IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Laurel Way, GLASGOW, G78 1DX

This rather inauspicious spot between 2 houses is the start of an excellent walk over the Fereneze Braes. It is worth noting that though there are clearly defined paths on the Fereneze Braes, they rarely correspond to paths marked on the OS map. However the routes are so well signposted that a map is really not required. At the start you have to squeeze through a small gap in parallel fences. There are a few more like this on the walk. This is clearly designed to make it very difficult to take even a bike - a good idea.

The picture was taken in Barrhead, and the view is from Graham Street, at its junction with Laurel Way. The nearby signpost points to "Barrhead Station" and "Killoch Glen". Further ahead is an information panel, which is titled "Fereneze Braes Path Network", with pictures and further information about the area. For a view from a little further back, see another contributor's earlier image: Image For a view back across this part of the path from not far ahead, see Image, which also clarifies where the present picture was taken from. There has been a path at this spot for over a century, and, a century ago, it led uphill (WNW) to a pavilion that stood at Image, in what is now the golf course of Fereneze Golf Club. From that pavilion, another path led SSW, back downhill. Some traces of that other path can still be discerned on the golf course (Image) and outside it (Image and Image).

The area is shown, from the other side, in Image For example, the back of an information panel that is shown in that picture can be seen in the present view, just beyond the nearer of the two wooden fences. Not far beyond that, at the second fence, the path ends at Graham Street in Barrhead. As noted at the link just given, there has been a path here for over a century.

The picture, a view uphill, was taken not far from the start of the path at Barrhead (Image), and shows some rock outcrops beside the path. For a view back downhill from about 180 metres further up the hillside, see Image

This memorial garden, called Maxton Gardens, is just off Gateside Road. As the information panel on the right explains, these are memorial gardens for James Maxton (1885–1946), MP for Bridgeton from 1922–46; the gardens were gifted by his wife. The panel provides further biographical details of the MP. A stone with a plaque can be seen in the wall on the left: see Image for a close view of it. Some additional information not provided on the panel: James Maxton was survived by his second wife, Madeline (née Madeline Glasier), and by his son from his previous marriage. It was therefore Madeline Maxton who was responsible for gifting these gardens to the people of Barrhead.

For context, see Image, where this stone, with its plaque, is visible on the left. The text is legible, but is given here to make it easier to find (the first quotation is slight reshaping of 2 Timothy 4:7, and the second is from Shakespeare's "Antony and Cleopatra"): Burgh of Barrhead Maxton Memorial Committee James Maxton M.A. 1885–1946 Member of Parliament for Bridgeton 1922–1946 "He fought a good fight, he kept the faith" "A rarer spirit never did steer humanity"

The double line from Glasgow goes single and begins a steep climb over the hills to Kilmarnock.

Scotrail Class 156 train number 156 435 approaching from the south, having just left the single track section.

Scotrail Class 156 train number 156 435 approaching from the south, having just left the single track section.