Ballagan Glen Reserve
Ballagan Glen is a steep-sided, thickly-wooded gorge on the southern edge of the Campsie Fells. The Campsie Fells have been heavily grazed by sheep over the last couple of centuries or so and much of the slopes are consequently covered in grassland of limited wildlife interest. However the steep nature of the glen has impeded access by sheep and deer. This has enabled ongoing natural re-generation of native woodland. Due to the nature of the underlying rocks the water emanating from springs in the glen is rich in calcium and magnesium and this contributes to a very rich ground layer with many interesting plants and invertebrates.
Apart from the fine views from the reserve over the Blane valley and southwards, there are two main scenic attractions. The first, the Spout of Ballagan, is a 20 metre-high waterfall where the Ballagan Burn cascades over a lip of rock high up in the reserve, on its way down to the valley. It is best seen during the months October to April when there are no leaves on the surrounding trees. The second attraction is a spectacular cliff rising sheer for approximately 40 metres on the west side of the burn, exposing successive layers of distinctly-coloured shales and cementstones. These are the geological type series from the Lower Carboniferous age and are known as the ‘Ballagan Beds’. Above these is a succession of basalt lava flows.
What Can You Do There?
View the Ballagan Beds - best seen from the eastern fence-line
View the Spout of Ballagan Waterfall - accessed along a ledge in the steep woodland on the eastern side of the burn - very rough going, over boulders and tree-roots. Take special care.
Look at plants along the lower part of the burn and the steep woodland on the eastern side of the burn - also very rough going, over boulders and tree-roots. In spring the profusion of flowers such as Primrose, Red Campion, and Bluebells makes a colourful display.
Walk up to the open glen above the Reserve – wild, open country.
When is the best time to go?
Ballagan Glen is particularly attractive in spring, when many colourful flowers are at their best.
In autumn the variety of trees on the steep slopes, especially the eastern side, gives a fine display colours.
Other times, after the trees have lost their leaves, give the best views of the Spout of Ballagan, most spectacular immediately after heavy rain.
The ancient woodland supports a number of rare and uncommon species, including snails, beetles, spiders and flies.
What Might You See There?
Animals
|
Birds
|
|
|
- Buzzard
- Kestrel
- Peregrine (visitor)
- Cuckoo
- Warblers
- Whinchat
- Meadow and Tree Pipits
- Raven
|
Plants
|
|
|
- Adder’s-tongue Fern
- Red Campion
- Bluebell
- Wood Garlic
- Primrose
- Wood Crane’s-bill
- Mossy Saxifrage
- Pendulous-flowered Sedge
|
|
What You Should Know About the Reserve
- Open 24 hours all the year round
- The Reserve does not offer Disabled Access
- Warning: There are only lightly marked tracks alongside the eastern boundary fence. The terrain is very steep – stout footwear with good-gripping soles is essential. Away from the fence there are no paths and the going can be rough.
- DO NOT attempt to climb up the western side of the Glen - It is steep, unstable and subject to landslips.
- Dog owners: Please note that land on either side is a working sheep farm, so please keep dogs on leads, particularly during lambing. Keeping dogs on leads during the breeding bird season (April to August) will also reduce disturbance to wildlife. As always, dog owners must clean up after their dogs!
- Download the Ballagan Glen map.
How to Get There
By Car:
Please note: There is no right of access to Ballagan Glen by vehicles.
Strathblane Parish Church have kindly agreed that visitors to Ballagan may use their car park across the road from the church (except at the time of Sunday morning services).
It is then necessary to walk eastwards along the A891 for approximately ½ mile. Take care as there is no footpath for most of this stretch and the verge is narrow.
Turn left into the main drive to Ballagan House (marked ‘Private’). Immediately bear right but on nearing Ballagan House keep to the left of the house and go behind it. Beyond the garages, by a stile, is a sign pointing right to the reserve. Over the stile follow the path up through the woods until you reach a gate leading into open hillside. Bear left up the hillside and a fence marking the eastern boundary of the reserve will come into view. Aim for a stile where there is an information board.
If you want to go to the upper part of the reserve keep close to the fence and follow it up the hillside. When above the level of the trees the fence does a dog-leg to the left and then right. Following the fence still further brings you out in to an open upland valley, a stile marking the northern boundary of the reserve.
Public Transport:
First bus service no. 10, Glasgow to Balfron, goes through Strathblane/Blanefield. Get off at the Kirkhouse Hotel. Runs roughly hourly on Mondays to Saturdays and roughly 2-hourly on Sundays – check with First for timetable. Walk along the Lennoxtown road (A891) past Strathblane Parish Church, then as above.
Map Location: OS Landranger 1:50,000 Map no. 64
Grid ref. for stile/info board at lower entrance to reserve: NS 573 799
Buzzard photograph by FionaandNeil.
