdered tobacco) milling started here in 1814. To the left is Lindsay House, built in 1863 by David Lindsay for himself and his Snuff Mill workers.
Mary, Queen of Scots, is said to have looked on from Court Knowe as her hastily formed army was defeated by the smaller forces of Regent Moray at the Battle of Langside on 13th May 1568. To the left across the road are the remains of Cathcart Castle, where Mary is reputed to have spent the night before the battle. Today only the foundation stones remain.
PART 2
King's Park to Ardencraig Road
A gradually rising, occasionally steep, walk from formal King’s Park through newly planted woodland to the mature woods of Castlemilk Park
Distance: 3.5km/2.5 miles Start: King’s Park, Carmunnock Rd, Glasgow G44 5BZ
Underfoot conditions: Mostly firm
Directions
Enter King’s Park 
by gate opposite pedestrian crossing. Continue across grass and through trees, keeping house well to left
Continue slightly downhill to leave park by gate at lower right corner. Cross road and walk uphill on zigzag path to exit at top
Turn left downhill, then first right along path via greenspace. At end, cross road, go left downhill and across Castlemilk Dr by ‘Gates' 
After 250m go through gate in metal railings to enter Castlemilk Park 
. Walk up path, taking left fork at each junction, keeping burn to left to reach a pond
Take path by fence (pond on left) and go right by a round seat up onto wide tarmac path. Continue on footpath to left of stone bridge to cross metal bridge. With burn on left, continue to top of concrete steps. Bear left up shallow steps to Ardencraig Rd beside stone canoe. Turn left and continue to mini-roundabout and Jenniburn Centre 
. Continue on Ardencraig Rd for start of Part 3.
Along the route
Prior to the nearby housing developments of the mid-1920s, today’s King’s Park was countryside centred on Hundred Acre Hill. The park was gifted to Glasgow Corporation as part of the Croftfoot housing development in 1930. The park is a proposed LNR.
Castlemilk was developed from the 1950s by Glasgow Corporation in an attempt to ease the city’s housing crisis. The Crossroads Gates were sculpted by Paul Grime, who collaborated with children from St Bartholomew’s School and members of Castlemilk Youth Complex. Objects associated with Castlemilk were used as the basis for the images on the square stone arches on both sides of Castlemilk Dr. Can you work them all out?
Castlemilk Park, a proposed LNR, runs through the heart of the community. The wonderful woodland has a network of well-maintained paths and an enchanting waterfall.
The Jenniburn Centre opened in 1998. Run by and for the community, it is supported by Glasgow City Council. It is home to the T-Jenni Cafe and has public toilets. Call 0141 630 1323 in advance for opening times.
PART 3
Ardencraig Road to Carmunnock
A steep climb is rewarded with magnificent views from Cathkin Braes LNR before the walk continues to Carmunnock, Glasgow’s only conservation village
Distance: 4.1km/2.5 miles into Carmunnock Start: Ardencraig Rd, Glasgow, near Jenniburn Centre, G45 0HE
Underfoot conditions: Mainly firm but some muddy sections. Also, be aware of cyclists on Cathkin Braes LNR. The area has several mountain bike (MTB) routes, a legacy of the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
Directions
Cross road at mini-roundabout, keeping shops on left
After a bus stop, turn left into cul-de-sac and go through gate. Turn left up through gap in hedge and up narrow track into Fernbrae Meadows 
. Nearing top, turn sharp right down slope over boardwalk, past bridge sculpture to viewpoint. Cut through hedge, between gateposts to Cathkin Braes LNR,
up path, not steps. Follow track round to right to emerge on a plateau, then continue to higher second plateau. Pass stone structure – Queen Mary’s Seat – to radio mast, to enjoy a magnificent view (see panoramic photograph). Continue 300m to head left to woods, up slope, to open grass and wind turbine 
.
With turbine on left, continue 100m to large wooden post, and go right into woods. Turn left and continue through Big Wood, keeping open ground visible to left. Follow unsurfaced paths for 0.8km/0.5 mile to emerge at small pond
Keep pond on left, go up past MTB information panel through large gap in hedge. Bear right and slightly up, with Windlaw Marsh 
to left, across field to high point, Gallowhill. Bear slightly right and down to Windlaw Rd, to turn left to Carmunnock and bus back to city. To continue on Part 4, turn right along Windlaw Rd
Along the route
Opened in 2019, Fernbrae Meadows is a proposed LNR in South Lanarkshire, directly adjacent to Cathkin Braes LNR. Formerly Blairbeth Golf Club, it has natural meadows, woodland and wetlands, sculpted installations and views across the city.
Cathkin Braes LNR is Glasgow’s largest park, covering 199 hectares, and was originally part of the Castlemilk Estate. It rises to 200m/656ft, the highest point in Glasgow. There are panoramic views north across the city to the hills and mountains beyond, including Ben Lomond, at 974m/3,196ft Scotland’s most southerly Munro. Ancient woodland, unimproved grassland, dwarf-shrub heath, marsh, bracken and thorn-scrub support a diverse range of wildlife.
