After another couple of miles, we come to another T junction.  This time we turn left, signposted Caldarvan Station and John Muir Way.  
Caldarvan Station today is a tiny hamlet of houses built around the original railway station.  Originally named Gartocharn Station, it opened in 1856 and was a stop on the Forth and Clyde Junction Railway which ran from Balloch to Stirling.
The line was not successful though as its stations were often miles away from the villages they purported to serve.  After closure in the fifties the track was removed and few artifacts now remain although it is still possible to make out traces of the platform at Caldarvan Station.

Shortly after passing Wester Cameron Farm buildings the road begins to rise steeply.  This is the ascent to Cameron Muir - a wild and lonely place.
This forms part of the John Muir Way, a 130 -mile (215-Kilometre) route which runs from Dunbar on the east coast of Scotland to Helensburgh in the west. It was opened in April 2014 to commemorate the Scottish conservationist John Muir who became founder of the United States National Parks Service.
The route is suitable for walkers and cyclists although some sections may be more suitable for off-road cycles.
Around Croftamie the route splits – where travellers have the option of taking the road route on the low-lying ground whilst the more ambitious can head up into the hills – as we are doing

The bridge is just wide enough to allow you to push your bike across.
This is one of the prettiest parts of the route.  Many years ago, Barnford Farm existed close to the bridge but little evidence of its structures survive today.
From the bridge we can see the Campsie Hills to the south with the distinctive Drumgoyne hill at the western end.
Once across the bridge we follow the farm track up the hill.  As we look down, we can see the enormous loop of the Endrick water as it circles the field below.  At times of heavy rainfall, the field is often flooded - and even today, after a fairly long dry spell there is still a pond of water in the middle of the field.
At the top of the hill we can see Dalnair Farm and Crow Hill lying below us.  

This section of path leads from where we parked the car to a section of what is known as the Rob Roy Way.  Rob Roy Way is a long-distance path running through the Trossachs from Drymen to Pitlochry.  It is less busy than the more famous and very popular West Highland Way which runs from Milngavie in the north of Glasgow to Fort William
The Rob Roy Way at 79 miles (127km) long, the route travels through some of the most beautiful scenery in the British Isles.
Marker posts confirm the route but it is advisable to have a good map with you as sometimes the posts can be few and far between.  Also, at many locations there is a choice of path and it can be frustrating to head off in the wrong direction for a couple of miles before realising.  There are not many people around to give directions!
After climbing for about fifteen minutes we came to a well-made forestry track.  We turned right onto it and continued to climb.
​The going was easy on a continuous gradient

 aArriving by car and parking (free) by the former Craigend Stable Block we started our tour of Mugdock Park.
Although the day was overcast the weather was mainly dry and in no way spoiled our exploration of this country park designated a four star tourist attraction by Visit Scotland.
After being a seat of the Buchanan family for many years it was purchased by Sir Hugh Fraser (1936-1987) of House of Fraser fame.
Sir Hugh gifted Mugdock estate to the council as a Country Park in 1987.
The park is managed jointly by East Dumbartonshire Council and Stirling Council with the former running the day to day management.
It is terrific place for a stroll and adventure whatever the weather.

The start of our stroll took us about a ten-minute walk to the surviving ruins of Craigend Castle.  The lands of Craigend were originally owned by John Smith (founder of John Smith bookshops in 1751)
The house or castle was built to designs by Alexander Ramsay in Regency Gothic Style.  In 1851 it was sold to the Buchanan Family.  
More interestingly in 1949 Glasgow businessman south the castle and some land and opened Craigend Zoological Park with many exotic animals including an Indian elephant called Charlie.
The zoo proved a popular attraction but business dwindled when the bus service from Milngavie ceased.  Shortly after this the zoo closed its doors in 1955

A short stroll over the hill from the castle took us to the substantial remains of a World War Two gun battery.
Built during the war after the Clydebank Blitz the gun battery formed part of the regions defences.  
At night fires were lit to draw bombers away from the Clyde shipyards and away from the city, towards the guns.  it is said to be the most intact remains of a gun battery in the Clyde valley.
The panoramic views from here to the south across the City of Glasgow and the lower Clyde Valley are awesome.
Round about this area cattle were grazing and ancient Scots Pines flourished.
We defended the track along the hillside to the east an made our way to our second castle - Mugdock Castle.  
Parts of this structure date back to at least 1372 and in the intervening years the buildings have been subject to centuries of dramatic attacks and colourful characters according to the guide.  What remains gives a good idea of what it must have been like.

The castle keep is watertight - with a roof - and non-medieval solar panels.  The tower is open to visitors at weekends.
​The castle was once the administrative centre of the Lands of Mugdock and owned by the Graham family linked with the Duke of Montrose.
There was a large mansion attached to the castle but this was demolished in the early 1960s.
There is still a sizeable portion of the ruinous remains of both the castle and the mansion.  
The castle once incorporated a courtroom and a jail acting as the legal centre in early days.
To the west the rise overlooks the walled garden.  The wall around this garden was rebuilt by volunteers a few years ago but moss has claimed its place once more making the repairs far less visible.
In the distance can be seen Mugdock Loch.
At this time of year a fantastic display of snowdrops lies close to the castle.

The land in the park varies from heathland, woodland to open moorland.  Wherever you walk there is variety.  
Popular with walkers and joggers the country park is free to access.
There is a generally wild feel to it - un-manicured which makes a visit most rewarding.
As well as Mugdock Loch there is another water closer to the Stable Block where we arrived.  This is the pretty Craigend Pond which is popular with ducks and those who like to feed them.
Adjacent to the pond is a well stocked garden centre

We pass Craigend Pond on our way back to the Stable Block where the car is parked.
Within the courtyard of the stable block there is outdoor seating, toilet facilities, an information point, gift shop as well as food outlets.  
There is also a performance area and on some evenings musicians come to play.
It is a great place to have a cup of tea and a sandwich after our walk.
We had only been at the park for a couple of hours and according to the map plan there was still a great deal to explore.
There is a moot hill and a former ducking pond - an ominous place in days gone by.
Despite being so close to the north end of Glasgow the park feels quite rural and unspoilt.
The views from the high ground over the city of Glasgow are quite spectacular.
​It is great to think that this excellent facility is situated so close to Appletree Luxury Self-catering Cottage in Croftamie.
We'll certainly be back again!

We took a day out to visit Stirling Castle - about half an hour's drive from Appletree Cottage.  In the first part we explored the entrance, the Queen Ann Garden and the exhibition.  Going through the main gate we entered the lower square with the medieval Great Hall on the left.  
The Great Hall was the largest of its kind ever built in Scotland - used for feasting, dancing and ceremonial pageants.   
Heated by five huge fireplaces it was completed in 1503 for James IV of Scotland
During refurbishment the Great Hall was hailed in a striking yellow / ochre lime wash.  This is intended to replicate the original covering - the lime to protect the stonework and protect against the elements.  The Great Hall with its bright distinctive colour is clearly visible from several miles away.