TERRAIN: Pavements, earth and grass trails (often boggy), a couple of sets of boardwalk which are in a state of disrepair so need caution. One set of steps with no handrail. Several kissing gates. Total elevation 550 ft / 152 m. Livestock. Some parts of the route become a bit overgrown in summer months.
Dog-friendly route (note that livestock can sometimes be present on or next to the route)
GETTING THERE: The walk starts and ends at Barrhead Train Station. There is car parking just off Carlibar Road or on the surrounding residential streets.
View full route description
From Barrhead Train Station head for Paisley Road and cross onto Graham Street at the pedestrian crossing.
Where Graham Street and Laurel Way meet look out for a small fenced-off grassy area. This is the start of the Fereneze Braes path. Go through the gap in the wooden fence to pick up the trail.
The trail takes you uphill and at approx 130m elevation it runs SW along a fence line for 500m to a fork. Turn right (NW) at the fork – Fereneze Golf Course will be on your right-hand side.
After 400m keep left at a fork then almost immediately turn left again to come away from the golf course. A further 100m along go through a kissing gate then turn right (NW).
Another 200m along come off the main path onto a trail on your left which runs SW between two fences.
At the end of this trail go through a wooden gate and keep right (W), ignoring the boardwalk on your left. Head across the grass and across a small wooden footbridge, following an indistinct trail through some trees, continuing NW uphill and bending to the right (N) to reach a cairn and single tree at the top (219m / 718 ft elevation).
Enjoy the views then retrace your steps down to where the boardwalk was, this time going through the kissing gate on your right and across the boardwalk (take care – it was in a state of disrepair on my last visit). Follow this trail SE in between two fences for approx 300m, crossing another section of boardwalk and then arriving at a gate.
Once through the gate continue straight ahead (S), on a narrow trail which traverses the hillside through Gorse and pine trees. The trail brings you out facing onto a fenceline and a fine view over Neilston. Turn left here (SE) to go downhill with the fence on your right-hand side.
At the bottom of some steps the trail takes a sharp right turn (SW) through more Gorse.
At a crossroads continue straight ahead (W) into Killoch Woods. The path now leads you downhill into Killoch Glen. At the end of the path turn right (S) to continue through Killoch Glen – look out for waterfalls in the Killoch Water as you go.
The path eventually leads out onto Fereneze Road. Turn left (NE) to walk along this road (later becoming Gateside Road then Graham Street) for 2.3km back to where Graham Street meets Laurel Street at the start of the Fereneze Braes path. From here retrace your steps to Paisley Road and Barrhead Train Station.
WALK REPORT – 8th May 2024
Great to be back in East Ren checking out a few routes ahead of some upcoming filming! East Renfrewshire Council had invited me to be their main ‘face’ and ‘voice’ on some short films being produced for social media, to promote their walking trails over the school summer holidays. I’d done this last summer too and it was great fun, albeit completely out of my comfort zone! I was delighted to be asked back for this second series. You can see all the finished pieces on the council’s You Tube channel. Here is what we came up with for Fereneze Braes…
I was vaguely familiar with the route from a previous visit and I had it mapped out on my Visorando app so I was confident from a navigation point of view. The main purpose of this walk was to decide on the best film locations, where to access those, and the key points of interest to include in the script. I was joined by two members of Eastwood Ramblers – so great to benefit from their local knowledge of the views and the surrounding area.
And the views are a big highlight of the walk! For most of the way you get fantastic panoramas over Barrhead or Neilston, across to The Craigie and Neilston Pad. The rolling East Ren countryside is pretty special and a sight I’ve come to love: lush green farmland, rolling hillsides, leafy suburban residential areas, always a reservoir or two, and at this time of year the Gorse really stands out covered in its bright yellow flowers.
I recommend the short de-tour to the viewpoint at the top of the hill where you’ll find a cairn overlooking Paisley, and on a clear day you’ll also be able to see as far as the Kilpatrick Hills and the Campsies! I’d say its a great spot for a picnic but any time I’ve been up there it’s been blowing a hoolie so maybe don’t count on that!
A prominent feature on the landscape up here is the solitary tree, perfectly demonstrating the prevailing wind direction. I’m led to understand that it is known locally as ‘the kissing tree’ – if you know why be sure to get in touch!
Photo credit: Catherine McKay, East Ren Council.
I could tell that a lot of work and money had been put into the Fereneze Braes route at one time: the marker posts and interpretation boards, the boardwalks, the gates, the steps… As is so often the case with these things though, it is now in need of some TLC with parts of the path overgrown with Gorse, boardwalks in quite a precarious condition, steps narrowed to a quarter of their former width… There are quite a few way markers along the route, but also a few missing. In fact at the very start of the trail there used to be a sign post which I found lying in the scrub further up the path… Sadly there is currently no staff member within East Ren Council whose role involves maintaining the trails network (and no money to recruit one). I did find out through Facebook that one of the local residents tries to go up and keep the Gorse cut back to stop things becoming too overgrown.
Don’t let any of that put you off though – I only detail it so that you know what to expect when you get there and can go prepared. Download the route to your mobile so that you can follow it precisely on the map, try to hold off for a day when the ground isn’t saturated and you’ll have a grand day out!
Once down off the hillside you have the glorious Killoch Glen to look forward to: A woodland walk with a lovely waterfall – what variety this route offers! There is also a bench in the glen for that picnic if you haven’t already found a good spot.
I had noticed on the map that the final couple of miles of this walk was to be along a road, and I wasn’t particularly looking forward to it if I am honest. However once there I was pleasantly surprised to find a charming residential street with lots of big houses to nosey at. I felt safe and the time passed quickly. Plus it is always nice to enjoy an easy finish!
Overall this is a fantastic, varied hike with great transport links!
