Castle Semple Trail
Date: 04 February 2023
Leader: Gerry
Grade: C+
Number on walk: 16.
Length 11km. Ascent 178m.
Hills climbed: None
Starting at the Castle Semple Visitors Centre at Lochwinnoch, follow the loch-side path until reaching the Blackditch Burn and then head through Parkhill Wood to the Grotto. From the Grotto, over Parkhill and back to the cascades, the ice house and the ice cave before arriving at the Collegiate Chapel. After leaving the chapel follow the old railway for a short distance before heading to Kenmure Hill and the Temple. Finally return to the car park via a path alongside the Black Cart Water from Folly Bridge to Semple Farm and then follow the outward route after passing the collegiate chapel.
Click here for GPX track of the walk
Three carved wooden benches depicting local wildlife where our walk left the loch-side and joined the Blackditch Burn.
The Grotto
Built during the stewardship of William Macdowall II and first shown on a map dated 1782. A grotto was a “must have” fashionable accessory.
Our group reading one of the information board adjacent to the grotto
We had our first tea break after walking over Parkhill
The Upper Cascade at Castle Semple
Cascades were another “must have” feature for wealthy land owners. These were built in the 18th century by diverting water from the Blackditch Burn into three large square ponds linked by waterfalls. Although no longer in their glory they are a rare survivor of such a feature in Scotland.
Scarlet Elf Cup fungus
A spectacular, uncommon but widespread fungus growing on decaying wood in Parkhill Wood
The Collegiate Church
Founded in 1504 by John Lord Sempill and served by a college of priests whose chief duty was to offer up prayers for the souls of the Sempill family.
Kenmure Hill Temple
Very little is known about the Temple, other than that was built around 1760. There are many local stories but very little fact. A folly, a house for a sick child, a viewing platform for ladies to watch stag hunting, a masonic temple or just somewhere for the landowner to survey his lands – who knows? The building had a roof until 1830 when a lightning strike and subsequent fire destroyed the roof. Access to the first floor was via an exterior staircase all trace of which has now been lost.
The view from The Temple on Kenmure Hill looking southeast to Castel Semple Loch