Lochgoin Circuit, Whitelee Windfarm
An easy 7 mile circuit around Whitelee Windfarm’s Lochgoin Reservoir. The route is way-marked meaning that navigation is simple and underfoot is a mixture of loose stones and grass. Look out for Dunwan Dam and take a detour to Blackwood Hill Viewpoint, from which on a clear day you will be able to see as far as the Isle of Arran and Ben Lomond.
Technical sheet No. 24282582
Calculated time: 3h50[?] 
Distance : 12.67 km
Vertical gain : 62 m
Vertical drop : 63 m
Highest point : 294 m
Lowest point : 256 m 
Difficulty : Easy
Back to starting point : Yes
Walking
Location : East Renfrewshire
Starting point : N 55.712298° / W 4.342276° 
Today's forecast :
Description
(D/A) From the car park at Whitelee Visitor Centre follow the road back down to the information board.
(1) Turn right (South) to go through the barrier and downhill to Turbine #40 .
(2) Turn left (East) here and after 280m when you reach a sign for the mountain bike trails, turn right (South) to walk along a narrower track.
(3) This track cuts across to a wider track, emerging at a large boulder. Turn left (East) here.
(4) Take the first right (South East) onto a track heading downhill towards Loch Goin.
(5) Keep left (East) at a fork to cross a cattle grid (there is a gate to the side if you prefer). Loch Goin is now on your right-hand side.
(6) After a short uphill section there is another fork - turn right (South) and begin following the perimeter of the loch around.
(7) Just before turbine 43 you have the option of a short detour to the Blackwood Hill Viewpoint. If you wish to do that, turn left and go up the hill path to the trig point at the top. Return via the same route.
(8) 2.6km after the Blackwood Hill Viewpoint path, you will reach a crossroads. Turn right (North West). The track starts to head back towards Loch Goin after a brief spell "inland".
(9) Just past turbine 27 look out for a way marker pointing to the right towards Lochgoin Dam. You can shorten the walk by 1.6km by following that track across the grassy dam wall and meeting up with the rest of the route at Lochgoin Farm (11) If you don't wish to shorten the route, keep left (South) at turbine 27. This track takes you away from the loch again and joins up with the Spine Road.
(10) Turn right (West) when you reach the Spine Road.
Keep right (West) at a fork approx 600m along.
(11) When you reach Lochgoin Farm there is a crossroads. You can take a short de-tour from here to visit Lochgoin Monument and if doing this turn left at the crossroads then return to the crossroads and turn left to continue the route. If not going to the monument, continue straight ahead (North) at the crossroads.
(12) Take your first right (North East) to pass turbines 11, 26 and 42.
(13) Just after turbine 42 turn left (North West) at the fork.
At the top of the hill turn left (West) and then take first right at the large boulder (3)
At the end of the path, at the sign for the mountain bike trails (2), turn left (West) and on reaching Turbine 40 (1) turn right (North) to retrace your steps back to the car park at Whitelee Visitor Centre (D/A)
Waypoints :
D/A : km 0 - alt. 294 m - Car park at Whitelee Visitor Centre (G76 0QQ)
1 : km 0.43 - alt. 274 m - Turbine 40
2 : km 0.74 - alt. 280 m - Mountain bike trails sign
3 : km 1.05 - alt. 282 m - Large boulder
4 : km 1.2 - alt. 283 m - Right turn towards Loch Goin
5 : km 1.46 - alt. 276 m - Left at fork towards cattle grid
6 : km 1.84 - alt. 272 m - Fork - go right to follow loch perimeter
7 : km 2.16 - alt. 279 m - Path to Blackwood Hill Viewpoint
8 : km 4.83 - alt. 283 m - Crossroads
9 : km 6.59 - alt. 267 m - Shortcut across Lochgoin Dam
10 : km 7.45 - alt. 280 m - Spine Road
11 : km 9.05 - alt. 269 m - Crossroads at Lochgoin Farm
12 : km 9.77 - alt. 261 m - Right turn
13 : km 11.17 - alt. 281 m - Turbine 42
D/A : km 12.67 - alt. 294 m - Car park at Whitelee Visitor Centre (G76 0QQ)
Useful Information
For more information and a route review, visit Gillian's Walks
Transport
- No public transport to start point.
- Plenty of car and bike parking at Whitelee Visitor centre (G76 0QQ)
Terrain
Typical windfarm tracks - loose gravel. Several hills.
You can download the official walk map from East Renfewshire Council’s website which is useful because it has the turbine numbers shown on it.
Route passes through a sheep grazing area - dogs must be kept on short lead.
Visorando and this author cannot be held responsible in the case of accidents or problems occuring on this walk.
During the walk or to do/see around
- Whitelee Visitor Centre - cafe, toilets, information, Countryside Ranger Service
- Whitelee Windfarm - largest onshore windfarm in the UK. There are many miles of walking and biking trails, purpose-built mountain bike trails, picnic huts
- Blackwood Hill Viewpoint
- Lochgoin monument - a tall obelisk relating to the Covenanters, located next to Lochgoin Farm (11)
- Covenanter's Museum - a small museum located next to Lochgoin Farm (11)
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The GPS track and description are the property of the author.
