Trip to Lochwinnoch, S.W. Scotland
(Above image is a capture of the principal viewpoint at Lochwinnoch bird watching centre.) Today, I had a wonderful experience in form of 30 mile, round trip cycle ride from south Glasgow to Lochwinnoch and back in S.W. Scotland Much of the route covered a former railway line from Paisley to Lochwinnoch which has been converted to a combined hiking/cycling trail. Along the way I encountered a defunct church with links to U.S.A., site on a river which powered cotton mills in the 18th century, lush green landscapes, varied and vibrant wildflowers, 1.5 mile long loch (lake) with remains of iron-age (2000 yr old approx.) crannog (high status dwelling), remains of collegiate church from 1505 and RSPB bird watching centre. Castlehead is a closed Presbyterian church which was o riginally built by the Paisley weavers between 1781/82 and later refurbished in 1868. It was here that Peggy Downie – daughter of Scottish renegade David Downie –married reactionary weaver Claud Wilson i...