Cunninghame ramblers. Neilston Pad and surrounding lochs. July 2016

Snypes Dam with Glasgow in the background

Some steep paths were negotiated

I thought it was an orchid but I have my doubts.(lovely colours with the bee feeding on the pollen)

Craighall Dam

Some parts were on nice open moorland

Climbing James Hill

We called this the sleuce gates restaurant

Todays happy group

Walk leader complete with jelly babies!!

Yesterday Tuesday July 12 Cunninghame ramblers went to East Renfrewshire for a 7 mile walk on the Neilston Pad and surrounding lochs and dams. Parking near to Harelaw Dam on a mild cloudy morning 14 walkers made their way up onto a volcanic plug known as the Neilston Pad with its wonderful views over the city of Glasgow.From here we had a steep descent to Craighall Dam which forms a series of lochs and dams to be used as resevoirs for the surrounding areas of Neilston ,Barrhead and Paisley.This walk was described as a figure of eight so we crossed over at our starting point where we picked up our rucksacks to continue over the moors to Harelaw Dam complete with fishermen trying to catch their dinner. Unfortunately we did not have the groups  twitcher with us this morning but I think there was a small flock of greylag geese on the loch. A steady climb took the group to the summit of James Hill in the middle of Harelaw wind farm before a rather tricky steep descent to the sleuce gates that were used as a lunch stop. The last 2 miles were mostly on windfarm roads before reaching the car park to end another great day out with a leader who is not normally given to dry weather walks managed exceptionally well despite taking the group through some rather treacherous undergrowth with the odd wet muddy patches not visible due to the walkers .Well done sir.