19th September 2017 -Old Kilpatrick to Bowling
Alighting from the train at Old Kilpatrick station, Oliver Thomson led the twelve walkers under the Erskine Bridge, over the canal and down to the river Clyde where we picked up the path along an old railway line. Stopping at the riverside Oliver informed us that this was reputed to be the site of the abduction of St. Patrick. Further along was the western terminus of the Antonine wall. Other items of history were imparted as we passed the saltings (where the river Clyde once deposited large quantities of salt as it receded with the outgoing tide) and headed off towards Bowling and lock 40 which is the last lock on the canal as it joins the Clyde. We then headed back to the station at Old Kilpatrick for the return journey home. Other points of interest were St. Patrick’s Well, possibly built by the Romans, and the coffee stop in the “Dug Café” where dogs had more biscuits to choose from than us!!.