09/07/22 – What a great start to the day with 15km and 562m elevation done by 0930hrs. Ali hadn’t done the Blanefield/Dumgoyne via the shoulder/down the back onto the track to Killearn/pipe track back so perfect excuse to run it.
Parking at the war memorial (next to St Kessog’s Church) in Blanefield we headed up Campsie Dene Road and onto the pipe track with all the krypton factor gates. After about a couple of km, and just after the cottage on the left there is a gate on the right. Go through the gate, and next deer gate, and keep heading up, every time there is a split keep left. Eventually there is a stream to cross that then takes you over a stile and into the field. Going straight ahead there is a gradual climb along a narrow muddy trail. Eventually popping out mid-way up Dumgoyne. Now the climb begins to the top. The trig and views were simply stunning, another day you could see for miles and miles across to Loch Lomond and beyond.
From here we then went down the steep back off the back of Dumgoyne. This path isn’t for the faint hearted but so long as take your time it’s fine. Off Dumgoyne and then head back up again, usually I’d take this all the way to Earls Seat but today we eventually veered left and down a track. There are usually sheep on either side on this track and it’s a lovely meandering downhill all the way to Killearn. There is one split on the way down where you could go right but don’t. We eventually reached the farm gate and jumped over. Now back on the pipe track the option is right to Killearn or left to Blanefield. Left we went and just stayed on the track all the way back to the beginning.
Breath taking views, glorious weather, quality chat and even managed a second breakfast.
