Langside Mountaineering Club
Cragging List
Cragging takes place on Wednesday evenings during the spring and summer months (April to August) at crags in the Central Belt. During the winter and on bad weather evenings in summer, we switch to Glasgow Climbing Centre or The Climbing Academy.
If you are interested in taking up climbing, or want to join our cragging evenings, then please contact us via the website or e-mail address. We'll make you very welcome and explain how we organise things.
Summer cragging is always weather-dependent. A WhatsApp group is used for organising lifts and managing last-minute changes of venue due to the weather. Any changes and cancellations are posted on WhatsApp group as early as possible.
A summer cragging list is drawn up at the beginning of the season. Weather is checked on a Monday morning and monitored until Wednesday, and WhatsApp chat is updated accordingly.
​
Cragging Spring-Summer 2024
​
APRIL
-
Wednesday 10 April 2024 (sunset time: 20:14) - Neilston Quarry
-
Wednesday 17 April 2024 (sunset time: 20:28) - Auchinstarry Quarry
-
Wednesday 24 April 2024 (sunset time: 20:42) - Neilston Quarry
MAY
JUNE
-
Wednesday 05 June 2024 (sunset time: 21:56) - Hawcraig (Tides)
-
Wednesday 12 June 2024 (sunset time: 22:02) - Wolf Crag
-
Wednesday 26 June 2024 (sunset time: 22:06) - Cambusbarron Quarry
JULY
-
Wednesday 31 July 2024 (sunset time: 21:25): Cunningar
AUGUST
Auchinstarry Quarry
​
Howe Road, Auchinstarry, Kilsyth G65 9SG
​
Grid reference: NS 719 771 (Ordanance Survey Landranger Map 64)
​
Take the M80 towards Stirling and follow it as it becomes the A80. Go through the interminable 30 mph sections around Moodiesburn past a few exits and then take the one towards Kilsyth. Following signs to Kilsyth, go straight on at the first roundabout. Take the fourth exit at the next larger one and then the second exit at the next one. Go straight through the next roundabout and pass through Croy with its chicanes. After Croy you get to a T-junction - go right here (still towards Kilsyth). Drive past the marina and over the canal and the quarry is just on your right.
​
Ben A'an
​
Ben A'an Car Park, Duke's Pass, Callander FK17 8HY
​
Grid reference: NN 509 070 (Ordanance Survey Landranger Map 57)
​
To get to the Ben A’an Trailhead, head north from Aberfoyle on the A821 towards Callander. After 9.7 km and a sharp right-hand bend, park at the Ben A’an car park. Car park costs £3.00 for the day.
​
Benny Beg
​
Muthill Road, Creiff PH7 4HN
​
Grid reference: NN 862 188 (Ordanance Survey Landranger Map 58)
​
Benny Beg is located 1 mile to the south of Crieff (west of Perth). From the A9, turn left onto the A822, signposted Braco. Then follow signs for Crieff to the Ceramic Experience and eventually the Benny Plant Centre on the right. The crag is located 100m North on the right, past the plant centre entrance as you approach from Stirling. The local businesses and Drummond Estates have asked climbers to please park considerately in the space provided, just through the farm gate.
​
Benny Beg
​
Muthill Road, Creiff PH7 4HN
​
Grid reference: NN 862 188 (Ordanance Survey Landranger Map 58)
​
Benny Beg is located 1 mile to the south of Crieff (west of Perth). From the A9, turn left onto the A822, signposted Braco. Then follow signs for Crieff to the Ceramic Experience and eventually the Benny Plant Centre on the right. The crag is located 100m North on the right, past the plant centre entrance as you approach from Stirling. The local businesses and Drummond Estates have asked climbers to please park considerately in the space provided, just through the farm gate.
​
Cambusbarron Quarry
​
Old Drove Road, Cambusbarron FK7 9NE
​
Grid reference: NS 772 922 (Ordanance Survey Landranger Map 57)
​
Follow the M9 to the Stirling turn-off, junction 9 (the massive junction containing the Stirling service station), then follow the A872 towards Stirling (past the Bannockburn heritage centre). On reaching the big St. Ninians roundabout (Shell petrol station on the left of the roundabout), turn left and then left again at the Lidl supermarket (signposted Cambusbarron). Follow this road past at least one mini-roundabout until you reach a mini-roundabout signposted Cambusbarron to the left. Follow this road across the motorway and then turn right. Drive through the centre of Cambusbarron village and then turn left into Quarry road, just before the end of the village (there is an obvious signpost for Quarry road on the right of the main road). Drive up Quarry Road to the top of the hill, where the road turns left, and park on the right at the edge of some woods. From the parking place, walk along the main path, past a gate and some boulders. About 100 yards past a wooden sign saying lower quarry path, turn left along a narrow path into the quarry. The climbing is along the left wall - not on the massive piles of rubble opposite!
