Location: Houston and Bridge of Weir
Map: OS Landranger 63, 64 (NS408664)
Distance: 7.5 miles (12km)
Time: 3 hours 50 minutes
Terrain: roads and paths
The River Gryfe lies at the heart of this ramble between the villages of Houston and Bridge of Weir in Renfrewshire. Start from the car park opposite Houston Cemetery off the B790 on the south side of the village. Follow the tarmac path under the B790 via the underpass, then right and up through housing. Continue through Houston Public Park to Bogstonhill Road and on past South Street and the post office to North Street.
Go right then right again, down Kirk Road past Houston House and Houston and Killellan Kirk and round the eastern side of Bogston Hill to a T-junction. Cross over and down Quarry Brae to Neuk Brae, then rightwards to a bus stop on the B790. Cross over and left beside the main road to pass over Leeburn Avenue and Gardens, beyond which the path swings into woodland beside the River Gryfe.
Just past where the path exits to open grassland, turn right over the footbridge across the Gryfe, then left at the junction to a gravel path which leads past large pine trees to a stone pillar and signboard. On the left above the river are the spreading branches of the 600-year-old Craigends Yew (the centre of the tree is dying, but the fallen branches have rooted and live on).
Retrace your steps to the footbridge junction and go left on a path behind houses. Turn right almost immediately on to an earth path through woodland, before ascending to the path behind the houses, then descending to a tarmac path and footbridge.
Cross over to Crosslee Park and Houston Road beyond and follow that left to Whirlie Road opposite the River Inn. Ascend past Crosslee Park to a car park and path signed for River Gryfe and Bridge of Weir. Paths lead above or beside the river to a signpost pointing back into woodland beside the Crosslee Lade.
Continue past a signpost right to Houston via a bridge over the lade and on to new flats on the edge of Bridge of Weir. Continue below the flats to a footbridge with green railings on the left. Don't cross over but turn right then left and ascend beside the river to a road which is followed up and left to Main Street.
Follow Main Street left over the river and past shops to a Bridge of Weir walks sign pointing left down Mill Brae. Descend this to the green railing footbridge, cross over to the flats and follow the outward route back to the Houston signpost on Crosslee Lade. Turn left over the lade and past Goldenlee Farm to the B790. Cross straight over to the Old Bridge of Weir Road (great care needed), then cross that and follow the pavement into Houston to the roundabout. Turn right past St Fillan's Church and Primary, then left to the underpass leading back to Houston Cemetery.
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