The wind turbine is a joint venture between Glasgow City Council and SSE. It is 125m/410ft high and generates 3MW, enough to power 1,500 homes. Each blade is 90m/295ft long, with a tip that reaches a maximum speed of almost 320kph/200mph.
Windlaw Marsh, a wetland area of the former Windlaw Farm, is now a bird reserve renowned in winter for visiting jack snipe and in summer for breeding reed bunting. James Clark took over Windlaw Farm after WWII. He hailed from a family synonymous with Clydesdale horses and gifted the farm to Glasgow City Council.
PART 4
Carmunnock to Linn Park LNR
Fields, tracks and extensive woodland give the feeling of being a long way from Scotland’s largest city
Distance: 6.4km/4 miles Start: Hillcrest, Carmunnock, Glasgow G76 9DS
Underfoot conditions: Many stretches may be muddy. Exposed tree roots across the path could be slippery
Directions
NB This section feels quite remote so some navigation skills and outdoor footwear are required, and two fields may have livestock. It is strongly advised not to take dogs, even on a lead, across these fields. There is an alternative route: do not cross Carmunnock Rd but continue along verge. Just before roundabout, cross road to go first left. Follow track past cemetery on right. Continue on lane past third farm gate on left and stile at below.
{ From bus stop on Hillcrest, leave Carmunnock 
on Windlaw Rd until 100m past last house, where a defined track comes downhill on right (end of Part 3). Approximately 250m further along the lane, turn left to begin Part 4. }
Walk along Windlaw Rd to tarmac path on right. Turn left through gap in hedgerow, keep trees on right and climb to highest point. Go through gate to bear left on path down to gate
Cross road with care, turn left and immediately right, around gate into lane. Continue between hedgerows to tarmac road by Pedmyre House. Continue straight past second large house on left. Where road goes left, go straight ahead round short wall across boardwalk. Continue, turn right on old road up to field gate and go left to main road
Turn right along verge for 100m, opposite old field entrance – cross road with care. Follow path through gate to second gate in deer fence and walk down to bottom of field
Cross two stiles and turn right on narrow grassy track for 75m to stile and over small bridge. Now in Parklee Farm fields, follow field margin to left round two corners to gate opposite
Cross stile, turn left on farm track and take second right past former anti-aircraft battery 
to radio mast. Walk down left side of fenced buildings and go left down sloping path to curve right into Cart and Kittoch Valleys SSSI 
. Continue down two flights of steps to reach river. Turn right – do not cross bridge – and continue on through woodland over boards
Take right fork, keeping cemetery to left, up slope, bear left at top to cross walkover boards. Cross two final walkovers, turn left down slope to wide track and follow to opening in wall
Cross grass, over road, pick up narrow path to left of school, cross burn, continue up slope
Turn left at T-Junction to reach meadow and information panel, veer slight left, head downhill to White Bridge. Cross bridge and turn left to return to park gates.
Along the route
Carmunnock is the only conservation village within the city of Glasgow. The ancient settlement, associated with the early Christian missionary St Cadoc, was part of an estate owned eventually by the Dukes of Hamilton who, in 1700, passed it to the Stuarts of Castlemilk. The village has its own Heritage Trail, described in this Leaflet.
The Carnbooth anti-aircraft battery was one of 45 built to defend Glasgow and the Clyde in WWII. There is still evidence of its original four gun emplacements, along with a command post and armaments stores; it also had a radar mast.
The Cart and Kittoch Valleys SSSI is approximately 48 hectares of mixed deciduous gorge woodland fringing the White Cart Water and its tributary, the Kittoch Burn. It is predominantly ash, oak, birch and wych elm, with flora including wood anemone, dog’s mercury, sanicle and bluebells.
Further information
A copy of the directions is available here to download and print.
A GPS file of the route is available here which can be used to follow the route on a GPS device, including gps enabled smart phones and tablets.
A brief history of the development of The Magnificent 11 is given here.
For information on some of Glasgow’s more than 100 parks and open spaces and why the city is known as the Dear Green Place, please visit www.glasgow.gov.uk/parks
If you’d like to consider other walks around Glasgow and across Scotland, you can join us Ramblers Scotland here or phone 0131 357 5850.
For information about the Glasgow Ramblers group visit glasgowramblers.org.uk or email
Acknowledgements
The Magnificent 11 would not have been possible without Glasgow’s Countryside Rangers and Glasgow Ramblers, and the enthusiasm, cooperation and hands-on contributions of the community volunteers of the ‘Friends of’ groups for Linn Park LNR, King’s Park, the proposed LNRs at Fernbrae Meadows and Castlemilk Park and the Park’s own volunteer group, as well as Carmunnock Heritage Society, Carmunnock Community Council and Parklee Farm.
Woodland photograph and Cathkin Braes panoramic photograph by George Wilson.
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