​
Craigmore
​
Craigmore Crag, Carbeth, Blanefield G63 9AT
Grid reference: NS 527 797 (Ordanance Survey Landranger Map 64)
​
Take the A809 towards Drymen and just after the Carbeth Inn turn right onto the B821. After passing a white walled drive stop opposite the next turning off, about 1km down the road and next to a stile on the left-hand (North) side of the road. Either go over the stile and head up the field a short way to the crag on your left (sometimes a bit boggy); or walk back up the road a short way to another stile, cross this and head along the field until an obvious descent path on the right. Park on the roadside verges with usual consideration for other cars or any entrances.
​
Dunglass Hill
​
Campsie Road, Glasgow G63 9AB
​
Grid reference: NS 576 789 (Ordanance Survey Landranger Map 64)
​
Head to Strathblane and park at Strathblane Parish Church on Campsie Road. Opposite the church, a signposted path heads south, just east of the manse. This narrow track leads down to the former railway line, turning east and crossing a bridge. Continue in an easterly direction along the disused line, passing under a bridge where an unofficial path on to the track leading to Muirhouse Farm is established on the cutting. Continue east, then head south-east and the volcanic plug of Dunglass Hill is on the north side. Don’t cross the fields early, but continue to a gate in front of the black face and walk west round the rock to the sports crag.
​
Hawkcraig
​
Silver Sands Beach Car Park, Hawkcraig Road, Aberdour, Burntisland KY3 0TZ
​
Grid reference: NT 200 849 (Ordanance Survey Landranger Map 66)
​
Cross the Forth Road Bridge, leave the motorway at the second exit after the bridge and then turn right under the motorway. Then, follow the signs for Aberdour, entering it along the A921. Follow this through Aberdour until you can turn right along the road heading for the Silver Sands beach - head for the blue P marked on the map. Don't go into the car park, but follow the road to the left which drops down towards the beach (and a second car park), then curves round to Hawkcraig Point. Stop here (if you don't you will drive off the cliffs), then walk round to the right to the crags.
​
Loudoun Hill
​
Loudoun Hill Parking KA17 0LU
Grid reference: NS 608 378 (Ordanance Survey Landranger Map 71)
​
Take the M77 to Kilmarnock which becomes the A77. Turn left onto the A71 towards Galston and Strathaven. Go through Galston and Darvel and after about 2 miles you should see Loudoun Hill on your left. Take the next left up a small road sign-posted to Loudoun Hill and the car park is on your left a few hundred metres up the road. Go through the gate and down the new paths and find a way across the stream. Go up the hill and follow the paths round to the main area which has a large tree on the left. There are sometimes nesting birds on Loudoun Hill in the spring at the climbs on the far right of the hill, which should be avoided.
​
Neilston Quarry
​
Kingston Road, Neilston G78 3BS
​
Grid reference: NS 474 558 (Ordanance Survey Landranger Map 64)
​
Head out towards Barrhead on the A736. Take the left turn past Tesco towards Neilston. Stay on this until you get into Neilston and turn left onto High Street (church on your right and pharmacy ahead of you). Follow this road round, over the railway and up the hill for just under a mile and you should see the quarry on your left next to an electricity pylon. You can fit a couple of cars on the left-hand verge just at the entrance gate. Alternatively, a few metres down the road there is a small road on the right you can park along the side of. The area on the left just before you get to the entrance is private Scottish Water land and should not really be used.
​
Pillar Crag
​
Ballachalairy Yett, Carbeth, Blanefield G63 9AW
Grid reference: NS 538 796 (Ordanance Survey Landranger Map 64)
​
The crag lies in the trees on the south side of the B821 about 1km east of Craigmore. Park at where the West Highland Way crosses the B821, taking care not to block the gate. Walk south on the path through the gate for approx 50 metres then take the 1st mountain bike track to your left uphill and contour along the rise to the highest point and the outcrop down to the left beside the large beech trees. There is a steep access path down to the base of the crag just past the second large beech tree, but care should be taken as it is very steep.
​
The Quadrocks
​
Burnside Road, Largs KA30 8RW
Grid reference: NS 220 605 (Ordanance Survey Landranger Map 63)
​
From Glasgow follow the A78 coast road. Just north of Largs town centre, turn onto Burnside road by following signs for the Inverclyde National Sports Training Centre. This leads to a large car park outside the centre. Walk onto the hillside behind the centre, avoiding a shooting range to the south!
​
The Whangie
​
Queen's View & The Whangie Car Park, Stockiemuir Road, Blanefield G63 9BA
Grid reference: NS 511 808 (Ordanance Survey Landranger Map 64)
​
From Glasgow take the A809 Drymen road to Queen's View car park. From here, follow the path up around the hillside for about 25 minutes to a high point at a small tree and rock step. Descend to a lower path and the crag is reached after a further 5 minutes.
​