Ballagan Glen Reserve
Ballagan Glen is a steep-sided, thickly-wooded gorge on the southern edge of the Campsie Fells. The Campsie Fells have been heavily grazed by sheep over the last couple of centuries or so and much of the slopes are consequently covered in grassland of limited wildlife interest. However the steep nature of the glen has impeded access by sheep and deer. This has enabled ongoing natural re-generation of native woodland. Due to the nature of the underlying rocks the water emanating from springs in the glen is rich in calcium and magnesium and this contributes to a very rich ground layer with many interesting plants and invertebrates.
Apart from the fine views from the reserve over the Blane valley and southwards, there are two main scenic attractions. The first, the Spout of Ballagan, is a 20 metre-high waterfall where the Ballagan Burn cascades over a lip of rock high up in the reserve, on its way down to the valley. It is best seen during the months October to April when there are no leaves on the surrounding trees. The second attraction is a spectacular cliff rising sheer for approximately 40 metres on the west side of the burn, exposing successive layers of distinctly-coloured shales and cementstones. These are the geological type series from the Lower Carboniferous age and are known as the ‘Ballagan Beds’. Above these is a succession of basalt lava flows.
What Can You Do There?
View the Ballagan Beds - best seen from the eastern fence-line
View the Spout of Ballagan Waterfall - accessed along a ledge in the steep woodland on the eastern side of the burn - very rough going, over boulders and tree-roots. Take special care.
Look at plants along the lower part of the burn and the steep woodland on the eastern side of the burn - also very rough going, over boulders and tree-roots. In spring the profusion of flowers such as Primrose, Red Campion, and Bluebells makes a colourful display.
Walk up to the open glen above the Reserve – wild, open country.
When is the best time to go?
Ballagan Glen is particularly attractive in spring, when many colourful flowers are at their best.
In autumn the variety of trees on the steep slopes, especially the eastern side, gives a fine display colours.
Other times, after the trees have lost their leaves, give the best views of the Spout of Ballagan, most spectacular immediately after heavy rain.
The ancient woodland supports a number of rare and uncommon species, including snails, beetles, spiders and flies.
What Might You See There?
Animals
|
Birds
|
|
|
- Buzzard
- Kestrel
- Peregrine (visitor)
- Cuckoo
- Warblers
- Whinchat
- Meadow and Tree Pipits
- Raven
|
Plants
|
|
|
- Adder’s-tongue Fern
- Red Campion
- Bluebell
- Wood Garlic
- Primrose
- Wood Crane’s-bill
- Mossy Saxifrage
- Pendulous-flowered Sedge
|
|
What You Should Know About the Reserve
- Open 24 hours all the year round
- The Reserve does not offer Disabled Access
- Warning: There are only lightly marked tracks alongside the eastern boundary fence. The terrain is very steep – stout footwear with good-gripping soles is essential. Away from the fence there are no paths and the going can be rough.
- DO NOT attempt to climb up the western side of the Glen - It is steep, unstable and subject to landslips.
- Dog owners: Please note that land on either side is a working sheep farm, so please keep dogs on leads, particularly during lambing. Keeping dogs on leads during the breeding bird season (April to August) will also reduce disturbance to wildlife. As always, dog owners must clean up after their dogs!
- Download the Ballagan Glen map.
How to Get There
By Car:
Please note: There is no right of access to Ballagan Glen by vehicles.
Strathblane Parish Church have kindly agreed that visitors to Ballagan may use their car park across the road from the church (except at the time of Sunday morning services).
It is then necessary to walk eastwards along the A891 for approximately ½ mile. Take care as there is no footpath for most of this stretch and the verge is narrow.
Turn left into the main drive to Ballagan House (marked ‘Private’). Immediately bear right but on nearing Ballagan House keep to the left of the house and go behind it. Beyond the garages, by a stile, is a sign pointing right to the reserve. Over the stile follow the path up through the woods until you reach a gate leading into open hillside. Bear left up the hillside and a fence marking the eastern boundary of the reserve will come into view. Aim for a stile where there is an information board.
If you want to go to the upper part of the reserve keep close to the fence and follow it up the hillside. When above the level of the trees the fence does a dog-leg to the left and then right. Following the fence still further brings you out in to an open upland valley, a stile marking the northern boundary of the reserve.
Public Transport:
First bus service no. 10, Glasgow to Balfron, goes through Strathblane/Blanefield. Get off at the Kirkhouse Hotel. Runs roughly hourly on Mondays to Saturdays and roughly 2-hourly on Sundays – check with First for timetable. Walk along the Lennoxtown road (A891) past Strathblane Parish Church, then as above.
Map Location: OS Landranger 1:50,000 Map no. 64
Grid ref. for stile/info board at lower entrance to reserve: NS 573 799
Buzzard photograph by FionaandNeil.