#devil's pulpit

Visited the Devil's Pulpit in Finnich Glen today.

It's technically walkable from my house, but it's like 10 miles each way, so I got a bus most of the way and still had a 9 mile walk all-in!

Finnich Glen has been used as a filming location for Outlander, where it was used as the location of the Liar's Spring.

Finnich Glen.

Moss heaven!

Finnich Glen.

Before I start my posts from Finnich Glen I thought I would give a wee bit advice on how to get there. 

As you can see from the first two photos there are double yellow lines all the way along, these were painted last year due to the large volume of inconsiderate drivers parking on both sides of the B834 road, blocking the flow of traffic, and at times leaving no room for local farmers in tractors etc from getting past. 

The main route is coming from Glasgow along the A809, and if driving, there is no guarantee you will get parked, the bottom two pics are a bridge on that road, there is a layby for parking on the left side of the road just before this bridge, there is enough room for three cars at a push. a wee bit further on at the junction of the B834 and the A809, there is a small parking area for maybe 6 cars maximum. I would avoid weekends and public holidays. When I visited yesterday I saw 6 people total. My sister, who lives two miles away says at weekends maybe 60-100 is the norm. This is the Outlander effect, there are plans for facilities and car parking, and a planning application to build a 150-space car park, visitor centre and paths, bridges and viewing platforms was given the nod last October, I however could see no sign of any work at all going on as yet, so it’s at least a year away from happening.

If anyone is walking the West Highland Way (WHW) it partly runs alongside the B384 and is a good place to make a detour and explore. 

Public transport is not brilliant here, again if and when it gets redeveloped that will improve, but in the meantime you have the 10 or X10, either from Stirling or Glasgow to Killearn. The bus takes just less than an hour, although if coming and going from Stirling some of the buses go via Aberfoyle, adding another 25 minutes or so to the journey time, it’s not time wasted though as you go through a number of villages and pass close to Lake of Menteith, the bus is normally a double decker, sitting upstairs gives you the best of views. 

From Killearn Google maps will get you there along the B834, it’s a nice walk, but be mindful you are on country roads and stretches of it there is no footpath. Alternatively you can hire an E-Bike at Country Cycles in Killearn. 

My directions are walking the B834 from Killearn, or as I said dropping onto the road from the WHW

Now although Finnich Glen has been on my to-do list for a number of years, (pre Outlander), this was my first visit and I messed up when trying to find it and ended up on the wrong side, so took a dodgy route down, as I pointed out yesterday. I never felt in danger though, but some people might, so I advise that the best way to get to the “proper” way down to the Devil’s Pulpit  is to go the route I am posting below. 

When you reach the T Junction with the A809 take a left along the Glasgow road (A808). I bumped into a couple there and asked which way to the Devil’s Pulpit, they pointed me over the field, I’m not saying you wont find it this way, I just think the way I am pointing out is simpler. The Couple arrived down the bottom a good 20 minutes after me, so they didn’t have a clue, not their fault they sent me in the wrong direction, mine for not planning it out properly. 

So walk along the Glasgow road until you get to a bridge that crosses The Carnock Burn, it’s this wee stream that cuts through Finnich Glen. On the left after you cross you will find gaps to take you towards the Glen, turn right and keep walking along, you will catch glimpses on your left and here water running, now I am pretty fearless normally, but I was very wary of getting too close to the edge, some of the trees looked like they were hanging on from dear life and it is really only a matter of time before some head down to the bottom, a fate that has befell quite a number, as you will see from my other pics, so be careful, someone fell down on April 11th and mountain rescue got called out to get him out reports say he had “serious injuries”.

Okay finally for this post you will reach the point where the steps begin.

You might look at this and think it looks okay, but look to the right and you will see two ropes, they are there for a purpose, some of the steps have fallen away further down and the ropes will help you get down this part. 

Finnich Glen.

Pics of the “steps” that take you down to The Devil’s Pulpit. 

I think you will understand when I advised people to wear suitable footwear to explore Finnich Glen, I kid you not, some people have been seen by my sister wearing flip-flops! 

Tuesday was a wee bit damp, but after a long dry spell the conditions underfoot were reasonable, when we have had rain for a few days your footwear will be covered in mud before you even get to the steps.

As you can see some of the steps have slid away, one source says they date from 1860, another just says 200 years old,  either way, the only thing that has been done since they were built is rope have been added to aid you.

The Steps are not suitable for young children, or if you are very unfit.