The Avenue

Start location: Colzium House (NS 729 787)
End location: Coach Road (NS 733 776)
Geographical area: Campsie Fells, Strathclyde and Lanarkshire
Path Type: Rural Path
Path distance: 1.5km
Accessibility info: Suitable for pedestrians

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Route Description

Newsflash! The Heritage Paths (Campsie Fells) Project is very pleased to announce that we have a lovely Campsies map leaflet showing old routes and other paths in the area. To get your hands on one, simply send us an SAE c/o ScotWays (see address top-right) and we'll post one out to you.

This route is at the eastern edge of Kilsyth and links Colzium House (crossing en route the modern Stirling road (A803)) with the old Stirling road, known locally as the Coach Road. Starting from Colzium House, head east and then south towards the lodge which lies at the Colzium Estate entrance on the A803. Opposite the entrance a sign-post indicates Provost McCann's Walkway, which in fact refers to another right of way that commences here but which instead runs west. Our onward route is a little wet at first and runs between mature trees. It consists of a narrow path with a broad mown verge, clearly maintained by the Council. The line curves left (south) and over a gentle crest: this higher and drier part reveals firm going underfoot, indicative of the route having been an old road. There is open woodland on the left (east) side and fields and later a pond on the right (west). A large farm building stands on a hillock to the east. A well-trodden path leads to the minor road where the route terminates.

OS Landranger 64 (Glasgow, Motherwell & Airdrie)

Heritage Information

The Avenue is said to have been formerly used to reach the railway station from Colzium House, and although that is likely, it actually predates the Kilsyth & Bonnybridge Railway the development of which caused it to develop an additional kink. It in fact leads to the old Coach Road, and thus also heads in the direction of Craigmarloch and the Forth & Clyde Canal.

The woodland lining the route east of Colzium House is labelled on some maps as Avenue Strip. In the 1970s a local resident reported that they remembered the chestnut trees lining the route being cut down to give employment after World War II.

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